It looked like the Celtics were trying to strategically place themselves at the No. 3 spot in the East. They would have avoided the chance of facing Brooklyn in the first round or going to Toronto, where they might potentially play without some of their top players.
But while the Bucks sat out their top players against Cleveland, Boston played its four healthy starters around 25 minutes apiece on Sunday — which was more than enough against a Grizzlies team that played none of its key players.
"We're not trying to dodge anybody," Payton Pritchard said after Boston's 139-110 season-closing win. "We believe in ourselves. … Whoever we play, we're going to be ready."
Now, it's one thing for a young player caught up in the moment to vocalize his confidence about the way his team is playing. But when a 15-year NBA vet echoes the same sentiment, it feels a little different.
"I think so, I think it's pretty clear," Al Horford said when asked if the Celtics' approach to Sunday should be received as a message to the rest of the East. "We obviously understand what's ahead. … We're ready, man. We're ready to go."
Now, for all the concerns the Nets may provide, Boston will have home court advantage against them. In fact, if they were to actually make a title run, the Celtics could very well have home court advantage all postseason. The Heat are far from a lock despite their standing, and as much as the Suns coasted to the top seed, there are never guarantees in the West.
Still, the C's have a long way to go before we get into that sort of talk.
"We're not worried about the other teams or any of that," Ime Udoka said. "We have done what we've done, and we'll let other teams use their own strategy. We'll just try to be the best we can and go against whoever, and we're ready for that.
"We have (the week) mapped out based on Saturday and Sunday. Just really want to get some scrimmaging, obviously, and emulate some of the opponents' plays and dig into the personnel. Get very specific."
Boston's first-round opponent will be decided Tuesday on TNT when the Cavs visit the Nets for a 7 p.m. tip. As for when the Celtics' first playoff game will be, that has yet to be announced by the league.
