2011 NBA Playoff Predictions: Projecting Winners for the Eastern Conference
The NBA season is coming to a close and we are down to just eight teams in the Eastern Conference playing for a shot at a NBA Championship.
This has been one interesting season and these playoffs are expected to be even better.
Whether it is Boston's late season struggles or Chicago's recent surge to achieve home court advantage throughout the playoffs there are tons of stories set to make the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs dramatic and compelling.
Some say that there are only three legitimate teams that could come out of the East but that doesn't mean some of the underdogs can't make any noise, and possibly upset a higher seed.
It's time to go through each match up and decide who will survive and make it to the second round.
Chicago Bulls vs. Indiana Pacers
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The Chicago Bulls take on the Indiana Pacers in the 1 vs. 8 match-up in a series that the Bulls should win easily.
Indiana lost three out of four to the Bulls during the regular season and will finish under .500 entering the playoffs but seemed to have a few favorable match ups in the game they did win.
Tyler Hansbrough has played the Bulls well and is averaging 20.5 PPG and 7 RPG against them. The Bulls, like most other teams, have a difficult time matching up against such a versatile player who can post up smaller defenders and beat bigger defenders off the dribble. I expect the Bulls to throw something new at Hansbrough but I still expect a good series from him.
Another guy that has given the Bulls fits is Danny Granger. Granger is probably the Pacers best player and can score the basketball in a variety of ways, whether it's shooting from beyond the arc, getting to the rim or getting to the foul line. I expect Granger to have solid numbers in the series and along with Hansbrough, show that Indiana has something to look forward to in the future.
All the being said I expect the Bulls to handle Indiana easily. No one on the Pacers, or in the league, can guard Derrick Rose and I expect a big series out of Carlos Boozer who can help dominate the paint against weaker Pacer defenders like Josh McRoberts and Jeff Foster.
In the end I see the Pacers winning one game at home and the Bulls dominating the rest.
Bulls win in five games.
Miami Heat vs. Philadelphia 76ers
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The Heat take on the 76ers in the second most lopsided match up of the first round and simply have to much talent for a team like Philadelphia.
Miami swept Philadelphia in the regular season 3-0 and dominated the 76ers.
Andre Iguodala is a great perimeter defender and has the potential to make things hard on Lebron or Wade, but that still won't be enough for the 76ers who are simply out gunned in this match up.
Philadelphia has a good young nucleus, a good coach in Doug Collins, and seems to have a good future ahead. They, like many average or below average teams, are missing a star that is clearly the number one guy. If Evan Turner could turn into that star, which is not likely based on his play thus far, the 76ers could be a playoff bound team for years to come.
Miami will win this one easily and go into the second round confident and on a roll.
Heat win in four games.
Boston Celtics vs. New York Knicks
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The Celtics will face the new-look New York Knicks in probably the most intriguing first round series these playoffs have to offer.
The Celtics have clinched the season series against the Knicks having beaten them three times already but will play them again in their season finally.
The Celtics, as everyone knows, have struggled down the stretch and have hobbled into the playoffs for the third straight year. The after effects of the Kendrick Perkins trade still seem to be affecting Boston and the newly acquired players have yet to find their roles on the team.
Even with that said I trust that Boston will be able to flip the switch again these playoffs, as they did last year, and elevate their game come April 15.
The Celtics are clearly a better team that plays better defense and has more playoff experience but the Knicks have the 2 best players in the series on their side in Carmelo Anthony and Amare Stoudemire, which always means things will be interesting.
The Celtics will struggle against the star power the Knicks have but because of home court advantage and the false sense of security they seem to have given the league I still have them advancing to the second round.
Boston wins in six games.
Orlando Magic vs. Atlanta Hawks
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The most even match up in the East is between Orlando and Atlanta.
Atlanta took the season series against Orlando 3-1 but Orlando dominated last year's Atlanta team in the second round, sweeping them and winning by an average margin of almost 20 points a game.
This years Orlando team is different but Dwight Howard is even better. Howard is a clear MVP candidate and playing the best basketball of his career and dominates the paint on offense as well as on defense. The Hawks do have the size to match up against Howard and the combination of Al Horford and Zaza Pachulia will be enough to slow him as much as possible.
The Hawks are also a different team and Joe Johnson is having one of his worst seasons as a Hawks player since earning a max contract with the team in the off season.
Even with Atlanta taking the season series Dwight Howard will be to much for Atlanta, a team that always folds early in the playoffs, especially with their star struggling the way he is.
Orlando advances to the second round to take on Chicago.
Orlando wins in six.
