Eastern Conference Playoff Outlook

4/17 Eastern Conference Playoff Outlook

 

 

            Well, the NBA regular season has finally come to a close.  The playoff matchups are set for both conferences and it looks like it will be an entertaining postseason.  The eastern conference has been dominated by the Celtics all season long as they have the best record in the NBA.  The Hawks just snuck into the playoffs at the eighth seed despite being eight games below five hundred.  In fact, the seventh and eighth seed teams are both below five hundred.  The sixth seeded team is right on five hundred with a record of 41-41.  This really shows you how much stronger the west is, as the eighth seeded team in the west is eighteen games over five hundred.

            In the one seed against the eighth seed, Boston plays Atlanta.  Boston will easily take this series in four games.  Atlanta just does not have enough fire power to contend with the Celtics let alone score enough points.  The Celtic’s big three have gelled right from the first game of the season and they will only be stronger in the playoffs.

            Detroit plays Philadelphia in the two versus seven series.  Detroit is such a well balanced team that I think they will take this series in four games as well.  Detroit has started four out of five same starters, every game, for the past couple of years.  They are a team that has so much chemistry and they know how to win in the playoffs.  Although Philadelphia has been a surprise team in the East this year, they just don’t have enough playoff experience to hold their own against the veteran Pistons.  They are a younger team and the Pistons will tool on them in this series.

            It is Orlando at the three seed versus Toronto at the six seed in an intriguing series.  This will be a close series, and a slight chance of an upset.  You might compare the two team’s regular season records and say “how can this series be even close.”  Toronto has a solid team with a star inside player in Chris Bosh.  They have a reliable point guard that can really push the ball up the floor making the game fast paced.  Orlando has been pretty consistent all year, but they will have to get big games out of Rashard Lewis night in and night out.  Toronto will need to keep the pace quick to have a chance in this series.  Orlando will win this series in six games.

            Finally in the most captivating series in the east you have got Cleveland at the four seed against Washington at the five seed.  These teams have been matched up in the first round of the playoffs for the past two years.  Cleveland has taken the series both times.  This year the series will be as close as ever.  Washington has an excellent team this year and they are starting to get healthy at the right time.  They have battled lots of injuries all year, but finally have their team ready for the playoffs.  Washington has lots of scorers and an unselfish point guard in Gilbert Arenas.  Washington has quick players on the perimeter that play good defense.  Cleveland, however, has been riding on the back of their star player LeBron James.  He has single handily gotten the Cavaliers through the season.  Cleveland has been peppered with injuries forcing them to make a big trade in the middle of the season.  However, Cleveland has not been doing so hot since the trade.  Cleveland needs their bench and role players to step up for this series.  After all, LeBron can not continue to carry this team on his own, especially in the playoffs.  The Wizards will take this series in seven games. 

            Overall, the four playoff series’ in the east have a lot of variety.  There will be some boring blow-out matchups, and some tight, close ones.  It will be very interesting to see how The Eastern Conference Playoffs turn out.