Playoff-bound teams struggling down the stretch seemed as consistent as the rising sun in the East this season. In fact, the Eastern Conference's hottest teams entering the playoffs are the fifth-seeded New Orleans Hornets and conference?s seventh seed, the Milwaukee Bucks. The Eastern Conference is by far the weakest of the two conferences in the NBA and whoever wins through as Conference winners will stuggle against the Western Conference winner and will go down in the final within 5 games. However, with all the weaker teams on the right side of the continental bracket, it makes for some tight matchups and tough capping situations. The league's only consistent breadwinner was the New York Knicks - and they didn't make the playoffs.
Orlando Magic vs. Detroit Pistons
There are many ongoing debates in our society. Nature versus nurture. The chicken or the Egg. Offense versus defense. This is the Eastern Conference's version. The league's stingiest team versus the East's second most potent offense and the NBA's leading scorer. Saying the Pistons defense is tight-fisted is about as original as Arsenal winning 1-0. Detroit's tribe has ridden a defense allowing 87.7 points per game to first place in the conference. That has given the Pistons home court advantage throughout the Conference playoffs. The Pistons allow a measly 85.5 points per game on home court. The biggest question swirling around this series is the health of Ben Wallace. Can he return, and if so can he return healthy enough to make an impact.
Detroit will be facing T-Mac and the east?s second highest scoring club who average 98.5 points. Orlando's production drops to 95 points per game away from home, with the 'under' a profitable 24-15 in Magic road affairs this season. Orlando's offense is also stumbling into the postseason, scoring less than 90 points per game over its last five games. The 'under' has appeared in each of those five games.
The Pistons went 2-1 SU and against the spread (ATS) in this season series. They held the Magic to just 87 points per game in two meetings in 2003. However, the league's leading scorer, Tracy McGrady, did manage to net 33.7 points per meeting for Orlando. T-Mac dropped better than 32 points per game this season. He poured in 35 points and added 11 boards in his only visit to the Palace this season. McGrady looks to help his team back to the near-100 points per game they averaged over most of the season.
Detroit is one of the league's least productive teams, with just 91.4 points per game to its credit. The team?s limited scoring is spread between four players averaging more than 12 points per game - Richard Hamilton (19.7), Chauncey Billups (16.2), Cliff Robison (12.2), and Corliss Williamson (12.0).
After the Knicks, Detroit was the highest ranked East team on ATS standings yet, they were barely profitable, going 44-37-1 ATS on the year. What seems to be one of the more interesting stats of this series may be the ATS records of both teams. Orlando is right there with them at 44-38 ATS, 22-19 on the road and at home.
My Pick: Detroit in 5 or 6.
Milwaukee Bucks vs. New Jersey Nets
This series also has many questions surrounding it. Will Dikembe Mutombo play? Will Jason Kidd be playing in his last postseason with the Nets? Milwaukee is definitely the hottest club in the East, maybe in all of basketball as they have won 9 of their last 10 ballgames and have been averaging a scorching 99.5 points over their last 5 contests. The Nets seem to be on the reverse end of this spectrum, losers of their last 5 ATS and 4 of their last 5 SU.
As good as the Bucks are playing, keep an eye on Sam Cassell and Anthony Mason, Cassel has had a bad thumb and Mason is nursing a bad quad. They are currently listed as day to day. The Bucks are not cash makers on the road, at least as of late as they are 1-8-1 over their last 10 away from the Bradley Center and give up a whopping 100 points per contest. The Bucks are finally starting to find their groove with Gary Payton at the point. It was beginning to look like they would struggle for longer with their new backcourt.
Home court advantage will be key for the Nets against a red-hot Milwaukee team. The Nets looked like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde than Jason Kidd and Richard Jefferson this season, going a moneymaking 24-17 ATS at home and a dismal 18-23 ATS on the road. The Nets have won the season series SU and ATS going 4-2 this season, with both clubs winning once at home and on the road. The Bucks did win the last matchup though at Continental Airlines Arena SU and ATS 104-85 as 6 1/2 point road dogs.
The Nets stumble into the postseason, going 1-4 SU and a cashless 0-5 ATS in their last five games. They've managed a miserable 85.8 points per game over that stretch. The 'under' went 4-0-1 over those five outings.
Milwaukee owns the fiercest offense in the East, dropping 99.5 points per game. The Bucks have a diverse offense and have seen five different players lead the team in scoring over the last six games. Payton has averaged 19.6 points per game since joining the club, while his partner in crime in the team's backcourt, Sam Cassell, knocks down 19.7. However, Payton and Cassell are just two of six Milwaukee shooters netting double figures. Michael Redd (15.1), Desmond Mason (14.8), Tim Thomas (13.3), and Tony Kukoc (11.6) are all aiding the cause.
My Pick: Take the puppy Milwaukee for series win.
Boston Celtics vs. Indiana Pacers
Boston's last trip to Conseco Fieldhouse was nightmarish and the Pacers will bank on home court to lift them over the C's. Indiana nabbed an easy 102-72 victory over Boston as six-point home favorites in their final meeting of the regular season. It was the seventh win in the last eight tilts for the home side and it was the third consecutive time the Pacers had grabbed the cash. Both clubs seem to be profitable, with the Celtics going 21-20 both on the road and at the Fleet Center, while the Pacers play much better at Conseco going 25-16 ATS there and just 18-23 on the road. Indiana owns the second best home record in the East, going 32-9 SU at Conseco Fieldhouse this year. Indy's Jermaine O'Neal has been poison for the C's this season, as he's averaged 26 points and 11.3 rebounds in four meetings with Boston. O'Neal has twice dropped more than 30 points on the Celts.
But rest assured, the Eastern Conference Finalists from last year aren?t going to go down easy. Paul Pierce and Antoine Walker will always keep the Celts in a series. The C's rely heavily on their dynamic duo of Pierce and Walker. Pierce ranks fifth in the NBA in scoring with 25.9 points per night. Walker is not far behind, dropping 20.1 points per night. Furthermore, the duo has a bone to pick with Pacers bench boss Isiah Thomas. Thomas coached the Eastern Conference All-Star team this season, and held Pierce and Walker to 13 and nine minutes respectively in the superstar gala. ''I talked to him after the (All-Star) game and he claims it was nothing personal,'' Walker told the Boston Globe. "The truth will never really come out. Only he knows why he didn't play us or what the reason was behind it. But yeah, I'd love to repay him for that. That'd be nice to knock him out of the playoffs.''
Boston's problems may lie on the interior, as Boston may not have enough down low to stop Jermaine O?Neal. They do get some relief as Pacer?s center Brad Miller is listed as day to day with a bad foot and word inside the Pacer's camp is that he is in a lot of pain. The Celtics 27th ranked offensive field goal percentage will definitely have to improve in this series as shooting 41.5 % will not cut it against the Pacers who shoot a very respectable 45.7 %.
My Pick: This series goes to the wire, either team in seven.
New Orleans Hornets vs. Philadelphia 76ers.
This could be the most even series in the entire playoffs. Both clubs are identical everywhere you look. Statistically, three points separate these two on the offensive and defensive sides of the ball. A very interesting statistic here though, New Orleans, 22-19 ATS at home, Philly, a conference best 23-18 SU and 22-17-2 ATS record on the road. The Sixers are a dismal 13-28 ATS at home, the Hornets are an equally terrible 17-24 ATS on the road. The Hornets are hot, hot, hot coming into this one, as they have won their last 5 SU and ATS, and 8 of their last 10 ATS. The Sixers have been stumbling, losers of 3 of their last 4 SU and ATS. However before you get all excited about the Hornets, keep in mind, they have lost to Philadelphia 4 of the last 5 times ATS. Philadelphia has proved its mettle away from home court and that's what makes it dangerous to streaking New Orleans.
The Hornets grabbed two of three matchups with the Sixers this year, which includes taking the rubber match, 94-89 at Philadelphia, as five-point road 'dogs. New Orleans late-season winning streak came on the strength of stellar defensive play, as the squad allowed their last five opponents to put together just 82 points per game.
The Hornets will have to focus on stopping the Association's third-leading scorer in Allen Iverson, who knocks down 27.5 points per game. AI finished the season on a tear, draining 31.5 points per game over his last six contests. He's posted 32.3 points per game performances against New Orleans this season. Iverson stung the Hornets for 38 points in the teams' only meeting at the Big Easy this year, helping the Sixers cover a five-point spread in a 98-99 loss. Philadelphia has covered in each of their last three road dates versus the Hornets franchise, dating back to last year when it made its home in Charlotte.
My Pick: This one will go back and fourth, don?t be surprised to see this one go seven.
Orlando Magic vs. Detroit Pistons
There are many ongoing debates in our society. Nature versus nurture. The chicken or the Egg. Offense versus defense. This is the Eastern Conference's version. The league's stingiest team versus the East's second most potent offense and the NBA's leading scorer. Saying the Pistons defense is tight-fisted is about as original as Arsenal winning 1-0. Detroit's tribe has ridden a defense allowing 87.7 points per game to first place in the conference. That has given the Pistons home court advantage throughout the Conference playoffs. The Pistons allow a measly 85.5 points per game on home court. The biggest question swirling around this series is the health of Ben Wallace. Can he return, and if so can he return healthy enough to make an impact.
Detroit will be facing T-Mac and the east?s second highest scoring club who average 98.5 points. Orlando's production drops to 95 points per game away from home, with the 'under' a profitable 24-15 in Magic road affairs this season. Orlando's offense is also stumbling into the postseason, scoring less than 90 points per game over its last five games. The 'under' has appeared in each of those five games.
The Pistons went 2-1 SU and against the spread (ATS) in this season series. They held the Magic to just 87 points per game in two meetings in 2003. However, the league's leading scorer, Tracy McGrady, did manage to net 33.7 points per meeting for Orlando. T-Mac dropped better than 32 points per game this season. He poured in 35 points and added 11 boards in his only visit to the Palace this season. McGrady looks to help his team back to the near-100 points per game they averaged over most of the season.
Detroit is one of the league's least productive teams, with just 91.4 points per game to its credit. The team?s limited scoring is spread between four players averaging more than 12 points per game - Richard Hamilton (19.7), Chauncey Billups (16.2), Cliff Robison (12.2), and Corliss Williamson (12.0).
After the Knicks, Detroit was the highest ranked East team on ATS standings yet, they were barely profitable, going 44-37-1 ATS on the year. What seems to be one of the more interesting stats of this series may be the ATS records of both teams. Orlando is right there with them at 44-38 ATS, 22-19 on the road and at home.
My Pick: Detroit in 5 or 6.
Milwaukee Bucks vs. New Jersey Nets
This series also has many questions surrounding it. Will Dikembe Mutombo play? Will Jason Kidd be playing in his last postseason with the Nets? Milwaukee is definitely the hottest club in the East, maybe in all of basketball as they have won 9 of their last 10 ballgames and have been averaging a scorching 99.5 points over their last 5 contests. The Nets seem to be on the reverse end of this spectrum, losers of their last 5 ATS and 4 of their last 5 SU.
As good as the Bucks are playing, keep an eye on Sam Cassell and Anthony Mason, Cassel has had a bad thumb and Mason is nursing a bad quad. They are currently listed as day to day. The Bucks are not cash makers on the road, at least as of late as they are 1-8-1 over their last 10 away from the Bradley Center and give up a whopping 100 points per contest. The Bucks are finally starting to find their groove with Gary Payton at the point. It was beginning to look like they would struggle for longer with their new backcourt.
Home court advantage will be key for the Nets against a red-hot Milwaukee team. The Nets looked like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde than Jason Kidd and Richard Jefferson this season, going a moneymaking 24-17 ATS at home and a dismal 18-23 ATS on the road. The Nets have won the season series SU and ATS going 4-2 this season, with both clubs winning once at home and on the road. The Bucks did win the last matchup though at Continental Airlines Arena SU and ATS 104-85 as 6 1/2 point road dogs.
The Nets stumble into the postseason, going 1-4 SU and a cashless 0-5 ATS in their last five games. They've managed a miserable 85.8 points per game over that stretch. The 'under' went 4-0-1 over those five outings.
Milwaukee owns the fiercest offense in the East, dropping 99.5 points per game. The Bucks have a diverse offense and have seen five different players lead the team in scoring over the last six games. Payton has averaged 19.6 points per game since joining the club, while his partner in crime in the team's backcourt, Sam Cassell, knocks down 19.7. However, Payton and Cassell are just two of six Milwaukee shooters netting double figures. Michael Redd (15.1), Desmond Mason (14.8), Tim Thomas (13.3), and Tony Kukoc (11.6) are all aiding the cause.
My Pick: Take the puppy Milwaukee for series win.
Boston Celtics vs. Indiana Pacers
Boston's last trip to Conseco Fieldhouse was nightmarish and the Pacers will bank on home court to lift them over the C's. Indiana nabbed an easy 102-72 victory over Boston as six-point home favorites in their final meeting of the regular season. It was the seventh win in the last eight tilts for the home side and it was the third consecutive time the Pacers had grabbed the cash. Both clubs seem to be profitable, with the Celtics going 21-20 both on the road and at the Fleet Center, while the Pacers play much better at Conseco going 25-16 ATS there and just 18-23 on the road. Indiana owns the second best home record in the East, going 32-9 SU at Conseco Fieldhouse this year. Indy's Jermaine O'Neal has been poison for the C's this season, as he's averaged 26 points and 11.3 rebounds in four meetings with Boston. O'Neal has twice dropped more than 30 points on the Celts.
But rest assured, the Eastern Conference Finalists from last year aren?t going to go down easy. Paul Pierce and Antoine Walker will always keep the Celts in a series. The C's rely heavily on their dynamic duo of Pierce and Walker. Pierce ranks fifth in the NBA in scoring with 25.9 points per night. Walker is not far behind, dropping 20.1 points per night. Furthermore, the duo has a bone to pick with Pacers bench boss Isiah Thomas. Thomas coached the Eastern Conference All-Star team this season, and held Pierce and Walker to 13 and nine minutes respectively in the superstar gala. ''I talked to him after the (All-Star) game and he claims it was nothing personal,'' Walker told the Boston Globe. "The truth will never really come out. Only he knows why he didn't play us or what the reason was behind it. But yeah, I'd love to repay him for that. That'd be nice to knock him out of the playoffs.''
Boston's problems may lie on the interior, as Boston may not have enough down low to stop Jermaine O?Neal. They do get some relief as Pacer?s center Brad Miller is listed as day to day with a bad foot and word inside the Pacer's camp is that he is in a lot of pain. The Celtics 27th ranked offensive field goal percentage will definitely have to improve in this series as shooting 41.5 % will not cut it against the Pacers who shoot a very respectable 45.7 %.
My Pick: This series goes to the wire, either team in seven.
New Orleans Hornets vs. Philadelphia 76ers.
This could be the most even series in the entire playoffs. Both clubs are identical everywhere you look. Statistically, three points separate these two on the offensive and defensive sides of the ball. A very interesting statistic here though, New Orleans, 22-19 ATS at home, Philly, a conference best 23-18 SU and 22-17-2 ATS record on the road. The Sixers are a dismal 13-28 ATS at home, the Hornets are an equally terrible 17-24 ATS on the road. The Hornets are hot, hot, hot coming into this one, as they have won their last 5 SU and ATS, and 8 of their last 10 ATS. The Sixers have been stumbling, losers of 3 of their last 4 SU and ATS. However before you get all excited about the Hornets, keep in mind, they have lost to Philadelphia 4 of the last 5 times ATS. Philadelphia has proved its mettle away from home court and that's what makes it dangerous to streaking New Orleans.
The Hornets grabbed two of three matchups with the Sixers this year, which includes taking the rubber match, 94-89 at Philadelphia, as five-point road 'dogs. New Orleans late-season winning streak came on the strength of stellar defensive play, as the squad allowed their last five opponents to put together just 82 points per game.
The Hornets will have to focus on stopping the Association's third-leading scorer in Allen Iverson, who knocks down 27.5 points per game. AI finished the season on a tear, draining 31.5 points per game over his last six contests. He's posted 32.3 points per game performances against New Orleans this season. Iverson stung the Hornets for 38 points in the teams' only meeting at the Big Easy this year, helping the Sixers cover a five-point spread in a 98-99 loss. Philadelphia has covered in each of their last three road dates versus the Hornets franchise, dating back to last year when it made its home in Charlotte.
My Pick: This one will go back and fourth, don?t be surprised to see this one go seven.
