A Case of Weeding Out: The 2014 Eastern Conference Playoff Preview

Unlike the Western Conference, the first eight teams of the East are considered a surprise, since there is a huge gap between each other in terms of games behind. But this does not mean that things are not going to get excited, because with the East, one ought to be ready for surprises.

(1) Indiana Pacers vs. (8) Atlanta Hawks

The Pacers In: Coach Frank Vogel and the rest of the Pacers should be able to breathe a sigh of relief after having reached number 1 despite a late season slump. But despite this decline, it still doesn't change the fact that they are one of the teams with the best personnel. They have quality post presence in Roy Hibbert and David West, a formidable playmaking/scoring combo in Paul George and Lance Stephenson, and reliable role players in Evan Turner (although one could put a huge question mark on him) and George Hill. The bottom line here is that we should not even be debating whether the Pacers are going past the first and second rounds. The more important question here is: can they build enough confidence to beat Miami in the Eastern Conference Finals?

The Hawks In: Another season passes for the Hawks, another disappearance for center Al Horford. It's a good thing, though, that for this season, the Hawks are prepared by having former Utah Jazz Paul Millsap at their side. However, despite this, Coach Mike Budenholzer still prefers work from the outside, that is, rely heavily on three-point specialist Kyle Korver to bomb opponents and Jeff Teague to slide in and out. But would this work against a playoff powerhouse that can cover all bases? This perhaps is Budenholzer's moment, as we see how he adjust against an elite team.

What could be: There's even no question here, and there should not be. Pacers in 5.

(4) Chicago Bulls vs. (5) Washington Wizards

The Bulls In: It must have been difficult for the Bulls to move on without Derrick Rose for the second straight season, and Coach Tom Thibodeau deserves another round of praise and applause for making plan B work. As of now, the Bulls heavily rely on Joakim Noah and Taj Gibson. Oh, and did we mention that Luol Deng is out of the team? The Bulls settled for Jimmy Butler and Mike Dunleavy, and miraculously, they managed to survive. Hopefully, this set up won't be here for the next playoff series, but at least Bulls fans can bank on the confidence of their players and Thib's strategy. But the question here is, up to when will this last?

The Wizards In: Gilbert Arenas. As far as everyone can remember, he is the team's star when the Wizards last entered the playoffs. Thanks to a few maneuvres here and there (which, by the way, doesn't guarantee something any better in the near future), the Wizards are now in the playoffs courtesy of Nene, Marcin Gortat, Martell Webster, and of course John Wall. Certainly, it was Wall who made it possible with his all-star performance, and at least for this season, he got the help that he needed in these three, plus a few contributions here and there by Trevor Ariza (who seems to be back in his old form after having avoided injuries), and young gun Bradley Beal (now in the process of showing that he's not just for show). However, despite this upgrade, it will be difficult to duplicate the success of Arenas' squad before, and its success depends on Wall playing better than what everyone sees right now

What could be: In a loose sense, both of these are recovery projects. However, only one of them can succeed, and the Bulls can nail this one in six games.

(2) Miami Heat vs. (7) Charlotte Bobcats

The Heat In: My, my, Miami. At the beginning of the season, the trio of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh, are ready for title defense. Unfortunately, due to the rise of the teams who are out to get their backs, as well as a few injuries at some points in the season, they suffered a little setback. This playoffs is a first in their title defense, as it is expected that they lose their homecourt advantage by the Eastern Conference Finals, and it does not sound so good because they will be doing so only against the Indiana Pacers, with whom they needed a game seven to advance to the Finals. Perhaps coming at this point, one thing that the Heat can do is relax and prepare themselves for whatever comes in the playoffs, for, having a bigger target at them, teams can pull outrageous but surprising tricks that could leave them packing for good.

The 'Cats In: Isn't it fitting for the last season of the Bobcats to at least have a playoff spot, considering that they were denied countless times, with the last time being Gerald Wallace's own work? Now, it seems that Al Jefferson's transfer to the Bobcats had its effects. For the first time in Bobcats history since Emeka Okafor, the team had a legitimate post presence that makes it easier for the offense to slide smooth and tougher for the defense. But will this be effective against the Miami Heat when, besides this, all it has is lots of skill coupled with inexperience in Kemba Walker, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and Cody Zeller. Let's hope that Gerald Henderson, together with Jefferson, can hold this team up.

What could be: A legitimate question with a legitimate answer: the Heat is going to sweep this one.

(3) Toronto Raptors vs. (6) Brooklyn Nets

The Raptors In: Another celebration ought to be in place for the Raptors, who for the first time secured a legitimate playoff spot since the departure of one Chris Bosh. However, one should note that this isn't a powerhouse team that promises to go deep into the playoffs. If the Raptors have a big problem, it is something that definitely concerns efficiency. DeMar DeRozan isn't exactly the efficient kind, taking 20 or more shots and making only less than half of them. Jonas Valanciunas and Amir Johnson aren't the types to bang bodies with in the course of the seven games. Perhaps the only bright light in this team is Kyle Lowry, who has fully flourished from becoming a backup role to a star point guard for a team that has flashes of brilliance despite being a subpar division leader. Does this mean that they don't deserve the playoff spot, given that the curve of wins in the East is just very low? Let them play and prove something that they have not reached so far.

The Nets In: After acquiring Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and Jason Terry, as well as hiring Jason Kidd as a coach, the Nets have become a running joke from the first part of the season. Fortunately, they were able to turn the tables, transforming themselves into an underrated playoff team, ending up at sixth and probably without any home court advantages to enjoy. But who needs these, when everyone's clicking? Paul Pierce is back in his old Celtics form, and so is Garnett despite age. Deron Williams and Joe Johnson are hitting it. The reserves are playing well (case in point, Plums). Everyone makes Jason Kidd look good. And most of all, they have the bragging rights against the defending champions. It's fun to watch the Nets these times, eh?

What could be: Let's not kid(d) ourselves here. Brooklyn can take this in 5 games.

'13-'14 P&G Game 4: vs. Atlanta Hawks

After two consecutive losses, the Lakers came back with a 105-103 win against the Atlanta Hawks; however, it was a game that was nearly lost after the Lakers blew a 21-point lead in the second half.

Yay of the Game:

13-4-4 was Nick "Swaggy P" Young's statline of the game after coming off from the bench for the first time this season (Wesley Johnson starts for the first time. In 21 minutes of play, he made 5 of 9 field goal attempts, with one of four triples. It seems that it would be more beneficial for the Lakers to relegate him as an energy provider, although it would

Nay of the Game:

100% of Atlanta G Kyle Korver's triples splashed into the net, which allowed the Hawks to bounce back in the fourth quarter and almost had the chance to snag the win away from the Lakers. Judging from the four games that the Purple & Gold has played, it is obvious that they still can't properly close games out and play tough defense. This is something that Coach... oh wait, it's Mike _'Antoni out there who's handling the reins. Somebody page the assistant coach for defense.

Play of the Game:

Here's Pau Gasol showing for the nth time that his critics were wrong in labeling him as soft.


The Lakers are now at:

2-2, coming off from last season's attempt at just being at .500. This might change when they hit the road and face Monta Ellis, Dirk Nowitzki, and the Dallas Mavericks.

Highlights:

'13-'14 P&G Game 3: vs. San Antonio Spurs

Despite building a huge lead in the first half, the Lakers realized that it's all about sustaining the lead as they failed to do so against the San Antonio Spurs, as the purple and gold suffered a measly 85-91 loss against the 2013 Finals runners-up.

Yay of the Game:

26 combined points for bench hitters Wesley Johnson and Jodie Meeks, who kept the ball rolling in terms of scoring despite this second straight loss. The difficulty that the Lakers have to face is not a matter of sustaining scoring streaks among individuals, but making sure that everyone gets at their right spots and enjoys scoring sprees. They have done that during the first half, but it seems that most of them have lost steam and gave up on defending the ball once the Spurs had the advantage.

Nay of the Game: 

8-27 from triples. This is not really the bad point against the Lakers this day (the Spurs had a late 9-1 run that put them up big in the waning minutes of the game); however, it's worth looking at the way they execute offensively, especially in terms of choosing their shots from beyond the arc. Considering that the first two games, they reached 40%, this isn't a good day for the Lakers offense. Again, consistency on the O is a must for everything to fit, especially now that without Kobe, the team is more oriented and set to work well on offense before defense.

Play of the Game:
Check out the huge Jodie Meeks slam that kept the Lakers up by 13 in the first half.



The Lakers are now at:

1-2 (5th Pacific, 12th West), and up next is an Atlanta Hawks team trying to build itself up after the departure of Josh Smith, trusting solely on Al Horford and Paul Millsap.

Highlights:



Credits to Yahoo! Sports and YouTube for the pics and videos respectively.

The Departure: Dwight Howard

By this time, at least the whole NBA universe has already known that Dwight Howard will be leaving the Lakers and signing with the Houston Rockets, ending a very long series of meetings and talks regarding the future not only of the superstar, but also of the team that he used to belong to, considered as one of the biggest and greatest NBA franchises. Reasons and speculations regarding the eventual decision and the circumstances that led to it have been brought forth and circulated across the web, citing the pressure that the big city brings to the big man, the "unappreciative" fans, Coach Mike D'Antoni, and the difficulty playing alongside Kobe Bryant, as crucial conditions that led to this decision.

At this point, one can only say that everything has already been done. Houston now prepares for D12's arrival and explores the possibility of getting someone beyond him, James Harden, and Chandler Parsons. The Lakers, on the other hand, claim that they have Plan B set in motion, as the current roster that they have, considering the loss not only of Howard, but also of Earl Clark (who went to the Cleveland Cavaliers), Andrew Goudelock and Darius Morris, among others, will not be enough to even get them at the bottom four of the playoffs. Add to that the fact that Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol are still on their way to full recovery. But before all these concerns come crashing through, perhaps one way of saying goodbye to Dwight Howard is to read and dissect his "letter" of gratitude to the Los Angeles Lakers players, management, and fans. And here it goes:

I’ve decided to become a member of the Houston Rockets.

So Howard finally decided on joining the Houston Rockets after flirting with his the Lakers, the Hawks, the Mavericks, and the Warriors, and the league should be happy about it. Actually, scrap that. It's more of a feeling of relief that finally, rumors and speculations that are NBA-related will now move away from D12. Suffice to say, everyone has been so irritated with this indecision, the second one which came after LeBron James' reveal last 2010, and it isn't worth anybody's time. Howard's performance and attitude towards the game last season has already been signs that this situation should not be overblown, and yet all have fallen to the "D12-does-not-grow-on-trees" argument. C'mon, if the Lakers have offered this guy an interesting pitch in Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol, an additional 30 million dollars in your contract, and the possibility of becoming its next big thing, how can you refuse that? Right, pressure. No wonder, this guy ripped the team off and decline further possibility for playing with the Lakers.

This is not to say that this is a representation of the collective sourgraping that Lakers fans have. In fact, most of them do not realize that this is a good move for the Lakers (interesting read here), considering that the team is still two years in rebuilding (including several awful mistakes). The Purple and Gold does not deserve a star who cannot handle playing the pressure that it brings, and the money (and the cap space, unfortunately) that could have been spent on him deserves to be put on somebody who can handle the pressure and play alongside Kobe Bryant. Unfortunately, having D12 has its setbacks, including a season-long misery that the Lakers will go through, and thankfully the Lakers will have none of all these.

I feel its the best place for me and I am excited about joining the Rockets and I’m looking forward to a great season.

But to be fair, D12's decision is a good one, by way of elimination. Houston is a "small town," upper middle-market team that started rebuilding a year ago with the planned James harden trade and a role player on the rise in Chandler Parsons. The team landed the eighth spot in the playoffs, a notch below Howard's old team, and got a couple of wins against the Oklahoma City Thunder, and that means low expectations for a team that can go beyond what has been foreseen. The Rockets have a flexible coach in Celtic legend Kevin McHale, who knows how to make good use of big men (unlike the Lakers' Mike D'Antoni, who only had Amar'e Stoudemire, Channing Frye, and Boris Diaw to be proud of... and probably Pau Gasol who is going to slide into the center spot). In other words, the atmosphere of Houston isn't as close to that of Tinseltown, where every free throw missed and an opportunity for posting up one's opponents will be looked upon with scrutinizing eyes. If it is indeed true that Howard cannot play alongside Kobe Bryant as well as handle the pressure of being at it, then Houston is the perfect city, one that can give him "unconditional love."

And that is why he cannot go to the other teams that have been wooing him for the past few weeks. Dallas looks to have a huge overhaul this season in order to once again make it in the playoffs, after a disappointing 2012-13 season, and Mark Cuban as well as Dirk Nowitzki will have none of a big man that will play like a championship doesn't matter to him. The Hawks, despite losing Josh Smith, also promised that a rebuild will make it possible for them to be contenders once again in the Eastern Conference. And the Warriors? Oh boy, the Warriors need no explanation, for now they have seen what they can do as a team. Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson led last year's playoff run, and no one's going to stop them now that they have realized what they can do.

Therefore, it makes sense for the clownish, seemingly happy-go-lucky Dwight Howard to find his place in Houston. But let this be a warning sign: the fact that they'll be seen as contenders would send a message to him, a big one actually: pressure is inevitable. If he thinks that a big franchise who has not won a championship in three years puts him in a situation that pressures him, wait until he sees a Texan crowd who has not won a championship in nearly twenty years and has finally gotten a legitimate star in the post-Yao era (which ended badly). He may find Rockets fans laughing with and about his ways, but he will not realize that in every game in regular season, he is going to be judged by his hard picks, dunks, and free throws (especially the last one). And before he can see it, the pressure that was once in Los Angeles will dawn upon him, one that even James Harden, intent on getting a ring before the Oklahoma City Thunder does, will willingly exert.

And if that does happen, where will Howard take his talents next?

I want to thank the fans in Los Angeles and wish them the best.

Yes, thank you as well Dwight Howard, for not embarking on a future that will be grim and gloomy, given your disposition towards winning championships (after all, you might have forgotten that this is the reason why you are valuable to all these five teams). Thank you for allowing the Lakers management to finally confirm for themselves the fact that they do not need a Dwight Howard that will be the anchor to the team's future, that it can go choose another one given that it will have a humongous cap space after this NBA season (uhm, calling the King this early might help. Probably.).

I'm sure that the Lakers will wish you the best. I mean, look at how Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol won two titles together.

P&G Game 60: vs. Atlanta Hawks

After the All-Star game and Dr. Jerry Buss's death, the Kobe Bryant-led Lakers started to crawl back to the West's top eight, and the first step that they have accomplished is to reach the .500 mark, an achievement which came at the expense of the Atlanta Hawks. The Lakers have led as much as 18 points in the third quarter, but a late Hawks surge gave L.A. fans the chills when the game went tit-for-tat during the last two minutes. However, Kobe Bryant, being a person of his own word, finished the Hawks off by a monstrous dunk and a game-winning layup, resulting in a 99-98 Lakers win.

Yay of the Game: 

15-10: Steve Nash's points and assists for the game. A lot of critics have been saying that Nash's new role in this new-look Lakers is a big mistake. However, this time, the former Phoenix Suns point guard took care of facilitating while Kobe finishes the plays.

Nay of the Game:

21: The number of Laker turnovers this game. This isn't a new thing, but for someone who wants to make the playoffs, this is something that should be avoided.

Play of the Game:

How old is Kobe Bryant again? He looked like his 17-year old self when he slammed one home against Josh Smith, of all people.


The Lakers Are Now At:

30-30 (3rd Pacific, 9th West). The Oklahoma City Thunder are going to be next off the Lakers' list, and if Kobe Bryant can replicate his 14-assist performance, then it should be a close game.

Highlights:

Stacked Odds: The 2012 NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs Preview

The East has always been about power, but who among them is going to come out the strongest? Here are the four playoff match-ups for the East's first round.


(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.

Examining Possibilities: The NBA 2nd Round Preview

Upsets and surprises? Let's see what we have for the next phase of the playoffs.

THE WESTERN CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS

Oklahoma City Thunder (4) vs. Memphis Grizzlies (8)

The Thunder In: Despite taking a quick five games to make it into the next round, the Thunder's trip in the first round wasn't easy. The Denver Nuggets still continued chasing for them in all of these games, as they kept the game tight with only close, single-digit leads. Can Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook (who had bad shooting problems in the series) carry over this same intensity and determination against another young team who can keep up with them?

The Grizzlies In: It's quite unbelievable that the Grizzlies were able to eliminate the top-seeded Spurs in six games, getting a 3-1 lead early in the series, many thanks to Zach Randolph. The burly Grizzlies veteran greatly helped the team not only by scoring crucial baskets and grabbing those boards, he was also able to draw defenders that allowed space for Marc Gasol, Darrell Arthur, and Grievis Vazques to get their own touches. Their success in this series largely depends on how fluid their offense can get.

What Could Be: Simply put, the Thunder will be too much for the Grizzlies, mostly because of their down-the-wire game experience. Thunder in 6.

Los Angeles Lakers (2) vs. Dallas Mavericks

The Lakers In: Kobe Bryant and his squad of three-peat candidates may have started slow, but their performance against the Hornets in Game 6 had everyone thinking that they can still get the championship trophy with their trademark offense and outstanding defense. The question now is whether they can maintain that level of play against a much more difficult team that could cancel out the advantages shown by Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum against New Orleans.

The Mavericks In: Credit has to be given where it is due, and the Mavericks' dismantling of the seemingly difficult Portland Trailblazers in six games is praiseworthy. Their offense has been outstanding, with Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Terry finding his spots, while Tyson Chandler has been a big help inside the paint in terms of defending the point. As they enter the second round, they have to get off that playoff slump and play at a more competitive level against a championship team that can pull more tricks than the Trailblazers.

What Could Be: It's hard and tiring to just try beating the Lakers, and the Mavs won't be just able to handle them. Lakers in 7.

THE EASTER CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS

Chicago Bulls (1) vs. Atlanta Hawks (5)

The Bulls In: Chicago fashionably finished off a young and versatile Indiana team who ran out of gas in their final game, and they did this with DerrickRose enduring the pain of an ankle surgery. With the soon-to-be-crowned MVP taking the lead and running the game on both sides for the Bulls, what they need to do is to do the right adjustments, most especially in defense, where they need to fill in the holes that allowed Indiana to score and even escape with a win. Can they do just that against a hungry Hawks squad?

The Hawks In: With Kirk Hinrich out for the rest of the series, life could get a bit more difficult for these young Hawks. Obviously, someone needs to step up and play the role of a playmaker AND a scorer who can easily shoot from the outside and scatter the defense, enough for Al Horford and Josh Smith to penetrate and easily score.

What Could Be: With one man down for Atlanta, it would be hard to defend against and defeat Chicago. Bulls in 5.

Miami Heat (2) vs. Boston Celtics (3)

The Heat In: LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh, ended their first round series in fashion, scoring off threes to cancel the extra efforts exerted by Andre Iguodala's Sixers in game 5. So far, they have been very consistent despite a few lapses in defense, with Chris Bosh stepping up and hitting outside jumpers to keep them afloat all through out. It seems that all will work out, but can they use this against a Boston team that has too much D on them?

The Celtics In: Aiming for their third finals appearance in four years, Boston returns to the second round with the same playoff energy that they had from the start. Dismantling Amar'e' Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony's New York Knicks have shown that it is good strategy on the D gives them the wins that they need to reach the Finals. With a new set of personnel on the bench, amidst facing problems in filling in the five position, can they still hold on and advance to the Finals against a Miami team that is hard to stop?

What Could Be: Although the Heat had been very good, they still need to really work things around to get through an experienced Boston team. Celtics in 7.