After one of the most dramatic and intriguing regular seasons in recent memory, the NBA is about to kick off its real season on Saturday as the NBA playoffs will kick into gear.
This year’s edition of the NBA playoffs is sure to exceed the excitement level of its regular season, as a number of potentially great match ups seem to be on the horizon. The subplots of the season have been magnified, as we still have the same questions we had at the beginning of the season:
Can the Lakers 3-Peat?
Will Miami’s Big three produce in the playoffs?
Just how far can Derrick Rose take the Bulls?
Can Boston flip that switch for one final run?
Will Carmelo and Amare restore greatness to The Big Apple?
Those questions and more will be answered during what is sure to be a memorable playoff. In anticipation for an epic postseason, let’s look at the Eastern Conference and preview each of the matchups that are about to occur in round one.
Next: A rivalry renewed
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In what could very well be the NBA’s most enticing first round series, the third seeded Boston Celtics will take on the sixth seeded New York Knicks in what is a revival of a rivalry which took place decades ago.
After seven long years, Spike Lee and company finally get to see their Knicks play in the playoffs, while the Celtics are trying to flip the switch once again in order to make another run to the Finals.
The Celtics come into the playoffs without any momentum since the controversial Kendrick Perkins trade. The question is: Are the Celtics truly hindered by the loss of Perkins or are the defending Eastern Conference champs simply playing possum similar to last year?
Only time will tell on that question, but it is clear that the Celtics will need one, if not both, of the O’Neals to be healthy to have any chance at a deep playoff run. Although the O’Neals are needed in the long run, the Celtics can probably get by without a huge contribution from them against the Knicks, who lack an interior presence.
Despite finally reaching the postseason, the Knicks have also had their fair share of ups and downs this season. After months of speculation the Knicks finally got their man in Melo, but the team has been streaky since acquiring the all star.
A recent seven game win streak has given the Knicks life though and now the Knicks seem poised to give the Big 4 and company a run for their money.
Normally looking at the season series between two teams can be beneficial in predicting a series, not in this case. The Celtics swept the series 4-0 but all games should be thrown out the window.
The games should be thrown out the window because two of the games took place before both teams made their major trade, the third game took place shortly after the trades leaving each team little amount to gel and the final game took place with players resting for Boston.
With the season series between the two teams serving as no indication of how the series will fair and the endless question marks surrounding both teams, this series becomes one of the most unpredictable in the first round.
This series provides a number of intriguing match ups, pitting all star against all star at two positions. The small forward match up should be interesting in particular with the match up between Carmelo Anthony and Paul Pierce. As both team’s best scorers this match up could go a long way in determining who comes out on top.
Power Forward also has a match up of two All Stars pitting Amare Stoudemire against Kevin Garnett. Like the series as a whole this match up has question marks. Which Amare will show up? The aggressive MVP-caliber player we saw in the first half of the season or the Amare who settles for mid range jump shots and doesn’t rebound. Garnett also has his share of question marks with the biggest concerning his knees and if they can hold up for another deep playoff run.
Despite potentially having match ups at these two spots, the Knicks are probably out manned at point guard, shooting guard and bench play, which does not bode well in their hopes of pulling off the upset.
X Factor: Chauncey Billups
Perhaps the one player on the Boston Celtics who has the ability to dominate a series is Rajon Rondo, as we saw him do last year against Cleveland. For the Knicks to have any chance of winning the series Chauncey Billups will have to either find a time machine or will need a flashback to his younger years and contain Rondo.
This will be no small task for the veteran point guard as Rondo’s speed is likely to give Billups, who at times has looked washed up, fits. Billups must play smart defense and keep Rondo out of the paint.
Billups will also be needed to be the Knicks’ third scorer for them to have any hope. The Celtics defense does a tremendous job against isolation basketball, meaning players other than Anthony and Stoudamire will have to contribute. Once seen as just a throw in to make the Melo trade work, Billups will need to add to his already impressive playoff resume in order for the Knickerbockers to advance.
Prediction: Celtics in 6
This series should only be rivaled by the Mavericks-Blazers series in terms of competitiveness and excitement, but at the end of the day I see the Celtics taking this one.
The old adage goes that defense wins championships, so the Knicks just can’t be trusted at the point. Expect the series to be tightly contested with very little blowouts but the Knicks’ inability to get big stops will ultimately be the end of them. The C’s sudden lack of size will probably do them over at some point, but the Knicks are not the team to do that this year.
Next: Will the Heat live up to the hype?
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Perhaps the most covered team over the regular season was the Miami Heat, whether this was deserved or not is another debate but the Heat were a lightning rod for stories. Throughout the year everyone was jumping to conclusions over whether the controversial team was a success; throw those opinions out the window, because now it is time for their true test.
Waiting for the self proclaimed Heatles are one of the league’s feel good stories of the year, Doug Collins’ Philadelphia 76ers. Will the Heat live up to the hype or will the 76ers continue to surprise us all?
Common sense tells us that the Heat will take care of the 76ers with ease as they swept the season series but this match up may have more intrigue than expected. The youth Philly might be able to give Miami fits which could lead us to an exciting series.
The match up which may be the one to watch in this one is at small forward as LeBron James takes on Andre Iguodala. Iguodala has taken his game to new heights this season, embracing his defensive skills so much that he should be runner up to Dwight Howard for Defensive Player of The Year honors. The size and strength of Iguodadla could cause LeBron to struggle.
The 76ers might struggle at the match up at shooting guard though, as they seemingly have no answer for Dwayne Wade. The inability for the 76ers to create their own shots may also be a deciding factor in the series.
X Factor: Lou Williams and Thaddeus Young
For the 76ers to make this series competitive their bench has to dominate Miami’s second unit. Led by Lou Williams and Thaddeus Young, Philly’s bench has been one of the team’s strongest areas this season, while Miami’s bench has struggled for the most part.
Williams and Young have the ability to take over games for Philly and they will need to do just that for Philadelphia to shock the world.
Prediction: Heat in five
Part of me wants to declare this series a remix of last season’s thrilling Lakers-Thunder series but the main problem with that is the 76ers inability to create their own shots in one-on-one situations. When the game gets tight they may not have an option, while the Heat will have a proven clutch scorer in Dwayne Wade to go to.
Expect Iguodala to introduce himself to those who don’t know him yet with a strong showing against James, but the 76ers will ultimately fall short. Meaning the Heat get to take their talents to their second round and we are forced to hear more hype.
Next: Can Superman take the Magic back to the Finals
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Last year the Magic and Hawks met in the second round of the playoffs, the result was one of the most lopsided playoff series ever as the Magic destroyed the Hawks. This year they meet again, in a first round tilt.
Both of these teams have been overlooked this season as contenders and deservedly so. The Magic made more news for their trades than on the court success while the Hawks have seemed to have peak.
Atlanta responded to Orlando’s dominance in the playoffs by winning the season series 3-1 surprisingly. Including a game in which Jason Collins of all people frustrated Magic superstar Dwight Howard.
Perhaps the most overlooked series in the east, this series has the potential to be a good one if Atlanta can continue its success against Orlando. Orlando still seems to be making adjustments since those two trades which could lead to an upset.
X Factor: Orlando’s ability to get Dwight Howard the ball.
Perhaps the most frustrating thing about the Orlando Magic is that they have a center with the ability to dominate the game, yet we still see Jameer Nelson, Gilbert Arenas, Jason Richardson and others hoisting up 3’s. Simply put, Dwight Howard doesn’t get the ball nearly as much as he should.
Howard has the ability to grab a series by the throat as evident during his 2009 playoff run when he took Orlando to the Finals. To be successful during these playoffs the Magic must utilize Superman to his full potential, if not they are playing right into the Hawks’ hands.
Despite Collins’ success, the belief that Howard can be stopped by any member of the Hawks is outlandish; if Orlando gets the ball to their big man this should be an easy series for them.
Prediction: Magic in five
Simply put, Dwight Howard will be too much for this Hawks team on both ends of the court once again. Atlanta’s only hope is to speed the tempo of the game up and attempt to entice the Magic guards to take the shots rather than Howard.
At the end of the day though, Howard and the Magic will move on to an interesting match up with Chicago, while the Hawks will continue to be one of the league’s most talented pretenders.
Next: The soon to be MVP takes his game to the playoffs.
One of the most pleasant surprises of the NBA season has been the Chicago Bulls, we all thought they would be good, few thought they would be elite. Here they are, the number one seed in the league and their star Derrick Rose will be named the MVP in no time, but is there a chance for a letdown round one?
Probably not, the advantage of being the top seeded team in the East is that you get to play a team who finished eight games under.500, the Indiana Pacers.
The Pacers are no push over though, with a young nucleus of Danny Granger, Roy Hibbert and Darren Collison the Pacers have won key games against the Lakers, Heat and their playoff opponent the Bulls. The Bulls won the season series 3-1.
X Factor: Luol Deng
We all know about Rose, Boozer and Noah but perhaps the second best player on this year’s Bulls has been Deng. Deng has provided some scoring punch for Chicago and been a strong defender for Tom Thibodeau.
The Bulls will make this series a short chapter in their playoff run if Deng plays to his potential against Indiana. Deng will likely be matched up with Pacers scorer Danny Granger, if Deng can just contain Granger the Bulls will advance easily.
Prediction: Bulls sweep
The Bulls come into the playoffs as the league’s hottest team and a team who essentially made the playoffs by default is not going to dowse that flame.
Expect a huge series from Rose as he continues to build upon his status as one of the league’s elite players. The Pacers have no real advantages across the board making the thought of them winning even one game unimaginable.
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