My Take On The East

By Young Randall:

NBA’s JV League

 

Well, well, well.  What do we have here?  It seems like the Eastern Conference Playoffs are trying to show that their side of the bracket can be entertaining in the first round.  Series that seemingly were no brainer picks are quickly turning into interesting series.  The only series that was supposed to be somewhat interesting (and the only one I picked the lower seed to win in) was the Wizards and Cavaliers.  One, because of the LeBron James factor, and two, because of Deshawn Stevenson’s big mouth.  Well that series is now at 3-1 with Cleveland in command.

 

 

As of last night the biggest surprise of the series has to be the Atlanta Hawks.  Who would have thought after four games this series would have been even?  I thought it would be over in four and the Celtics are wondering what the hell just happened.  Doc Rivers had to tell his team in the locker room that they have to “make it happen” when they get back to Boston.  Make it happen?  This is the number one seed in the East and had an .800 winning percentage.  Make it happen?  I guess Boston thought they were just going to roll on Atlanta because they are The Celtics.  I expect this to be a huge wake up call for K.G. and company and they will close out the series in the next two games (which will take two weeks).  They will not be the Mavericks of this year.

 

 

 

 

The other big surprise is the Philadelphia 76ers. The 76ers are even with the playoff hardened Detroit Pistons after four games and they do not look afraid to go toe to toe with this Detroit. And they are doing it with their leading scorer, Andre Iguodala, averaging 10 points. Nine points below his season average. AI 2 is also shooting a measly 22% from the field. Eddy Zucko could go out and shoot 22% blindfolded. Philly has been lead by Andre Miller, Louis Williams, and Samuel Dalembert. They are all averaging double figures and shooting decent to good from the field (led by Miller’s 53%). But Philly is matching Detroit’s defense, holding the Pistons to under 90 points per game. While Detroit is matching this proficiency, Philly is giving themselves a chance late in games, and against a seemingly superior opponent, it gives them confidence that they can beat the Pistons. And they have come through twice. This series may well go 7 and at this point I would not be surprised if the Sixers pull it out. But I think Detroit will win in 7.

 

As for the other two series, I’ll let Eddy handle the Cleveland side show, and Orlando handled Toronto in 5 (which I predicted) with Dwight Howard asserting his dominance on and overmatched Toronto front line.  As the kids would say “Dwight Howard is a BEAST!”  Howard went for 20 points and 20 rebounds in 3 of the 5 games of the series.  If that is not dominance I don’t know what is.  I would be not want to be Detroit or Philadelphia who have to face Orlando in the second round. 

 

 

Damn I wish I could change my East Finals pick.