Early NBA Playoff Predictions: Eastern Conference

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.