WHO IS THE BIGGEST THREAT IN THE EAST?

Chicago will be any threat to the C’s this year.

I think its a coin toss between the Orlando (due to the recent trades they made) and Miami with (with the big 3) though I may give the edge to Miami a bit.

I think both teams do not have the depth or the size to match up with the C’s, so I do not think they are too much of a concern for the C’s.

Of course as we learned by watching the Pats lose this year in the playoffs, just because you are a better talented team then your opponent does not automatically mean you will beat that lesser talented opponent.

The C’s still need to bring it to the court both mental and physically against all there opponents, even the less talented ones if they want to win banner 18 this year.

Chicago is a crazy team that can actually drive us mad. Orlando is quite a threat but not as much as Chicago is.

Only bc if the Magic get hot, with all their shooters, they could be tough to deal with, but I believe Chicago is 2nd bc of their size.

Miami has no size, the Celtics will maul them in a 7 game series.

Derrick Rose has really taken the leap this year with Thibs, and he’s surrounded by a solid cast with some decent depth at all positions. They could take a game or two from us if we don’t keep our focus.

The Bulls have the capability to match the Celtics’ defense…but they don’t have the ability to capitalize on it as much as the Celtics do. While the Bulls are likely to make you clank a low percentage shot, the Celtics will do the same…and then ram it back down your throat in transition via Rondo to: Ray, Paul, Kevin, i.e. all the above. In other words, the Bulls’ defense is often for naught, and they go through even more epic scoring droughts than the Celtics do, if that’s even possible (which after watching the Bulls this year, really is actually).

The keys against them are obvious. For one, play in Boston! The Bulls are very, very tough to beat at home, yet they’re vulnerable on the road. If the Celtics hold homecourt advantage over them by the time the playoffs roll around, I can’t see Boston losing the series.

The series itself would be brutal and physical. The Celtics would definitely get a dose of their own medicine from Thibodeau and crew, but with KG healthy they’ll match it and raise it. Derrick Rose will inevitably light it up at some point, but of course that in itself will play right into Boston’s defensive schemes (lull the superstar into walking on water, stop the others from scoring).

No, the real focus will be on rebounding and big man depth…as always. Noah, Boozer, and Deng rebound incredibly well. With Shaq, Perk, KG, Baby, Jermaine, and Semih, the Celtics must outwork them on the boards. If they do what they did against the Lakers this past weekend, they should be primed and ready.
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Rebounding and defense will be strong points of both these teams come playoff time. What will separate the two is where their offense comes from. Chicago is dangerous, but they still rely on a sole superstar to drive their offense. Much of Derrick Rose’s offense comes from penetration and free throws. Combine a temporary Derrick Rose take over (at least twice during the series) with a good shooting night from Boozer (likely at least once or twice), stifling defense (always present), and the inevitable Celtic quarter-long offensive cold-spell (100% likely at least once!), and the Bulls will likely grind out 2 playoff wins (only at home in Chicago probably).

However, I don’t think Chicago is consistent enough to do this at all their home games, much less on the road in Boston. The Celtics just don’t lose close 4th quarters against top teams at home this year (see Spurs, Magic, Bulls!) Also, superstar-driven offense, especially penetration-type offense definitely does not win playoff series against great defenses (I’m looking at YOU Lebron and Wade!). Rose is no different. Keep in mind too, who will be guarding Rose…Rajon and Delonte. Eh, we sometimes forget about Delonte’s extra worth on defense, huh! That’ll be quite the gauntlet for Rose to get through during his 45 minute playoff stints against Boston.

The series will be brutal physically, but as long as Rondo and the Big 3 diversify the offense, they’ll be fine. Perhaps exploit Boozer’s lack of length and go to KG often. Get Shaq touches, and get Noah in foul trouble, ease the rebounding struggle a bit. Overall, this may be a conference finals matchup. Though I think Boston will win comfortably 4-2, I don’t think any of these games will be cakewalks….all of them, including the ones in Boston will be close, grind it out, low-scoring, defensive affairs. For two weeks at least, it’ll be like the 90’s again. I cannot wait.

have improved tremendously especially on defense.. if they stay healthy (especially boozer), they’d be very tough for the celtics.. remember the classic series 2 years ago?
the heat can be so predictable, as are the magic.. the hawks just suck in the playoffs..