Should Celtics Postseason Outlook Change After Win Over Warriors?
BOSTON (CBS) -- After a 3-2 road trip out West that was highlighted by an amazing upset over the Golden State Warriors, should the postseason expectations change for the Boston Celtics?
The C's snapped Golden State's 54-game home win streak (without Jae Crowder) and return home 45-32, tied with the Atlanta Hawks for the three-seed in the East (though sitting in fourth due to tiebreakers).
Should the best win under Brad Stevens change our perspective of the Celtics heading into the playoffs? Adam Jones and Rich Keefe have had high expectations of the team all season, so much not has changed for them. Their expectation has always been for the Celtics to win at least a round, though their win over the Warriors gives them a little more confidence they can take that postseason success a step further.
"Had they lost to Golden State I wouldn't have felt much different," said Keefe. "I don't know if they consistently are, but they can be the second best team in the Eastern Conference."
Jones gives Boston credit for beating a Warriors team that was chasing history, and feels a little better about their odds against the Toronto Raptors should the two teams meet up in the second round.
"It doesn't change my big picture look on them or outlook either. Maybe I give them a slighter chance against Toronto, but I'm still not sure they win more than a game against Cleveland," said Jones.
"Can they beat a team like Cleveland four times in a week? I still don't see it," said Keefe. "Can they beat everyone else in the Eastern Conference? I say yes, but it's no guarantee. That's where I was several months ago and that's where I am right now."
But winning a round would be a great sign of progress for a team that was tanking just two seasons ago.
"They should win their first round matchup, which means by year three under Brad Stevens you've gone from tanking to making the playoffs to winning a round. We said to make progress the Celtics would have to win a round, and if they do, and I won't call it a coin flip against Toronto, but they'd have a chance against the Raptors and then maybe they're in the Eastern Conference Finals," said Jones. "I'm allowing myself to think that they can make a run to the Eastern Conference Finals, and that's what has changed for me."
