2008 Woodie Awards
Celtics, Pistons Will Meet In East Finals
NBA
Joe Colombo
Issue date: 4/3/08 Section: Sports
As the NCAA Tournament nears its end, basketball fans will turn to the NBA and watch as team race to 16 wins in just a short couple of weeks.
With most teams having around just eight games remaining, the top eight teams in the Eastern Conference look to be set in stone. Unfortunately, the first round of the NBA Eastern Conference playoffs will not be nearly as exciting as the NCAA's. However, this year's postseason - for both the East and West - will be one of the most exciting of our time.
A couple of local professional teams will be sitting at home after the regular season: The New Jersey Nets and (if you want to call them professional) New York Knicks. Hey, at least the Boston Celtics are playing their best ball since the days of Larry Bird in the 80s. And coincidentally, Celtic Pride will last for a while in the playoffs, because they should be heading to the NBA finals.
Here's how the playoffs in the East will turn out (seeds as of Wednesday, April 2):
Round 1: Quarterfinals
(1) Boston Celtics vs. (8) Atlanta Hawks - The only thing going for the Hawks is their youth. If they can keep the same core players (Joe Johnson, Josh Smith, Al Horford, Marvin Williams, Mike Bibby) for the next couple of years, there is no doubt they can and will make some noise in the East. Sadly, their potential won't help them in this series as the Celts sweep the Hawks, 4-0.
(2) Detroit Pistons vs. (7) Philadelphia 76ers - Philly is playing great post All-Star break basketball, having won 12 of their last 16 games. Iguodala and Co. will get shut down by the league's second-best scoring defense led by Detroit's Richard Hamilton. The Sixers will squeak by in Game 3, but that's all as the Pistons roll the Sixers, 4-1.
(3) Orlando Magic vs. (6) Toronto Raptors - Orlando's big three (Dwight Howard, Hedo Turkoglu, Rashard Lewis) will be well-rested heading into the postseason as a result of the team's weak April schedule. The Magic are 2-1 against the Raptors this year and that will equate into a trip to the Eastern Conference semifinals after a 4-2 series win.
With most teams having around just eight games remaining, the top eight teams in the Eastern Conference look to be set in stone. Unfortunately, the first round of the NBA Eastern Conference playoffs will not be nearly as exciting as the NCAA's. However, this year's postseason - for both the East and West - will be one of the most exciting of our time.
A couple of local professional teams will be sitting at home after the regular season: The New Jersey Nets and (if you want to call them professional) New York Knicks. Hey, at least the Boston Celtics are playing their best ball since the days of Larry Bird in the 80s. And coincidentally, Celtic Pride will last for a while in the playoffs, because they should be heading to the NBA finals.
Here's how the playoffs in the East will turn out (seeds as of Wednesday, April 2):
Round 1: Quarterfinals
(1) Boston Celtics vs. (8) Atlanta Hawks - The only thing going for the Hawks is their youth. If they can keep the same core players (Joe Johnson, Josh Smith, Al Horford, Marvin Williams, Mike Bibby) for the next couple of years, there is no doubt they can and will make some noise in the East. Sadly, their potential won't help them in this series as the Celts sweep the Hawks, 4-0.
(2) Detroit Pistons vs. (7) Philadelphia 76ers - Philly is playing great post All-Star break basketball, having won 12 of their last 16 games. Iguodala and Co. will get shut down by the league's second-best scoring defense led by Detroit's Richard Hamilton. The Sixers will squeak by in Game 3, but that's all as the Pistons roll the Sixers, 4-1.
(3) Orlando Magic vs. (6) Toronto Raptors - Orlando's big three (Dwight Howard, Hedo Turkoglu, Rashard Lewis) will be well-rested heading into the postseason as a result of the team's weak April schedule. The Magic are 2-1 against the Raptors this year and that will equate into a trip to the Eastern Conference semifinals after a 4-2 series win.
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Bro
posted 4/03/08 @ 10:35 AM EST
but can the celts do work against the west? ill stay tuned playa
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