#4 Orlando Magic
vs.
#5 Atlanta Hawks
Atlanta has won the last 3 match-ups with Orlando, but the Magic have the edge in experience going deep in the playoffs the last three seasons (losing in the second round, the Finals, and the Conference Finals). Atlanta's always on most peoples' radar, but they haven't been able to beat a first round opponent in recent years.
Orlando closed out the year winning big games while polishing their playoff rotation. If they can keep Gilbert Arenas out of trouble, there won't be any Stan Van Gundy Worry-A-Thons against Atlanta, who in contrast, has lost six straight games to end the reg.
Atlanta's main issue is their lack of bigs. Throw that into the equation with Orlando and their many quality shooters, and you've got yourself an equation that sums up Magic easy victory. Doc Howard and Jason Richardson lead Orlando with an inside/outside barrage. Joe Johnson and his fake super-stardom can't answer Orlando's offense. The Hawks will have immense trouble winning 2 games in the series, simply because they're so mediocre. In fact, Atlanta is a lot worse than most people think. In the weak-easy speak-cheesy Eastern Conference, the Hawks beat up on some really terrible ball-clubs. Yet their -0.8 point differential is the second worst among all playoff teams, only ahead of the epically playoff bad Pacers (who we unfortunately had to write about below. We did our best)
HOPE FOR SUCCESS SITS WITH:
- Jason Richardson and Dwight Howard - both big game players vs. mediocre teams, and both able to get it done.
- Al Horford - he needs to shoot the ball every time he touches it, but Joe Johnson and Josh Smith won't allow him to get off enough shots to win.
#2 Miami Heat
vs.
#7 Philadelphia 76ers
Our readers from Philly have often let us know that the Sixers have what it takes to upset in the playoffs. Sorry Philly faithful, but it seems obvious that the Heat will beat the Sixers and move on to play Boston in a true playoff battle. That being said, Sixers fans should still be proud of what their club has accomplished this year. Doug Collins will be high on the Coach of the Year list, which in actuality is an award for "Coach of the Most Improved Team of the Year".
Miami has the superstar super-core, and with it comes first round victory... plain and simple. The games might appear close on paper, but two and a half closers in Miami against just under one closer in Philadelphia (Jrue Holiday is .3 of a closer, Iguodala is .4, and Lou "Sweet Lou" Williams is .2). This gives Miami the edge to win in no more than six games. If the 76ers can steal one of the first two games in Miami, a bunch of silly noise should follow, with a lot of the yard barkers suggesting a Philly upset special. Sadly, there will be no upset for the 76ers, and Miami should eventually devastate any who love the Sixer team.
FIRE SHOOTING NEEDED BY:
- Mike Bibby, James Jones, and Mike Miller - somebody has to knock down shots to help the superstar super-core win games (sometimes it's not needed).
- Thad Young, Jodie Meeks, and Spencer Hawes - all will need to shoot well to win against the star power of pompous Miami. Young Meeks, it's time to shine.
- Lou Williams - can he return to being the crafty 6th man he was before getting hurt?
#1 Chicago Bulls
vs.
#8 Indian Pacers
Formerly making it to the Conference Finals 7 times in 12 years, in 2011, the Indiana Pacers will be in the playoffs for the first time in 5 seasons. The chances they see the Conference Finals this season are slim to none. With their sub-.500 record and flippy floppy roster, the Pacers earn the pleasure of warming up Chicago for their eventual playoff battles in the coming weeks. Chicago should have zero trouble taking care of Indiana, either sweeping or winning in 5.
This is the least interesting of the 8 playoff series's. Indiana is pretty stinky, and I think everybody agrees, this series would be a lot sweeter if it were the Houston Rockets giving it a shot against the Bulls. At least Houston tries hard to win. The Pacers seem sloppy and disinterested. They play very little defense, and they have the worst point differential of all playoff teams at -1.1. Mike Dunleavy is too slow, Darren Collison is way too streaky, and Chicago is simply too great.
"You gotta have teams like Indiana though," states Central Texas business owner, Wayne Castillo. "Without them, who would you ignore?"
WHO CARES?
- Brandon Rush - cares a little.
- C.J. Watson - looking forward to playoff garbage minutes.
- Joakim Noah vs. Roy Hibbert - gives Noah some light practice for Dwight Howard.
#3 Boston Celtics
vs.
#6 New York Knicks
Four months ago, this playoff series would have been wildfire pizazz, with us and our peers of the computer age pumping the story up for audiences everywhere. It would have been a lot fun too, watching the pre-trade Knicks lose to the strong elders of pre-trade Boston. But two team shattering trades later, and neither team resembles the fun times with Kendrick Perkins and without Carmelo Anthony.
Boston's sub-500 record since March 9th has shaken the infrastructure of the Eastern Conference powerhouses. As for the Knicks, they're still in the learning stages of building a great team (they need depth!). Kevin Garnett can force Amar'e Stoudemire to work for his looks, and the Knicks are invisible at the center position, so until Boston has to play Chicago or Orlando, they won't need to rely on the complete unknown that is Shaquille O'Neal. Where the heck is Shaq been at??
New York has one chance at Boston, but it's a small one, and I made it up. If the Knicks want to win, they'll have to play a concentrated batch of fireball, and they'll need big minutes from their top six players. Just like the Heat, the Knicks have awful depth after going all-in on Amar'e Stoudamire, a child-like superstar, and (more temporarily) Chauncey "Soup Dreams" Billups. Miami's superstar super-core, however, is far superior to that of the NYK, which should paint a good picture of how good New York's chances are. It's not impossible. If Melo can hoop in 25 on good percentages while moving the basketball around, helping find open shooters, which he can't, then the Knicks will also need 30 and 15 from Stoudamire and some 35-foot daggers from Billups to force a game 7 against the struggling Celtics. And that's the Eastern Conference for ya, ladies and gentlemen.
NEEDS TO STEP UP:
- Ray Allen - Has been a step slow of late.
- Toney Douglas - Not much help coming in after you, buddy.
KEY MATCH UP:
- Paul Pierce vs. Carmelo Anthony - should be worth the price of admission... wait... how much are tickets at the Garden?
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