Eight games left. That’s all the regular season that exists for these 2014-15 Boston Celtics. It might be all the basketball that exists for these Celtics as they fight for the 8th seed in the Eastern Conference. Can they do it? Will they? Here’s how the rest of the season will play out.
Games marked with a * are the 2nd night of a back-to-back
BOSTON CELTICS
Remaining games: vs. Indiana, vs. Milwaukee, @ Toronto*, @ Detroit, @ Cleveland, vs. Cleveland, vs. Toronto, @ Milwaukee*
Anticipated results: win, win, loss, win, loss, win, win, loss
Projected final record: 38-44
The Celtics will roll through wins against Indy and Milwaukee before hitting a speed bump in Toronto (they haven’t beaten Toronto yet this season). I think they avenge a loss in Detroit, get smoked by Cleveland in a tune up at home but then beat the Cavs as they rest half their team. The season-ending loss in Milwaukee will hurt, but I think the Bucks end up taking at least one of those games, so I’m going with their home game.
BROOKLYN NETS
Remaining games: @New York, vs. Toronto, @ Atlanta*, vs. Portland, vs. Atlanta, vs. Washington, @Milwaukee, vs. Chicago*, vs. Orlando
Anticipated results: win, loss, loss, loss, win, win, loss, loss, win
Projected final record: 37-45
They’ll win their 5th straight in New York tonight but then they’ll slack against the division leading Raptors (they’ve lost 2 of 3 to Toronto, are 15-20 at home, and 10-24 vs. teams .500 and above) triggering losses to the Hawks and Portland. They’ll catch the Hawks and Wizards resting, but they’ll lose to the Bucks and the Bull who are amping Derrick Rose up for the playoffs. They’ll close out by beating Orlando.
CHARLOTTE HORNETS
Remaining games: vs. Detroit, @Indiana, vs. Philadelphia*, @Miami, vs. Toronto*, @Atlanta, @Detroit, vs. Houston, @Toronto
Anticipated results: loss, loss, win, loss, loss, loss, win, loss, win
Projected final record: 34-48
I’ll have them split with Detroit and Toronto and then beat Philly. I clearly don’t think very highly of the Hornets, and I think they a couple of losses in a row will kill their will to fight.
INDIANA PACERS
Remaining games: @Boston, vs. Charlotte, vs. Miami, @New York, @Detroit, vs. OKC, vs. Washington, @Memphis*
Anticipated results: loss, win, loss, win, win, loss, win, loss
Projected final record: 36-46**
**This could change if Paul George returns and returns playing will. This is the biggest wildcard left, and it could re-shape the bottom of the conference.
They’ll lose tonight in Boston but beat the fading Hornets. I think Miami is finding a groove right now, but they’ll beat the Knicks, even their season series against Detroit before OKC comes in and destroys them. They’ll catch the napping Wizards before getting plastered in Memphis on a back-to-back.
MILWAUKEE BUCKS
Remaining games: vs. Chicago, @Boston, vs. Orlando*, vs. Cleveland, @New York, vs. Brooklyn, @Philadelphia*, vs. Boston
Anticipated results: loss, loss, win, loss, win, win, win, win
Projected final record: 41-41
The schedule is shaping up nicely for Milwaukee after the next couple of games. Losses to Chicago and Boston will bring them perilously close to the pack, but only Cleveland looms as the easy-to-see loss the rest of the way. Even their back-to-backs are against easily beat-able teams. Orlando, New York, and Philly should be wins, and then it’s a couple of hard-fought games against Brooklyn and Boston, which I see as wins.
MIAMI HEAT
Remaining games: @Cleveland, @Detroit, @Indiana*, vs. Charlotte, vs. Chicago, vs. Toronto, vs. Orlando, @Philadelphia
Anticipated results: loss, win, win, win, loss, win, win, win
Projected final record: 40-42
Cleveland gets its revenge on Miami, and then the Heat go on a 6-win-in-7-night run. I think their schedule is favorable. I’m giving them the nod in some evenly matched games too.
FINAL STANDINGS
So… based on my predictions, here’s what I see:
6: Milwaukee Bucks 41-41
7: Miami Heat: 40-42
8: Boston Celtics: 38-44
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9: Brooklyn Nets: 37-45
10: Indiana Pacers: 36-46
11: Charlotte Hornets: 34-48
There you go, I think the Celtics squeak into the playoffs, one game ahead of the Brooklyn Nets. A win tonight is supremely important because it gives the Celtics the tiebreaker against the Pacers. If Paul George comes back and they tie they Celtics, it won’t matter. A loss tonight to Indiana would be a very bad thing.
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