As Sportsnaut’s own Vincent Frank detailed yesterday, the Western Conference is going to be one of the most intriguing races all the way through the postseason. With at least four legitimate threats to win the conference, the Western Conference playoffs will prove to be a dandy.
Now the Eastern Conference plays basketball as well, as odd as that may sound. But the talent pales in comparison, simply because of a top-heavy conference, and injury-plagued superstars (Derrick Rose). Nevertheless, the Eastern Conference playoffs will be fun to watch with a plethora of young talent and first-time playoff contenders in the mix.
Here are the NBA Eastern Conference playoff matchups as they stand now
1. Miami Heat (53-23) vs 8. Atlanta Hawks (34-42)
With the Indiana Pacers reeling, it is more and more likely that the Heat will be the top seed. The eight seed could either be the Hawks or the Knicks but the Hawks seem like the likelier scenario. Either way the Heat will face a team who’s record is under .500.
The Miami Heat are led by LeBron James, Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh, but have a solid core of veterans such as Shane Battier, Chris Andersen, Rashard Lewis and Ray Allen. The Heat are heavily favored, but rank last in the NBA in terms of rebounds per game at just 37 per, and will have their hands full with the Hawks front court. Can LeBron lead the Heat to another first round win?
The Atlanta Hawks may have the daunting task of attempting to take down the two-time defending champions. But, the way to beat the Heat is in the paint, which the Hawks can do. The Hawks beat the Heat once this season, and they did so scoring 62 points with their three starting big men. Can Paul Millsap, Pero Antic and DeMarre Carroll win four of seven games against the Heat?
4. Chicago Bulls (45-32) vs 5. Brooklyn Nets (42-34)
The Bulls and Nets were each supposed to win 50 games this season, according to many experts. But, that is why they play the games. First, if the Bulls had not lost Derrick Rose to injury (again) they would be among the top contenders in the NBA for a championship, but unfortunately Rose was lost for the season early.
Chicago is led by center Joakim Noah, who has become one of the premier big men in the NBA. In the last two months he has flirted with a triple-double each and every night and has a very good supporting cast of Jimmy Butler, Carlos Boozer and Taj Gibson. If the Bulls can play their game and continue to be one of the best defensive team in the league allowing just over 91 points per game, they will give the Nets a run for their money.
The Brooklyn Nets were seen as the next version of the new NBA superpower with a few stars packaged with some wily veterans. Unfortunately, Brook Lopez was injured and has not played since the beginning of the season. If the Nets can get hot at the right time, they could be a force with a team full of experienced veterans in Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, Joe Johnson, Deron Williams and Andrei Kirilenko.
2. Indiana Pacers (53-25) vs 7. Charlotte Bobcats (39-38)
Just a few weeks ago, the Pacers seemed like a lock for the number one seed. But, Indiana is 3-8 in their last 11 games. Are the Pacers really struggling or just cruising until the playoffs start?
The Pacers are paced by their two star swingmen in Lance Stephenson and Paul George, pairing these two with two of the better role players in the NBA in Roy Hibbert and David West and the Pacers are among the NBA’s most talented teams. The Pacers added Evan Turner and Andrew Bynum at the trade deadline this season, but both players have not done much, if anything so far with Indiana.
The Bobcats are poised to win 40 games for the second time in franchise history and they will hope to win the franchise’s first playoff game this season. Charlotte has the talent to win a game or two with Al Jefferson and Kemba Walker being complemented perfectly by Josh McRoberts and Gerald Henderson. Can the Bobcats make history and win a playoff game, or even pull off an upset and win the series?
3. Toronto Raptors (45-32) vs 6. Washington Wizards (40-37)
Who would have thought that the three and six seed matchup in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs would have been the Raptors against the Wizards? Both franchises have been through some tough years in the last decade, but with some young stars this could be one of the most intriguing matchups in the first round.
The Raptors are the three seed, and will win over 45 games this season, yet are still considered a “sleeper” team because of how much better the Heat and Pacers have been this season. Toronto plays great defense, allowing just 97.6 points per game but their offensive firepower is what can win them games at times. DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry will look the carry the Raptors this postseason, and each of them will be relied on heavily against the Wizards.
The Wizards are finally headed back to the postseason with John Wall and Bradley Beal leading the way. Washington fans knew the day would come when Wall would lead them to the postseason, and it will come in the former Kentucky star’s fourth season in the NBA. Wall and Beal are complemented very well by a pair of veteran big men in Marcin Gortat and Drew Gooden, who have each played well down the stretch. Can the Wizards pull of an upset against the Raptors?
Photo by Pat Lovell, USA Today Sports Images