Early NBA Playoff Predictions: Eastern Conference

Joe Willett gives his much anticipated Eastern Conference Playoff Predictions. And the winner is...

by Joe Willett (Senior Writer)

9

1424 reads

Sports

March 04, 2008

NBA Playoffs, 2008 Predictions

My predictions for the Western Conference got a ton of people commenting and apparently a lot of discussion derived from it.

Hopefully, I can get the same amount of discussion going with this article about the lesser conference.

On with the predictions.

The Eastern Conference has spent the last month sending their stars to the West in hopes of rebuilding their broken down teams. (See Pau Gasol and Shaq)

Detroit and Boston could provide the West a formidable opponent come playoff time, however.

And I might just have a hard time choosing either team to lose.

But first, who's in, and who's out.

1. Boston Celtics

2. Detroit Pistons

3. Orlando Magic

4. Cleveland Cavaliers

5. Washington Wizards

6. Toronto Raptors

7. New Jersey Nets

8. Atlanta Hawks

The first round is going to be tough for some teams, and easy for others. The Celtics and Pistons have a cake-walk through the Eastern Conference until they get to the finals.

Right?

Well...

Boston Celtics vs. Atlanta Hawks, Celtics in 4

Detroit Pistons vs. New Jersey Nets, Pistons in 4

Orlando Magic vs. Toronto Raptors, Magic in 6

Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Washington Wizards, Cavaliers in 6

The Celtics and Pistons will both make it out of the first round pretty easy. But the other two series will be pretty close. I got in a fight with some friends over the Cavs- Wizards series, if the Wizards win in real life, they are going to get some serious trash talk.

I let them win because I'm nice like that. Don't hate me Wizards fans.

So now, we get to the second round.

Boston Celtics vs. Cleveland Cavaliers, Celtics in 6

Detroit Pistons vs. Orlando Magic, Pistons in 6 

Both teams will be challenged in the second round. But both will make it out alive for the battle that we have all been waiting for.

Finally, Celtics-Pistons, the teams everyone has been debating on this website and others. Now we get to see who the best team is in a seven game series. So who comes out alive?

Boston Celtics vs. Detroit Pistons, Celtics in 7

So, now that we have a finals matchup, Celtics vs. Lakers. Those great matchups from the Magic Johnson vs. Larry Bird era are back.  Kobe vs. Peirce, Garnett vs. Bynum, Gasol vs. Allen.  It's a good time, for NBA fans.

Leave comments commending my brilliance or cursing me.

I'm Joe W. 

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comments (9) write a comment »

  1. this was stupid any monkey can make predictions prive it

  2. i agree,b ut i think he meant prove it! Atlanta will blow it! Well see soon enough

  3. this ws ok i agree with the celtics, but semi lame peice. Infact ill kill u! Where do live Ill kill you!

  4. darec ur gay

  5. Great article, Joe. I am very biased, but I actually think the Magic are very big question mark come playoff time. I know it's the playoffs and some teams are more experienced than others in that area, but the Magic have interesting records against their opponents. They are 2-1 against Toronto, 2-2 against the Pistons, 2-1 against the Celtics and 1-1 against the Lakers so far this season. After all, it is the NBA...anything can happen.

  6. I think you're clueless if you think the Sixers don't make the playoffs in the East. They are a better team than either the Nets or the Hawks right now. If the Wiz don't get healthy, they could even end up with the #6 seed.

  7. Nice predictions! Only it would take the Pistons 4 games to knock off the Celtics in the playoffs.

    Pistons would beat any team from the western conference in a 5 or 7 game series. Which ever the NBA decides to go with.

    1. i think it's crazy that the west has so many better teams than in the east and has so much depth, but the top 2 teams from the east are probably better than any western team

  8. Disrespect!
    Cleveland and Washington
    Cleveland at 6!?
    There's no way Cleveland can stop Phil Shaneers DAGGER! and the Wizards Big 3.
    With Gilbert, Caron, and Antwan healthy, Wizards will win at 5.
    I'm with E.C.

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About the Author Joe Willett (senior writer)

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