(1) Chicago Bulls vs. (8) Philadelphia 76ers
The Bulls In: The Bulls have retained their position as king of the hill in the East for another season, despite the fact that Derrick Rose was out for more than a third of it. In fact, it might have been a blessing in disguise for the team, as it allowed their role players to finally step out of Rose's shadow and do what they do best, team defense included, to defend their fort. Most significant of them all was Luol Deng, who became this season's go-to guy, earning an All Star spot in the process. Alongside Joakim Noah, Carlos Boozer, and the rest of the Bulls, he still has to go through the test of bringing this team to postseason victory, and while the cylinders are firing, it's good that they will have Rose back for the postseason.
The Sixers In: The success of the Sixers and their possibility of going deep into the playoffs have been evident in the first part of the season, that is, until they have experienced their fallout that brought them back to the mud and fortunately, in the last playoff position. However, to say that they are going to perform like your typical number eight team would be an understatement. These guys have long been tired of getting booted out of the playoffs just after the first round, an experience Andre Iguodala and Elton Brand would hope to not experience again this season. These two guys have Jodie Meeks,Evan Turner, and Thad Young to back them up, and they have the capability to dominate, only if they become consistent and start closing out games their own way and not their opponent's. Can they or can they not? Unfortunately, this question has to be asked over and over before and after every game played.
What could Be: Team defense is still the key for Chicago, and if they play at their best, then not even the scorers of Philadelphia could even match their defensive intensity. Bulls in 5.
(4) Atlanta Hawks vs. (5) Boston Celtics
The Hawks In: For Most Improved Player candidate Jeff Teague, it would be hard losing Al Horford for the rest of the season. The Hawks under Coach Larry Drew have become steady and consistent for most of the season, and we have Josh Smith and Joe Johnson to thank for. These two guys have come up big inside the paint and within midrange, as they have carried the rest of the team on their backs, especially in terms of scoring when it mattered most (hey, remember the longest game this season? Exactly). But these two would not be able to find their sweet, comfortable areas if not for their playmaker Jeff Teague, who is making a case for Most Improved Player award after he fully embraced the role of a starting one. If Teague can make the same things as he did during the regular season, then expect that the Hawks will be handed over their ticket into the second round.
The Celtics In: The biggest question that the waning Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Ray Allen combo should ask is, "Is it the end of an era?" Well, at least with Rajon Rondo around, it seems that the Celtics can make another run for the championship. Rondo not only emerged as a real threat to opponents as a triple-double machine, but also he came out as the Celtics' leader this season by continuing to orchestrate perfect plays for the Big Three to play their roles on both ends of the court. And credit also belongs to their role players Mickael Pietrus, Brandon Bass, and Avery Bradley, who stepped up during the times when age and injuries hit their big three. From barely hanging on to the East's top eight to reasserting that they still have chances of winning the championships, can the Celtics now bring back the mean, green fighting machine of 2008 and 2010 and reclaim their throne?
What could be: The five position will be crucial here, and with Horford out and Garnett dominating the post, getting into second round will prove to be easier, but still they need to keep their defenses tight. Celtics in 6.
(2) Miami Heat vs. (7) New York Knicks
The Heat In: Is the Miami Heat running out of excuses for not winning a championship? It seems that Dwyane Wade already emphasized in one of his statements that there won't be any, and it will indeed be a huge loss if they do not at least get a chance to fight for a title (while, on the other hand, LeBron "Mr. 0.75" James, thinks otherwise). The Heat already had additions which made the team a better closer on the defensive end, and has rookies who can compete with the veterans of the league. And it seems that with the way they dismantled their opponents during the regular season despite ending up only second in the Conference tells us that Wade is only stating the obvious.
The Knicks In: The team in the biggest, busiest city of the United States had their own share of trends and fads that made fans expect that indeed the Knicks are set to make it big. First, they had Tyson Chandler, who upped their defensive intensity in the court. Second, they had Linsanity, who kept them afloat before everything went haywire. And third, they had Mike Woodson, who replaced Mike D'Antoni and made big changes to the team. All of these contributed to their ups and downs of the season, including them landing the 7th place in the playoffs. But will all of these be only matters concerning fame and popularity? Or will they really help in increasing the chances of the Knicks getting deep into the playoffs? And did we ever mention that Carmelo Anthony is hitting the high 40's again in scoring? It would be helpful to do so.
What could be: Heat in 6. And this prediction is open to various interpretations and explanations. But the thing is, New York has a three which isn't really big at all, at least for now.
(3) Indiana Pacers vs. (6) Orlando Magic
The Pacers In: The post-Reggie Miller Indiana has found a star in Danny Granger, and coupled with young role players in Roy Hibbert, David West, and Darren Collison just made this team a legitimate contender heading into the playoffs. But credit must be given mostly to Coach Frank Vogel, who made a machine out of these strong individual parts. The Pacers have established their rhythm early and it seems that there is no way that the team will let its guard down, especially now that Granger established himself to be a legitimate scorer, and Hibbert showed how he can keep up with other centers out to dominate the shaded area, though he still lacks presence in the post. With a plethora of talents going together, then it seems that the Pacers must advance, and go deep, into the East playoffs bracket.
The Magic In: Orlando basketball has taken a turn from two hours of 82 action games to a season and a half long of drama that featured a Dwight Howard who does not know how to make up its mind. But with the Superman suffering from an injury (and set to leave the team after next season, at least for now), the Magic will have to face the reality of not having him but still managing to enter the playoffs, albeit not with any form of home court advantage as before. Magic fans need not worry though, for their team has a lot of role players that can prove to be threatening as one. Just think of how Jameer Nelson can still break ankles, JJ Redick hit shooters, and Most Improved Player candidate Ryan Anderson destroy zone defenses with his sweet shooting from the outside. And without the Superman, there's always Glen Davis who has been reliable in the paint insofar as this season is concerned. The challenge, therefore, for the Magic is to get over the drama and start playing sports.
What could be: Apparently, losing Dwight Howard means losing a lot, which means giving it away for West and Hibbert. Pacers in 5.
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