2008 NBA East Playoff Matchups
Celtics, Pistons Front-Runners for Eastern Conference Title
A breakdown and predictions of the 2008 Eastern Conference NBA Playoffs.
Though lacking the intrigue of the Western Conference Playoff race, the Eastern Conference provided exciting finishes and should feature interesting matchups, especially after the first round. The Boston Celtics dominated the East in the regular season with a record of 66-16, which was seven games better than the second seeded Detroit Pistons.
The Atlanta Hawks slipped in with the eighth seed, beating out the Indiana Pacers by just one game.
Here's a breakdown of the Eastern Conference Playoff Matchups:
(1) Boston Celtics vs (8) Atlanta Hawks
Congratulations for the young Hawks team to get in the playoffs, but they should be a quick one-and-done for the Celtics. Boston's defense is one of the best in the NBA, holding opponents to just 90.3 ppg (second lowest in the NBA) and 41.9% from the field (lowest in the NBA). Boston also outscored opponents by more than 10 per game (highest in NBA) during the season. Moreover, the Celtics' young bench has stepped up to help the big three of Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen, while the additions of Sam Cassell and PJ Brown have also proved beneficial.
Prediction: Celtics sweep.
(2) Detroit Pistons vs (7) Philadelphia 76ers
Detroit shouldn't have too much trouble with the Sixers, but don't be surprised if Philadelphia steals a game or two. Point guard Andre Miller is underrated and his game closely resembles that of Chauncey Billups. The only real difference between the two is that Billups has played in games deeper in the playoffs and has a much more effective outside shot. Otherwise, both are big, strong point guards who know how to win and get teammates involved.
One thing the Pistons have this year that they didn't have last year is depth. A youthful bench of Jason Maxiell, Amir Johnson, Rodney Stuckey, Arron Afflalo and Jarvis Hayes has enabled coach Flip Saunders to rest his veterans more. If the Sixers want a chance in this series, they'll have to force more of an up-tempo style, as the Pistons prefer to slow things down and work the ball around. An up-tempo style might allow Philadelphia to advantage their athletic wings more, like Andre Iguodala, Thaddeus Young and Rodney Carney.
Prediction: Pistons in five.
(3) Orlando Magic vs (6) Toronto Raptors
Toronto isn't really designed for playoff basketball and if Chris Bosh isn't playing well, the team tends to struggle. Jose Calderon and TJ Ford will be so important, because in order for Toronto to play well in this series, they'll need production from their shooters. That means it will be Calderon and Ford's responsibilities to get those players involved. Meanwhile, the Magic are playing with a lot of confidence and Toronto really doesn't have an answer for Dwight Howard in the middle. Hedo Turkoglu and Rashard Lewis will have to perform at a high level if Orlando wants to go far in the playoffs.
Prediction: Magic in five.
(4) Cleveland Cavaliers vs (5) Washington Wizards
These two teams always seem to meet one another in the playoffs. In the past, Cleveland's gotten the better of Washington, which may be a motivating factor for the Wizards. Gilbert Arenas is back and healthy and the Wizards have played fairly well all season, despite the injuries they've sustained. If the Wizards do somehow get past the Cavs, it could be an interesting matchup against the Celtics in the second round. Washington was the only team in the league to win the season series against the Celtics (3-1). Yet, LeBron James is a difference-maker and Cleveland should win the rebounding battle. This will be a fun series to watch.
Prediction: Cavs in seven.
