Celtics @ 7: C's Struggling Against Playoff Teams This Season
BOSTON (CBS) -- The NBA Playoffs are just a few weeks away, with the Celtics battling for one of the top 4 spots in the Eastern Conference.
They currently sit in the four seed heading into Thursday night's game against the Blazers in Portland, with the C's, Heat and Hornets all owning a 43-31 record.
After making the postseason last season, only to get swept by the Cleveland Cavaliers, the expectation in Boston is the C's should break through and win at least one round this season. But while they've been a scrappy and competitive team when facing off against some of the best the NBA has to offer, the Celtics haven't been walking away with wins.
Boston is just 21-22 this season against opponents with a record of .500 or better. When facing off against the seven other playoff teams in the Eastern Conference, the Celtics are just 10-14.
98.5 The Sports Hub's Adam Jones and Rich Keefe examined Boston's record against playoff opponents in Wednesday night's edition of Celtics @ 7, and wonder if that is a cause for concern.
"At least before Jae Crowder got hurt, my expectation was they should win a round. Assuming he comes back Thursday or Friday, and it looks like he's healthy and playing well, that expectation will return for me," said Jones. "I don't care if they're a six seed and have to play at Miami or at Atlanta, my expectation will be they should win a round. When fully healthy with Crowder out there next to IT and the crew they've had out there this season, that will be my expectation.
"But for a team that I think should win a round and maybe even go farther than that, how are they going to do that when they're 10-14 against the field and 21-22 with teams with a .500 record or better? That gives me pause in my projection for the Celtics," said Jones.
While their overall record against Eastern Conference playoffs teams is a bit alarming, five of those losses have been to Cleveland and Toronto, who the C's should avoid until the second round. Boston is a combined 4-0 against the Heat and Hornets, who they could potentially face in the first round.
Listen to the full discussion below: