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posted April 14, 2008 at 17:24 in NBA Articles

Things were bad for the Celtics a year ago. And “bad” doesn’t even cover it. They tanked the season only to lose out in the lottery, and Boston was calling for Doc Rivers’ head. Well out of the playoffs, they were the leading candidates in the Durant-Oden sweepstakes. And when the balls dropped (don’t read that the wrong way), the Celtics were left picking Jeff Green and things looked dismal once more.

Then they won a different kind of lottery.

Green from Georgetown was eventually packaged for Ray Allen, and Jefferson was dealt for the Big Ticket. Suddenly Boston was relevant again, and now they’re the favorites to ravage the East. But who can contend with them, and are any other team’s serious threats to the destiny Boston is due this season? Let’s take a look and get you properly prepared for the war in the Eastern Conference playoffs. Game on.

1. Boston Celtics (64-16)

The Celtics are by and large the easy favorites in the Eastern Conference, and for good reason. The main one being Kevin Garnett. The Big Ticket has started playing MVP-caliber ball, and the proof is in the pudding. The C’s boast the best defense in the league, holding teams to 90.2 points per game, and KG leads the team with 19.0 points per game and 9.3 rebounds. His unrivaled intensity has been rekindled, and the Celtics look virtually unstoppable. Are you going to bet against KG playing alongside Paul Pierce and Ray Ray?

The fact remains that KG has only played with one All-Star up until this point, and with that team, he took the Timberwolves to the Western Conference finals. Now that he is surrounded by far superior talent, the Celtics look like a lock to win the Eastern Conference. The only team that could possible contend with them is…

2. Detroit Pistons (57-23)

Old faithful, that’s who the Pistons are to their Eastern Conference sports betting faithful. Or are they? The Pistons were consistent favorites this year, but only managed to go 38-26 ATS as favorites. Overall they were 44-35-1 ATS with a strong home record. Their play against Western teams has been impressive enough to keep them in contention as a strong Finals Champion, but Detroit does not look like the punishing Pistons of old.

Perhaps the biggest, glaring hole on the roster is in the middle. Antonio McDyess and Jason Maxiell hold the fort at center. Simply, those two can not hold a candle to the big dogs roaming the middle of other teams. McDyess has averaged 8.8 points and 8.6 rebounds per game, and Maxiell is picking up 7.9 points per game and 5.3 boards in very limited minutes, and is giving the Pistons the help they need down low. But it’s not enough.

As far as containing KG is concerned, Rasheed has done a masterful job in the past. And nobody in the East is as intense as KG, aside from Sheed. But with only 13.0 points per game and 6.7 rebounds, in 30.8 minutes, Wallace is not the same player he used to be. He’s starting to show a bit of age.

People will point to coaching as the big x-factor in the Detroit/Boston debate. But here’s the truth: would you rather have guy like Flip Saunders who over-coaches his teams in to the dirt, or Doc Rivers? Rivers is so aware of his incapabilities as a coach, that he’ll sit back and let Uncle Sam Cassell and the Boston Three Party take care of business. Never bet on Flip advancing past a Conference championship.

3. Orlando Magic (50-30)

Without a pure scoring machine, I don’t think the Magic are going to advance any farther than the second round, if that. Dwight Howard is still a few years away from being a “takeover” force in the league, and no team is going to win these playoffs based on shooting alone. They need an Igoudala-type point getter to truly be a feared team.

And when the only guy on your roster with solid playoff experience is Hedo Freaking Turkoglu, then you’re in big trouble. Two years down the road, this team will be a major threat. But right now, they’re still babies in the post season. And you don’t bet on babies. You just don’t.

4. Cleveland Cavaliers (44-36)

The Cavs were supposed to remedy all of their problems by swinging one of the most talked about trades. But all it’s done is moved them seven steps sideways. Wally Szczerbiak has averaged a measly 7.8 points per game, and since he doesn’t do much else (other than pimp fantastic hair), he’s obviously not showing the promise we thought he was capable of. And Joe Smith was supposed to be a scoring machine, but is only gaining 8.4 points per game,compared to Gooden’s 11.3. That’s not even a lateral move. It’s a step down. Don’t even get me started on Ben Wallace.

While everyone and their mother wants to pile on the Cavaliers betting bandwagon, and I can’t blame them, the Eastern Conference is far stronger than it was a year ago. Even Lebron, who leads the league in scoring with 30.0 points per game, I wouldn’t bank on them advancing very far in the playoffs. Especially since they’re horrific on the road and unreliable overall ATS. Don’t get swept up in Lebron fever. I’m a witness indeed, but only to this team’s glaring mediocrity.

5. Washington Wizards (42-38)

The Wizards are perhaps the most confusing team in the East. Without Caron Butler and Gilbert Arenas, they were a betting man’s best friend. With them? For some reason, not so much. Arenas is starting to show his scoring flair again, but it’s disrupting the chemistry and flow of the role-players who carried this team much of the year.

The Wiz went 45-34-1 ATS this year and rewarded their betting faithful because they were so often pinned as underdogs. Bettors are pouring money all over the Wizards now that Tough Juice and Agent Zero are back, but the chemistry is a huge concern. Don’t get caught dousing the Wizards with your betting faith, or it might all just go up in smoke.

Also – where did this name Tough Juice come from? Wouldn’t Butler’s nickname be better if it was “Geeves”? Am I the only one who feels this way? I know it’s not as cool as “Tough Juice” but it’s far more appropriate.

6. Toronto Raptors (40-40)

I’m a Raptors fan – a huge one – and I’ll be the first to tell you that this team is far from being the playoff dark horse they were at the mid-point of the season. The Raptors have slid to an absurd record in the second half of the season. They are perhaps the best shooting team in the league with 46.9 percent shooting from the field, but these guys fall apart at all the wrong times. I’m saying this as politely as I can, but the Euro-Trash that Coangelo is collecting in Toronto is making this team’s playoff chances stink.

7. Philadelphia 76ers (40-40)

You know how I’ve been saying that the Magic and Raptors lean far too heavily on shooting? Well Philly is just the opposite. They have a bunch of slashers, and no reliable scoring threat from the perimeter. You know management is screwed when they trade Kyle Korver, and then the headline, “Philly In Search Of Three-Point Threat” appears in the newspapers a week later.

I love the Sixers and it’s great what they’ve been able to do. But this is Philadelphia. From the Phillies straight down to the Eagles, this is a city of suffering. And no matter how much you absolutely love this team, you can’t be silly enough to believe they’ll escape a rigorous seven-game series with a steady and decisive team like Detroit or Boston.

8. Atlanta Hawks (37-43)

From basement to playoffs in a flash. That’s the Hawks. Maybe it’s the new jerseys, but maybe it has more to do with the outstanding play of Al Horford, who continues to pressure Kevin Durant for Rookie of the Year honors. Horford has 10.6 points and 9.8 rebounds per game and is becoming a dominant inside threat.

I’ve said that the big-three for Atlanta is a homeless man’s version of the Boston Three Party. Horford is complimented by the deft shooting of Joe Johnson (do you still regret leaving Phoenix, Joe?) and the versatile passion of Josh Smith. If this team can stay together, they’ll be a threat in the next few years. But if they’re matched up against Boston, then they’re in big trouble. Don’t get carried away here with the Hawks.

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