What Does the Absence of KG Mean For The Eastern Conference Playoffs

[Da Boss DJ Jo Corleone]

The east coast bracket was all but a done deal as far as match ups were concerned. We knew Cleveland had the top seed, and that either Boston or Orlando would be #2 and #3. What we didn’t know was whom would they face in the first round, and we didn’t know KG would be out for the Celtics by the time the playoffs started. Let’s get into it.

Starting off with the #2 team in the east the Boston Celtics taking on the Chicago Bulls. Boston leads the regular season series 2-1, but the Bulls had the last laugh in March beating Boston 127-121. Derrick Rose has emerged as an NBA point guard, Brad Miller and John Salmons are playing comfortably within their new systems, and Tyrus Thomas has truly been a stress factor for opposing teams. Though Boston still has the likes of Leon Poe, Big Baby Glen Davis, and Kendrick Perkins, they won’t have Kevin Garnett. Those players are great coming off the bench or sharing floor time with KG, but they don’t make Boston’s frontcourt elite. Boston will win the series, but how far they go from there with out Garnett is still in the air.

The Philadelphia 76ers have a reservation for 7 games against the Orlando Magic. Orlando swept Philly 3 games to none in the regular season, but 2 of those games were close, which is why you have to expect Philly’s new A.I. to at least give them one win. Expect the Magic to win this series in 5 games, if not 4.

The biggest first round matchup in the east is definitely coming from Atlanta where the Hawks will host the Miami Heat. The “A” won the regular season series 3-1, and looking even better than they did last year when they were the eighth seed. This year they improved overall as a team, and it shows with them landing at number 4gainst the Hawks. Their improvement makes them a favorite over Miami.

Sure D. Wade may be the best player in the league, but he alone can’t beat the Atlanta Hawks. Everyone else on the Heat team will have to play at a high level if they hope to be successful against the Hawks. Then again a few years ago nobody thought that Lebron could single handedly assassinate the Piston in the conference final but he did. Miami wins this game in 7 because his will to win is as scary as his physical game. Remember him in the finals against Dallas?

Finally the Cavs and the Pistons. Cleveland won the regular season 3-1, but expect them to win this series 4-0. That’s right a sweep. No Billups, no Iverson, no chance. Cleveland is playing at a championship level, and King James is playing at an MVP level. The only teams that we should question when it comes to facing the Cavs are the Lakers and the Magic. With out Garnett you can’t even pick Boston to get to the conference finals, because they may run into Orlando in the semi finals.