If The NBA Season Ended Today: Eastern Conference Playoff Scenarios

I realize we are only 15 games into the 2008-2009 season, but I cannot resist postseason predictions.

I will update these predictions at the start of each month of the season to keep track of the changes within the league, and to follow the rise and falls of each contender. 

Eastern Conference

1. Boston Celtics (16-2) vs. 8. New York Knicks (8-8)

Boston is playing with an incredible fire in defense of their championship—and if they can keep up the pace, they should have the number-one seed in the East.

However, they will have some serious competition from the Cavs, who are off to their best start in team history.

The Celtics are currently in the midst of an eight-game winning streak, with their only losses of the season coming in two hiccups against the Pacers and Nuggets. In the month of December, the Celtics face opponents with a combined record of 110-105, which should give them some good competition and challenges as they continue their quest for a second-straight title.

If they can make it through here with at least a 10-5 record, they should be in good position to remain at the top of the East.

The Knicks are playing with a fire and urgency that hasn't been seen in the Big Apple since the late '90s. Mike D'antoni has energized his young squad with a style of playing that can only be described as "fun."

The big question is, can they keep this up?

While they have a chance to sneak into the playoffs with a .500 record or just below, there are better teams in this conference than in years past who will test them, and battle for a spot in the playoffs.

The Knicks' longest winning streak has been three games, but was against two sub-.500 teams and an injury-plagued Jazz squad. In the month of December, the Knicks face opponents with a combined record of 138-102—definitely a tough test for a young team.

If the Knicks can make it through this hard month with a .500 record, they should establishe confidence and a consistency that can carry them through the season. 

This would be an intriguing series if it came to be. D'Antoni and the Knicks trying to prove themselves against a more experienced, star-powered Celtics team. This could be a potential rivalry in the making if New York comes through in the summer of 2010 with some big-name free agents. But that's thinking too far in the future.

Series: Boston in Five.

2. Cleveland Cavaliers (14-3) vs. 7. Toronto Raptors (8-8)

Cleveland is off to its best start in franchise history as LeBron James cools off after his high-scoring 2007-2008 season with a modest 27 ppg, six apg, and seven rpg.

The Cavs have one eight-game winning streak under their belts, are currently riding a five-game winning streak, and are showing no signs of slowing down. It is obvious that their success in the 2007 post-season, where they pushed the Celtics to Game Seven in the Eastern Conference Semis, along with the rumors that James is going to run off to New York in 2010, has only further motivated this team.

In the month of December, the Cavs face opponents with a combined record of 84-115. There is no reason the Cavs shouldn't make it through December with as few losses as they had in November, if not fewer. If that were the case, they would have themselves positioned with full control over the Central Division, and an opportunity to challenge Boston for the number-one seed in the East. 

After a 3-0 start, Toronto has struggled through some tough losses and inconsistent play. On the plus side, Chris Bosh is having an MVP-caliber season posting up numbers of 27 points, two assists and 10 rebounds per game. If the Raptors can build a couple streaks of four or five wins, they should be able to position themselves as a lock in the East's playoff picture.

In the month of December, the Raptors face opponents with a combined record of 105-115. They face a tough start to the month—with four-straight games against Denver, Utah, Portland, and Cleveland—but have some soft spots in the middle of the month that they should be able to take advantage of. They need to beat the opponents they're supposed to beat, and win a few against teams better then them to keep their playoff hopes alive.

This series would be appealing if for nothing else then the potential of a LeBron James-Chris Bosh match-up, a potential prequel of teammates that could bring loads of championships for whatever team they possibly end up with in 2010.

Series: Cleveland in Five

3. Orlando (13-4) vs. 6. New Jersey (9-7)

Orlando rebounded from an 0-2 start to build streaks of four wins three times. They have taken advantage of a fairly weak November schedule to take an early lead in the Southeastern Division, and should be able to take that momentum with them into December.

They are also awaiting the return of key players Michael Pietrus and Jameer Nelson from injury. With a healthy squad and an older, more-experienced Dwight Howard, the Magic should have no problem making another return to the postseason.

In the month of December, the Magic face opponents with a combined record of 98-102. They have an easy start to the month, with games against Minnesota, Oklahoma City, and the Clippers, before heading off on a five-game west coast road trip. They need to take advantage of their fairly easy schedule to build on their success of November, and move towards solidifying a spot in the playoffs.

The Nets have been one of the biggest surprises of the '08-09 season, only further cementing their win in the Jason Kidd trade last February. Devin Harris has his best numbers of his career with 25 points, six assists, and four rebounds per game.  He has been coming through in the clutch for the Nets, throwing down 47 against the Suns in Phoenix.

The Nets are currently on a three-game winning streak, consistently beating teams they should have beatenm and losing to those that were better then them.

In the month of December, the Nets face opponents with a combined record of 97-117, definitely in their favor. If they can continue to build on their winning streak early in the month in games against Washington, Minnesota, and Philadelphia, they should find themselves in a good position by the end of the month.

Depending on how the Nets finish the season, this could be a great playoff series. Vince Carter versus Dwight Howard, and two young teams eager to break into the East's threshold would prove to be a tough battle.

Series: New Jersey in Seven

4. Atlanta (10-6) vs. 5. Detroit (10-6)

Atlanta came bursting out of the gates with a 6-0 start to the season before losing four straight and stumbling through the remainder of the season. They are still in a good position in the East and in their division, but need to find the momentum that helped them early to continue to stay atop the Eastern Conference.

The Hawks have a four-game road trip at the start of the month before an eight-game home stretch through the meat of December where they should be able to recharge for the winter.

In the month of December, the Hawks face opponents with a combined record of 127-127. Many of these teams have winning records and should give the Hawks a real test to find out what they're made of. If they can put of the kind of fight they did against Boston last year in the playoffs, they should outlast the month and come out strong.

Detroit is one of the hardest teams to read this year. After a 4-0 start and an early-season trade for Allen Iverson, the Pistons lost six of their next 12. Many are predicting that their window has closed, and this will surely be the biggest test of their typically lackluster play through the regular season before they turn on the jets for the playoffs.

The Pistons have a fairly easy December, and should be able to take advantage of early contests against teams such as Philadelphia, Washington, Indiana, and Charlotte. In the month of December, the Pistons face opponents with a combined record of 98-119.

They are going to need the Allen Iverson experiment to begin to mesh with the teams' traditionally defensive approach. At the same time, they did bring him to Detroit to increase their offense and need his numbers (18 ppg, six apg, and three rpg) to increase.

Detroit is the most at-risk right now among the East Guard to fall out of their dominating hold over the Central Division and the East. If they hope to make it seven-straight Eastern Conference Finals appearances, they are going to need to start those engines early this year.

This could be the most intense and interesting series in the East's first round—Atlanta's hot, young scoring machine versus an aging Detroit team seemingly without an identity right now. One must always give Detroit the benefit of the doubt until they fail to come through—and knowing them, they are due for one of their patented winter streaks to build their case in the East.

Series: Atlanta in Seven

Western Conference playoff scenarios coming tomorrow...