NBA Playoffs 2011: Predicting the MVP of Each Eastern Conference Matchup

While the NBA Playoffs are certainly not March Madness, they do offer a lot of excitement. Given the smaller amount of teams in the field, upsets happen less frequently, but they are not out of the question (just ask the Dallas Mavericks in 2007).

With the first round of action getting ready to begin, NBA fans should be thinking about who will be the best player in each of the eight series.

I'll be covering the four in the East.

Do I know for sure that these players will be the best in their respective matchups? No.

But then again, the MVP can sometimes be a subjective award so there's no harm in making some predictions.

Without further ado, here are my Eastern Conference quarterfinals MVPs.

No. 1 Chicago Bulls vs. No. 8 Indiana Pacers

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CHICAGO - FEBRUARY 24: Derrick Rose #1 of the Chicago Bulls leaps to dunk the ball against the Indiana Pacers at the United Center on February 24, 2010 in Chicago, Illinois. The Bulls defeated the Pacers 120-110. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges

The MVP of the regular season should, and will, be Derrick Rose. Hands down, no argument.

This series will be no different.

Against the Indiana Pacers this year, Rose has averaged 27.0 points, 5.8 rebounds and 6.5 assists per game. The Chicago Bulls emerged victorious in three of the four meetings against the Pacers in the regular season, with the lone loss coming in spite of a 42-point effort from Rose.

Expect the Bulls to come out of this series relatively unscathed, largely due to the play of their star point guard.

Projected Stats: 26.3 PPG, 7.0 APG, 5.4 RPG, 1.2 SPG

No. 2 Miami Heat vs. No. 7 Philadelphia 76ers

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MIAMI, FL - MARCH 25: Guard Dwyane Wade #3 of the Miami Heat shoots over Guard Jodie Meeks #20 of the Philadelphia Sixers at American Airlines Arena on March 25, 2011 in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downlo

Picking against the two-time reigning NBA MVP in this matchup is not all that difficult.

LeBron James will be guarded by Andre Iguodala, one of the game's elite perimeter defenders. With the defensive stopper on James, Dwyane Wade will reap the benefits.

Wade's stats this season against the 76ers tell much of the tale, as he has exploded for ridiculous averages of 30.7 points, 8.0 rebounds, 6.7 assists, 2.7 steals and 2.3 blocks per contest.

While LBJ's numbers against Philadelphia aren't pedestrian, they aren't on the same level as those of his teammate.

This series may not be an easy one for Miami to win, but they will nonetheless advance to the second round. If there's any doubt, Wade will carry the load and ensure the Heat's advance.

Projected Stats: 28.5 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 7.3 APG, 2.5 SPG, 1.3 BPG

No. 3 Boston Celtics vs. No. 6 New York Knicks

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BOSTON - NOVEMBER 29: Paul Pierce #34 of the Boston Celtics takes a shot over Jared Jeffries #20 of the New York Knicks at the TD Banknorth Garden November 29, 2007 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by

Upon first look, the Celtics/Knicks matchup is an intriguing one. Upon further review, Boston went 4-0 against the Knickerbockers this season, suggesting an easy series victory.

The fourth win came in the final game of the regular season, so the starters for both squads were mostly resting.

In his three games against the Knicks, Paul Pierce has been outstanding. Scoring 26.0 points and grabbing 10.0 rebounds per game, he clearly enjoys playing the defense-deficient Knicks.

Having witnessed Pierce's killer instinct firsthand, I believe that in the playoffs he will be Boston's best player.

This MVP choice is a tough one, however, given Rajon Rondo's 16.7 assists per game against New York along with Kevin Garnett's 22.7 points and 11.3 rebounds per game, and 62.5 percent field goal shooting.

Ray Allen can light it up at any given moment as well, but the Celtics will win because of teamwork. If an MVP has to be selected, it will probably be Pierce.

Projected Stats: 24.3 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 3.8 APG, 52.4% FG

No. 4 Orlando Magic vs. No. 5 Atlanta Hawks

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ATLANTA - MAY 10: Dwight Howard #12 of the Orlando Magic defends the basket against Joe Johnson #2 of the Atlanta Hawks during Game Four of the Eastern Conference Semifinals of the 2010 NBA Playoffs at Philips Arena on May 10, 2010 in Atlanta, Georgia.

The Atlanta Hawks went 3-1 against Orlando this season, with the lone loss coming before the Magic's major roster change. Regardless, many NBA followers will continue to doubt the Hawks until they prove they can win in the playoffs.

This postseason, Joe Johnson will prove his haters, on both the team and individual level, wrong.

He played in three of the four games against Orlando this season, putting up averages of 19.3 points, 5.3 rebounds and 4.0 assists per outing. Johnson has shot only 44.3 percent from the field this season, but against the Magic that number increased to 47.9 percent.

Orlando will not be able to win this matchup without a strong performance from their star center, Dwight Howard, who has put up some solid numbers against the Hawks this year.

The most important number, however, is 4.8: the average number of personal fouls he has committed against Atlanta this season.

If Howard fails to stay on the court, Atlanta and Johnson could have their way with Orlando and eliminate the Magic. That is, of course, if Johnson doesn't pull off another disappearing act.

Projected Stats: 20.6 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 4.8 APG