Chicago Bulls, Boston Celtics, Miami Heat and Orlando Magic Chances in the East
As the NBA season is over halfway done with, the playoff picture is starting to unfold.
In the Eastern Conference, teams are scouring for position, trying to get home court advantage. In a conference predominantly dominated by four to five teams, the East looks like it's going to be one fun-filled postseason.
Since the season began, it felt as though players swapped from the West to the East. These moves have significantly made the East more competitive now and in the future.
LeBron James and Chris Bosh went to the Heat from the Cavaliers and Raptors, respectively. Amare Stoudemire signed a humongous contract with the Knicks. Carmelo Anthony, formerly of the Nuggets, got traded to the Knicks days before the deadline. Deron Williams went from the now Jerry Sloan-less Jazz to the up-and-coming New Jersey Nets (soon to be Brooklyn Nets).
The East looks like we have traveled back to the 1990's. And for that, I'm excited.
So, with all this being said, here's the odds that these eight teams will make it to the NBA Finals:
The Wild Card: Charlotte Bobcats
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The Bobcats currently stand at 25-32, currently 1.5 games back of the Indiana Pacers for the eighth seed.
So, they are still in contention of cementing their second playoff visit since the team's inception in 2004.
However, they will need a little bit of luck.
They sent forward Gerald Wallace and center Nazr Mohammed out of town for forward D.J. White, guard Morris Peterson, center Joel Przybilla, forward Sean Marks and multiple first-round picks.
Wallace, the cornerstone of the franchise, is now in Portland, and I think his departure will worsen the Bobcats' chances of making the playoffs.
He meant a lot to the team and his trade probably hurts the team's chemistry.
They will need a lot of luck to make it into the playoffs, especially since they are trailing the Pacers for the eighth spot in the East.
The Pacers didn't make any moves at the deadline, so I think that they will get in over the Bobcats:
Playoff Chances: 10-1
Finals Chances: 75-1
8. Indiana Pacers
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Like Charlotte, the Pacers will also need a lot of luck to make it all the way to the Finals.
Their team is exceptionally young and they did not make any deals at the deadline, but according to reports, the Pacers were mighty close to dealing for the Grizzlies' O.J. Mayo.
If the regular season ended now, the Pacers will be facing the Boston Celtics in the first round, and that is going to be a tough matchup for the young Pacers.
They may be able to sneak in a win, but that's about it.
The Celtics have the most playoff experience out of any team in the East, and to face a team that doesn't have many players like that, the Pacers will be in trouble.
Behind star Danny Granger, the Pacers are hoping that they can contend in the future. But as of right now, they will not be able to do that.
Finals Chances: 55-1
7. Philadelphia 76ers
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Like the Pacers, the Sixers really have no players with playoff experience. They won't get very far in the playoffs, but I think they could surprise some people.
If the playoffs started right now, the Sixers would be facing the Miami Heat in the first round.
With the Heat lacking some team chemistry, I think they could lose a few games to Andre Iguodala and the Sixers.
In my opinion, the Heat will definitely advance to the second round, but they will have some trouble against the young core of players that the Sixers have.
With Iguodala, Evan Turner, Lou Williams, Jrue Holiday and veteran Elton Brand, the Sixers have a bright future. They may have to make some moves to be a powerhouse like the top four teams, but they could be a very formidable team in the next few years.
Look for the Sixers to play their best in the playoffs under veteran head coach Doug Collins.
My bold prediction: I wouldn't be surprised if the Sixers took the Heat to a Game 7, at least a Game 6.
Finals Chances: 40-1
6. New York Knicks
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The Knicks made the biggest move at the trade deadline.
Dealing primarily for Carmelo Anthony and Chauncey Billups, the Knicks gave up Raymond Felton, Danilo Gallinari, Wilson Chandler and Timofey Mozgov to the Nuggets.
On paper, it looks like the Knicks gave up too much. But they could get other things in return, as players will get bought out and possibly go to Amare and Co.
The Knicks are trying to go back to the days of Patrick Ewing and Larry Johnson, and now, they got two superstars, both of which are possibly two of the top fifteen players in the NBA.
Currently with a starting rotation of Billups, Landry Fields, Carmelo, Amare and Ronny Turiaf, the Knicks are looking to become a team that could run with the Heat, Celtics, Magic and Bulls.
They are a very capable team, and although it may take some time to get some chemistry going, the Knicks could go deep into the playoffs. It will take some luck, though.
If the playoffs started now, they would take on the Bulls, which is no cake walk. But they could possibly take the Bulls to a Game 6 or 7.
Finals Chances: 18-1
5. Atlanta Hawks
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The Hawks are currently the fifth seed in the playoffs, as they would be taking on the Magic if the regular season ended today.
With a deadline deal sending Mike Bibby and two others to Washington for Kirk Hinrich and Hilton Armstrong, the Hawks seemingly didn't get better.
A shake-up was in order for the Hawks, but I was expecting a bigger deal to get done.
The starting rotation is high quality, but the bench needs some work outside of Jamal Crawford. The Hawks had lacked a dominant back-up big man and I don't think Armstrong fills those needs.
I don't see the Hawks getting very far in the playoffs, and I wouldn't be surprised if the Hawks didn't win a game in the opening round of the playoffs.
Finals Chances: 25-1
4. Orlando Magic
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The Magic are looking to advance to the Finals for the second time in the last three seasons.
Orlando was very competitive at the beginning of the season, as they traded away Vince Carter and Marcin Gortat and received Jason Richardson, Gilbert Arenas and Hedo Turkoglu.
The roster shake-up was necessary, because they looked quite lethargic at the beginning of the season.
They are currently 36-22 and are challenging the Chicago Bulls for the third spot in the East.
With a team that is virtually stacked all the way around, Orlando is looking to delve deep into the playoffs.
In my opinion, they are one of four teams that have the best chances of making it to the promise land.
Finals Chances: 8-1
3. Chicago Bulls
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The Bulls were busy this offseason, acquiring power forward Carlos Boozer and role players, looking to solidify the bench.
With the team run by MVP candidate Derrick Rose, the Bulls have been on fire this season, currently having the best record at home in the entire NBA.
Along with Rose and Boozer, forward Luol Deng and center Joakim Noah have helped the Bulls to the third best record in the East right now.
Noah has just returned to the lineup after going down with an injury.
Now with the team fully healthy, the Bulls are trying to catch the Miami Heat and Boston Celtics for the best record in the conference.
And perhaps with the best Bulls team since Michael Jordan left, I think they have a very good shot at making the NBA Finals for the first time in over a decade.
Finals Chances: 5-1
2. Miami Heat
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The Heat had perhaps the best offseason in NBA history, as they acquired former MVP LeBron James and superstar forward Chris Bosh.
With a team led by those three, the Heat are looking to become the next big perennial powerhouse in the NBA.
The main problem with the Heat, however, is that they lack depth and really have no quality players outside of the second coming of the "Big Three".
With issues like that, the Heat may have trouble advancing to the Conference Finals, much less the actual NBA Finals.
But with those three on the same team, there's always a shot that they could take them all the way throughout the playoffs.
They will need to have some luck, though.
Finals Chances: 4-1
1. Boston Celtics
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Ah, the Celtics are on top again.
One of the oldest teams in the NBA, the Celtics are looking to return to the Finals for the third time in four years. And they have a pretty good shot at it to.
Led by the "Big Three", Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen, Boston has held the best record in the East throughout the season so far.
One problem they need to solve, however, is the durability issues.
With the signings of Jermaine O'Neal and Shaquille O'Neal, the Celtics were hoping they would be able to contribute. Both have been injured throughout the season and it has been rare that they have had their full team healthy.
Even though they haven't been one-hundred percent healthy, they have still managed to stay atop the East.
However, I think the team made a dumb move in dealing away center Kendrick Perkins, the second longest tenured Celtic.
They now lack a dominant big man and I think that will significantly ruin their chances of making it back to the NBA Finals. Newly-acquired Nenad Krstic is going to have to play well, along with Glen Davis.
And not to mention, the O'Neal's need to return healthy.
I think the Celtics are going to have a hard time returning deep into the playoffs.
Finals Chances: 5-1
Predictions
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If the playoffs started today this is what it would look like:
(1) Boston Celtics vs. (8) Indiana Pacers
(2) Miami Heat vs. (7) Philadelphia 76ers
(3) Chicago Bulls vs. (6) New York Knicks
(4) Orlando Magic vs. (5) Atlanta Hawks
Game Predictions:
First Round:
(1) Boston Celtics 4, (8) Indiana Pacers 0
(2) Miami Heat 4, (7) Philadelphia 76ers 2
(3) Chicago Bulls 4, (6) New York Knicks 3
(4) Orlando Magic 4, (5) Atlanta Hawks 1
Second Round:
(1) Boston Celtics 4, (4) Orlando Magic 2
(2) Miami Heat 3, (3) Chicago Bulls 4
Conference Finals
(1) Boston Celtics 3, (3) Chicago Bulls 4
*Final Analysis*
As you can see, I predict that the Bulls will go to their first NBA Finals since the Michael Jordan era.
I'm not sure as to who they will play, but I think the Bulls, as long as they are healthy, will ride it all the way and make it in.
With tough and tumultuous matchups against the Knicks, Heat and Celtics, the Bulls will somehow prevail and give the Bulls fans hope for the present and future.
