So I'm watching Celtics-Heat right now. It's the penultimate game of the season and Doc has elected to trot out the following lineup: Keyon Dooling, Avery Bradley, Sasha Pavlovic, Brandon Bass, and Chris Hollins, with occasional doses of Paul Pierce as needed. No sign of Rondo (back), Garnett, Ray-Ray (ankle), Pietrus, or Stiemsma (foot). It's the end of the third quarter and the B Team has played it to a 50-50 tie.
This is a great call by Doc. We've got the Hawks in Round 1, whom we know we can beat having beaten them twice this season and almost a third team with the JV lineup on Friday. The Hawks are a mediocre playoff team if there ever was one, while the Celtics are dangerous, experienced, and finding their stride at the right time of year. Doc knows this and he also knows that the great weakness for the C's in these playoffs will be their age. Nothing could benefit the Celtics more than turning the last two weeks of the season into two weeks of rest for the veteran core.
Meanwhile, the Hawks have taken care of the Clippers (there's a team headed home after Round One, for sure), so the Celtics will need to win this game, beat the Bucks, and watch the Mavericks beat the Hawks in order to get home-court. But Doc has made it clear that his team can handle the Hawks at home or on the road. It feels good going into the playoffs with that kind of confidence, along with well-rested starters and well-practiced reserves.
UPDATE: Sasha Pavlovic is torching the Heat. JuJuan Johnson just dunked on somebody. The Celtics are gonna take this one by about 15 points. So, who knows? Home court still in play. Go Celtics.
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