NBA Playoffs 1st Round Preview: Eastern Conference
The NBA Playoffs are upon us again, and there are many interesting stories, matchups, and teams to analyze and breakdown, so, I'll start off with the Eastern Conference, and proceeded by the Western Conference.
#1 Cleveland Cavaliers (61-21) vs. #8 Chicago Bulls (41-41):
The Cleveland Cavaliers are coming into the Playoffs as the team to take the Eastern Conference. It has never looked better for them then it does now. However, this team was top seeded last season and didn't take the Eastern Conference Crown, and so it isn't like they are a lock to take the East, but if they don't do it this year, then they should blow the whole team up, except for Lebron of course. The only weakness this team has is that they seem to be too Lebron Reliant sometimes when things get tough, and so Lebron is gonna have to carry this team on his back, if he wants them to win the championship.
The Chicago Bulls on the other hand, are a team that finds themselves lucky to be in the post season. They made things tough for Boston last season, and with Derrick Rose, they are a team that can do some damage. Losing John Salmons and Ben Gordon hurt this team for this year, and they are clearly looking to next year, where hopefully they can land a big-name free agent. That all being said, things with Noah, Deng, and obviously Rose are looking good, and so they could scare the Cavs a little bit.
My Prediction for this series is Cavs win the Series in 5 Games. The Bulls will avoid the sweep by taking game 3 or game 4 in Chicago.
# 2. Orlando Magic (59-23) vs. #7 Charlotte Bobcats (44-38):
The Orlando Magic are set to make another push deep into the playoffs having won 6 straight games. They will not go down without a fight, if they go down at all. Dwight Howard led this team to the NBA finals sooner than I thought he would, and so don't be surprised if you find them playing in June. Losing Hedo Turkoglu wasn't a plus, but if Vince Carter starts going mad in the playoffs, the trade will look good. The X-Factor is gonna be Vince, if he plays well, then the team will fair very well in the post season and also in this series. Plus, J.J. Reddick is getting more minutes, and his shooting could surprise some teams. Of course Dwight Howard is having a Monster Season, and he should carry the load for this team once again.
The Charlotte Bobcats led by Gerald Wallace and "Captain" Stephen Jackson. This wreckless duo can do a lot of damage in a hurry, and may pose some problems for the Orlando Magic, particularly in their first playoff game at home. They lack experience, but they should still be able to be a threat to knock off the Magic since Jackson has been involved in knocking out Defending Conference Champions in the first round like he did in Golden State.
My Prediction for the Series is that the Orlando Magic win the series in 5 games. Their experience, and matchup problems that they pose for Charlotte will send the Bobcats into the Off-Season in hurry. Better luck next year for Charlotte. They'll be back, and ready to make a more serious run next year.
# 3. Atlanta Hawks (53-29) vs. #6 Milwaukee Bucks (46-36):
The Atlanta Hawks have paid their dues in the playoffs the past couple of seasons, taking Boston to 7 the year the Celtics took the whole title as an 8 seed was a clear sign that they would be around for a while. They are a very dangerous team that can take the Eastern Conference if people aren't careful since they are so explosive with Josh Smith, Joe Johnson, and Al Hortford. Not to mention Mike Bibby, who's played in big games of his own accord in Sacramento. They're definitely ready to make a serious push in the playoffs.
The Milwaukee Bucks have had a great season, and greatly improved thanks to Andrew Bogut and rookie Brandon Jennings, who has had a remarkable Rookie Campaign. If Andrew Bogut were healthy, I'd give them a chance to give some teams a scare, but without him they aren't deep enough to last long in the playoffs, even though they recently got John Salmons who has been a huge part of their recent surge.
My Prediction is that the Atlanta Hawks take the series in 6 games. The Bucks have beaten the Hawks this year in Atlanta, and will be a threat to them, but Ultimately, the Hawks will prevail and move on to face Orlando.
#4 Boston Celtics (50-32) vs. #5 Miami Heat (47-35)
The Boston Celtics are still getting it done in the Atlantic Division, but in the Eastern Conference, they are sliding. This team hasn't played all that tough a schedule since their division is the weakest in the league, and their overall record doesn't indicate that they've had an easy schedule, which is a concern. Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Ray Allen anchor this team along with Rajon Rondo as you probably know. 2 years ago they produced a title, last year, they produced a second round exit. In each of the last 2 years, they have needed 7 games to get out of the first round, and that leads them to get beat up.
The Miami Heat captained by Dywane Wade are on the rise at the right time, going from a bubble team in the East to a solid #5 spot. They are looking good, and confident right now, and seem not afraid to put the Hurt on a Celtic team that has shown vulnerability in years past. Michael Beasley will have to step up his game if they want to make a run, and I think he's up to the task.
My prediction is the Miami Heat send the Boston Celtics packing early in 6 games. The Celtics won't survive the first round this year, and it will also lead the franchise to look to the future to re-tool and rebuild because that team that won the championship is too old and too banged up to go deep in the playoffs.
#1 Cleveland Cavaliers (61-21) vs. #8 Chicago Bulls (41-41):
The Cleveland Cavaliers are coming into the Playoffs as the team to take the Eastern Conference. It has never looked better for them then it does now. However, this team was top seeded last season and didn't take the Eastern Conference Crown, and so it isn't like they are a lock to take the East, but if they don't do it this year, then they should blow the whole team up, except for Lebron of course. The only weakness this team has is that they seem to be too Lebron Reliant sometimes when things get tough, and so Lebron is gonna have to carry this team on his back, if he wants them to win the championship.
The Chicago Bulls on the other hand, are a team that finds themselves lucky to be in the post season. They made things tough for Boston last season, and with Derrick Rose, they are a team that can do some damage. Losing John Salmons and Ben Gordon hurt this team for this year, and they are clearly looking to next year, where hopefully they can land a big-name free agent. That all being said, things with Noah, Deng, and obviously Rose are looking good, and so they could scare the Cavs a little bit.
My Prediction for this series is Cavs win the Series in 5 Games. The Bulls will avoid the sweep by taking game 3 or game 4 in Chicago.
# 2. Orlando Magic (59-23) vs. #7 Charlotte Bobcats (44-38):
The Orlando Magic are set to make another push deep into the playoffs having won 6 straight games. They will not go down without a fight, if they go down at all. Dwight Howard led this team to the NBA finals sooner than I thought he would, and so don't be surprised if you find them playing in June. Losing Hedo Turkoglu wasn't a plus, but if Vince Carter starts going mad in the playoffs, the trade will look good. The X-Factor is gonna be Vince, if he plays well, then the team will fair very well in the post season and also in this series. Plus, J.J. Reddick is getting more minutes, and his shooting could surprise some teams. Of course Dwight Howard is having a Monster Season, and he should carry the load for this team once again.
The Charlotte Bobcats led by Gerald Wallace and "Captain" Stephen Jackson. This wreckless duo can do a lot of damage in a hurry, and may pose some problems for the Orlando Magic, particularly in their first playoff game at home. They lack experience, but they should still be able to be a threat to knock off the Magic since Jackson has been involved in knocking out Defending Conference Champions in the first round like he did in Golden State.
My Prediction for the Series is that the Orlando Magic win the series in 5 games. Their experience, and matchup problems that they pose for Charlotte will send the Bobcats into the Off-Season in hurry. Better luck next year for Charlotte. They'll be back, and ready to make a more serious run next year.
# 3. Atlanta Hawks (53-29) vs. #6 Milwaukee Bucks (46-36):
The Atlanta Hawks have paid their dues in the playoffs the past couple of seasons, taking Boston to 7 the year the Celtics took the whole title as an 8 seed was a clear sign that they would be around for a while. They are a very dangerous team that can take the Eastern Conference if people aren't careful since they are so explosive with Josh Smith, Joe Johnson, and Al Hortford. Not to mention Mike Bibby, who's played in big games of his own accord in Sacramento. They're definitely ready to make a serious push in the playoffs.
The Milwaukee Bucks have had a great season, and greatly improved thanks to Andrew Bogut and rookie Brandon Jennings, who has had a remarkable Rookie Campaign. If Andrew Bogut were healthy, I'd give them a chance to give some teams a scare, but without him they aren't deep enough to last long in the playoffs, even though they recently got John Salmons who has been a huge part of their recent surge.
My Prediction is that the Atlanta Hawks take the series in 6 games. The Bucks have beaten the Hawks this year in Atlanta, and will be a threat to them, but Ultimately, the Hawks will prevail and move on to face Orlando.
#4 Boston Celtics (50-32) vs. #5 Miami Heat (47-35)
The Boston Celtics are still getting it done in the Atlantic Division, but in the Eastern Conference, they are sliding. This team hasn't played all that tough a schedule since their division is the weakest in the league, and their overall record doesn't indicate that they've had an easy schedule, which is a concern. Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Ray Allen anchor this team along with Rajon Rondo as you probably know. 2 years ago they produced a title, last year, they produced a second round exit. In each of the last 2 years, they have needed 7 games to get out of the first round, and that leads them to get beat up.
The Miami Heat captained by Dywane Wade are on the rise at the right time, going from a bubble team in the East to a solid #5 spot. They are looking good, and confident right now, and seem not afraid to put the Hurt on a Celtic team that has shown vulnerability in years past. Michael Beasley will have to step up his game if they want to make a run, and I think he's up to the task.
My prediction is the Miami Heat send the Boston Celtics packing early in 6 games. The Celtics won't survive the first round this year, and it will also lead the franchise to look to the future to re-tool and rebuild because that team that won the championship is too old and too banged up to go deep in the playoffs.
posted by Ben Parker at 10:26 PM
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