Post by Detroit Pistons Sports Group on Mar 8, 2008 23:23:40 GMT -5
The Detroit Sports Press
By Ibrina DaNews
The Eastern Conference is definitely the weaker conference but lets just see if that holds true throughout the playoffs. The East has NEVER won lets see if we cant turn that around.
In the East I feel the legitimate Contenders in no particular order are the Detroit Pistons, New York Knicks, Boston Celtics, Atlanta Hawks and the Charlotte Bobcats. Bobcats and Knicks have the experience while both the Pistons and Atlanta have youth and a very high desire to win. All these teams are very hungry. Can any
of them do it till the end though.
EASTERN CONFERENCE
#1 Seed Detroit Pistons 58-24
The Best record in the east for a young team they have a world of potential but will it pan out THIS yr that is to be seen. They are very good and have a DEEP starting 5 with all 5 guys averaging between 15 and 22 ppg. They have one 8 of the last 10, 16 of 20 and 24 of 30. There about as hot as they come and have as good of a chance to make it to the Championship as anyone.
Vet. Elton Brand Captains this young team with his 17 pts 11 brds and 2.5 blocks. Robin Lopez is one of the best blocking bigs in the game with 3.8 per game and then is the young guns that can run and shoot with the best of them. No allstars YET but Lawson gets 18 and 9 ast a game Pargo lights it up with 20 points and 6 brds out of a former PG body and then theres one of the best rookies in the league in Aminu. Hes been there leading scorer all season averaging 21 pts 8 brds and 3+ ast a game. He may be a beast for yrs to come. There bench is solid but there missing one of there Key rookie Reserve Bigs in Anderson for the first round of the playoffs. Lets see how they will hold up.
VS
#8 Seed Milwaukee Bucks 40-42
There one of the youngest teams in the league wit know true vet leadership. 6-4 during the last 10 but only 9-11 in last 20.
There led by Morris and Williams both averaging about 20 points a game as well as an exciting rookie big in BJ Mullins with 15 and 10. There young and about as inexperienced as the Pistons but the Pistons may get just a bit more out of there starters.
Prediction for the series:
Detroit Wins series 4-1 but with Bucks JUST getting CV back they may make a few of the games closer then how the regular season series went. Detroit won the season series 3-0 while averaging a 120-95 score. None of the games were close. This should be a real character builder for both these young teams. Bucks had a pretty good season but there just playing a team that over matches then and runs really really well and there very hot too boot.
#2 Seed New York Knicks 53-29
The Knicks have the second best record in the East but there coming in a bit cold over the last 10 games winning only 5 of 10 but 13 of last 20. This team has a GREAT MVP type player that doesnt like to lose in the Man Child that is Dwight Howard and they have done it before getting to the championship in 2008.
Howard with 30 13 and 3 bks and and 4 other SOLID starters there built to have starters play well or there in trouble if any get hurt.
VS
#7 Seed Miami Heat 41-41
5-5 over last ten and 7-13 in the last 20. By no means are they hot but they do have more depth then alot of teams. Gordan is a future star and they have a bunch of just decent quality guys.
Oneal and Gordon can both play but taking on the Knicks Expierance this just may not be enough. This is a team thats right around average. There not good enough to surprise anyone in the playoffs but there not bad enough to get a top rookie. There in a tough spot though do they dismantle or continue to try with this core and continue to get older and older.
Prediction for the series:
Knicks take series 4-2. Knicks won season series 3-1 and we dont see it being much different here. There starters a a bit stronger and they both have decent depth. IF either team were to take any big injury then the other team may win but as it is we like the Knicks and there bit more playoff experience.
#3 Seed Boston Celtics 45-37
One of 3 teams with this same record but the Celtics got the 3rd seed. They traded a few of there star players including Garnett but that just got Pierce to step it up a bit. Pierce Allen and Rondo have all played great and Williams has really filled the big man role nicely.
They have won 7 of 10 and 15 of 20 so there ready for the big show.
VS
#6 Seed New Jersey Nets 44-38
The east is tight and this just proves it. There one game worse then the Celtics but 3 worse seeds. 5-5 over there last ten and and 10-10 over 20 have this team not playing great right now.
They have a Rookie Future star in Holiday as well as one of the BEST players in the league Agent O. Gilbert is a true MVP candidate. They lack a GREAT center but Frye plays very well. If Frye can match up with Howard at all decently then this could be a great series.
Prediction for the series:
This is hard to predict and i think were going to take an upset. The season series went 2-2 with the Nets taking the First two and the Celtics took the last 2 after there big Garnett trade. You would like to take the Celtics but were going to take the Nets in 7 4-3 in a battle to the end with Gilbert taking the MVP for series.
#4 Seed Atlanta Hawks 45-37
Hawks have gone 5-5 in last ten but 16-8 in the last 24. There now a pretty young team with the Fairly recent addition of probable Rookie of Year Gerald Henderson. The issue is they havent played GREAT of late with him.
Henderson Leads this team with 30 ppg and second rookie of year player in Ogilvy. This is a team that should be a top 4 team in east for yrs to come but are they ready yet. If Deron can get them the ball then they might be ready.
VS
#5 Seed Charlotte Bobcats 45-37
Bobcats have gone 6-4 in last ten and 13-7 in the last 20. There not on fire by any means but there more playoff ready then about anyone. They are last yrs eastern conference champ as well as the champ back in 2007.
Bobcats have 3 guys with over 20 ppg and there playing pretty well right now. Rose is a near MVP and is a clutch player. Okafor has experience over his rookie counter part.
Prediction for the series:
This isnt much of an upset its probably who is supposed to win. Im taking the Bobcats to win 4-2 after there season series was a split 2-2. Ultimately what it came down to is having guys that have proved to be able to do it in the past doing it again. There will be some good battles and im betting that Henderson would get NEAR MVP for the series but Hawks still fall short in what i hope to be some GREAT GAMES.
2nd Round Eastern Conference Playoffs
(i wont break it down as much cause i COULD be wrong on first match ups)
#1 Detroit Pistons Vs #5 Charlotte Bobcats (Season Series Bobcats 2-1)
This can go either way. Bobcats have been here and the pistons are HUNGRY. Vegas book maker are saying the series is even money mainly do to the experience of the bobcats and the lack of a center that they feel can control Okafor. We feel this will be some HIGH SCORING ACTION and it will play out that the Pistons are for real. Pistons win in a close series 4-3 MAINLY BECAUSE OF HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE.
#2 New York Knicks Vs #6 New Jersey Nets (Season Series 2-2)
Man do these fans hate each other as do these players. This goes 6 games with many hard fouls but the big man in the middle from NEW.............................York hold the fort and Home field as the Knicks get the series win 4-2. Agent 0 averages 35 a game but the rest of the nets struggle and Howard gets MVP with 28 points 15 brds a game.
Prepare for a 1 vs 2 Match up in the Conference Championship.
By Ibrina DaNews
The Eastern Conference is definitely the weaker conference but lets just see if that holds true throughout the playoffs. The East has NEVER won lets see if we cant turn that around.
In the East I feel the legitimate Contenders in no particular order are the Detroit Pistons, New York Knicks, Boston Celtics, Atlanta Hawks and the Charlotte Bobcats. Bobcats and Knicks have the experience while both the Pistons and Atlanta have youth and a very high desire to win. All these teams are very hungry. Can any
of them do it till the end though.
EASTERN CONFERENCE
#1 Seed Detroit Pistons 58-24
The Best record in the east for a young team they have a world of potential but will it pan out THIS yr that is to be seen. They are very good and have a DEEP starting 5 with all 5 guys averaging between 15 and 22 ppg. They have one 8 of the last 10, 16 of 20 and 24 of 30. There about as hot as they come and have as good of a chance to make it to the Championship as anyone.
Vet. Elton Brand Captains this young team with his 17 pts 11 brds and 2.5 blocks. Robin Lopez is one of the best blocking bigs in the game with 3.8 per game and then is the young guns that can run and shoot with the best of them. No allstars YET but Lawson gets 18 and 9 ast a game Pargo lights it up with 20 points and 6 brds out of a former PG body and then theres one of the best rookies in the league in Aminu. Hes been there leading scorer all season averaging 21 pts 8 brds and 3+ ast a game. He may be a beast for yrs to come. There bench is solid but there missing one of there Key rookie Reserve Bigs in Anderson for the first round of the playoffs. Lets see how they will hold up.
VS
#8 Seed Milwaukee Bucks 40-42
There one of the youngest teams in the league wit know true vet leadership. 6-4 during the last 10 but only 9-11 in last 20.
There led by Morris and Williams both averaging about 20 points a game as well as an exciting rookie big in BJ Mullins with 15 and 10. There young and about as inexperienced as the Pistons but the Pistons may get just a bit more out of there starters.
Prediction for the series:
Detroit Wins series 4-1 but with Bucks JUST getting CV back they may make a few of the games closer then how the regular season series went. Detroit won the season series 3-0 while averaging a 120-95 score. None of the games were close. This should be a real character builder for both these young teams. Bucks had a pretty good season but there just playing a team that over matches then and runs really really well and there very hot too boot.
#2 Seed New York Knicks 53-29
The Knicks have the second best record in the East but there coming in a bit cold over the last 10 games winning only 5 of 10 but 13 of last 20. This team has a GREAT MVP type player that doesnt like to lose in the Man Child that is Dwight Howard and they have done it before getting to the championship in 2008.
Howard with 30 13 and 3 bks and and 4 other SOLID starters there built to have starters play well or there in trouble if any get hurt.
VS
#7 Seed Miami Heat 41-41
5-5 over last ten and 7-13 in the last 20. By no means are they hot but they do have more depth then alot of teams. Gordan is a future star and they have a bunch of just decent quality guys.
Oneal and Gordon can both play but taking on the Knicks Expierance this just may not be enough. This is a team thats right around average. There not good enough to surprise anyone in the playoffs but there not bad enough to get a top rookie. There in a tough spot though do they dismantle or continue to try with this core and continue to get older and older.
Prediction for the series:
Knicks take series 4-2. Knicks won season series 3-1 and we dont see it being much different here. There starters a a bit stronger and they both have decent depth. IF either team were to take any big injury then the other team may win but as it is we like the Knicks and there bit more playoff experience.
#3 Seed Boston Celtics 45-37
One of 3 teams with this same record but the Celtics got the 3rd seed. They traded a few of there star players including Garnett but that just got Pierce to step it up a bit. Pierce Allen and Rondo have all played great and Williams has really filled the big man role nicely.
They have won 7 of 10 and 15 of 20 so there ready for the big show.
VS
#6 Seed New Jersey Nets 44-38
The east is tight and this just proves it. There one game worse then the Celtics but 3 worse seeds. 5-5 over there last ten and and 10-10 over 20 have this team not playing great right now.
They have a Rookie Future star in Holiday as well as one of the BEST players in the league Agent O. Gilbert is a true MVP candidate. They lack a GREAT center but Frye plays very well. If Frye can match up with Howard at all decently then this could be a great series.
Prediction for the series:
This is hard to predict and i think were going to take an upset. The season series went 2-2 with the Nets taking the First two and the Celtics took the last 2 after there big Garnett trade. You would like to take the Celtics but were going to take the Nets in 7 4-3 in a battle to the end with Gilbert taking the MVP for series.
#4 Seed Atlanta Hawks 45-37
Hawks have gone 5-5 in last ten but 16-8 in the last 24. There now a pretty young team with the Fairly recent addition of probable Rookie of Year Gerald Henderson. The issue is they havent played GREAT of late with him.
Henderson Leads this team with 30 ppg and second rookie of year player in Ogilvy. This is a team that should be a top 4 team in east for yrs to come but are they ready yet. If Deron can get them the ball then they might be ready.
VS
#5 Seed Charlotte Bobcats 45-37
Bobcats have gone 6-4 in last ten and 13-7 in the last 20. There not on fire by any means but there more playoff ready then about anyone. They are last yrs eastern conference champ as well as the champ back in 2007.
Bobcats have 3 guys with over 20 ppg and there playing pretty well right now. Rose is a near MVP and is a clutch player. Okafor has experience over his rookie counter part.
Prediction for the series:
This isnt much of an upset its probably who is supposed to win. Im taking the Bobcats to win 4-2 after there season series was a split 2-2. Ultimately what it came down to is having guys that have proved to be able to do it in the past doing it again. There will be some good battles and im betting that Henderson would get NEAR MVP for the series but Hawks still fall short in what i hope to be some GREAT GAMES.
2nd Round Eastern Conference Playoffs
(i wont break it down as much cause i COULD be wrong on first match ups)
#1 Detroit Pistons Vs #5 Charlotte Bobcats (Season Series Bobcats 2-1)
This can go either way. Bobcats have been here and the pistons are HUNGRY. Vegas book maker are saying the series is even money mainly do to the experience of the bobcats and the lack of a center that they feel can control Okafor. We feel this will be some HIGH SCORING ACTION and it will play out that the Pistons are for real. Pistons win in a close series 4-3 MAINLY BECAUSE OF HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE.
#2 New York Knicks Vs #6 New Jersey Nets (Season Series 2-2)
Man do these fans hate each other as do these players. This goes 6 games with many hard fouls but the big man in the middle from NEW.............................York hold the fort and Home field as the Knicks get the series win 4-2. Agent 0 averages 35 a game but the rest of the nets struggle and Howard gets MVP with 28 points 15 brds a game.
Prepare for a 1 vs 2 Match up in the Conference Championship.
