Chicago Bulls – #1 Seed
The Chicago Bulls have been one of the best teams in basketball for the past few months and through the media’s influence and coverage, the trendiest. Derrick Rose has been stellar throughout the season, putting up 25 points, eight assists, and four rebounds per game, and, most importantly, leading his team during long stretches of play, when big men Joakim Noah and Carlos Boozer were injured. Rose is considered a lock by many for the NBA’s MVP award. That said, the key to Chicago’s success has been new head coach Tom Thibodeau, a former assistant of the Boston Celtics and defensive genius, whose stifling defense has the Bulls ranked second in the league in Points Allowed. Chicago’s roster is outfitted with solid role players and two All Stars in Rose and Boozer; the Bulls are not only a tough opponent in the playoffs, but the favorites in the East.
Miami Heat – #2 Seed
This past summer, LeBron James and Chris Bosh teamed up with Dwayne Wade in Miami to form a team built to contend for multiple championships; as every NBA fan knows, though, one of the keys to winning championships is the quality of a given team’s role players. LeBron and Wade have proven game after game why they are among the top five current players (and how deadly the LeBron-Wade pick-and-roll can be) and Bosh has improved and done his job despite facing early struggles. The only aspect of the Heat that hinders them is that, overall (and as of late), the 12 other players on the Heat’s roster have underperformed. The quality of play Miami gets from its role players, especially Mario Chalmers, Mike Miller, James Jones, and Juwan Howard, will determine how far the Heat will go in the playoffs.
Boston Celtics – #3 Seed
What is there to say about a veteran, championship-pedigree team who traded their best rebounder and one-on-one defending big man at the trade deadline, completely altering their mojo and leaving them vulnerable down in the post? Nothing really. Aside from Rajon Rondo’s atrocious shooting and reluctance to get fouled (because he can’t shoot free throws either), the Celtics are still a team that should be taken seriously. The Big Three can still get it done; Rondo is one of the best game managers in the NBA, and the bench, while not as good as it was a few years back, is still pretty good. The determining factor of how well Boston will do in the playoffs is the quality of play and amount of minutes Shaquille O’Neal will be able to contribute. Shaq has been out with a right leg injury and he, along with Jermaine O’Neal, will need to have quality minutes against opposing big men in order for the Celtics to advance.
Orlando Magic – #4 Seed
While the trade for Gilbert Arenas, Hedo Turkloglu, and Jason Richardson hasn’t made them a bona fide contender, Orlando still has the best defensive players in Dwight Howard and an experienced roster. Orlando shouldn’t break a sweat dispatching Atlanta, but will have trouble against teams with gifted perimeter players such as LeBron, Wade, and Carmelo Anthony. Howard will also need to stay out of foul trouble in order for Orlando to function well on both the offensive and defensive ends. Orlando’s precision from the 3-point arc and ability to carve up weak perimeter defending teams make them a streaky pick that can either dominate or fall short.
Atlanta Hawks – #5 Seed
$119 million. That’s the value of the six-year contract Joe Johnson signed with the Hawks this past summer. The Hawks thought he was a $119 million player but Joe Johnson has underperformed this season; his stats are down significantly from last year (from 21 to 18 points per game) and he does not appear to be trying hard when watched live. Whether he is simply having an off year or not putting in enough effort due to financial security, the Hawks declared him their franchise player and he has not resembled one. A team’s attitude is reflective of their leader’s and unless Johnson suddenly changes both in this year’s playoffs and the future, the Hawks aren’t going anywhere soon, as they are cash strapped due to Johnson’s contract.
New York Knicks – #6 Seed
The Knicks made a great move to get Carmelo Anthony at the trade deadline. Melo, Amar’e Stoudemire, Toney Douglas, and Landry Fields put the Knicks in serious contention for the future. The key to this year’s playoffs (aside from the veteran guidance of Chauncey Billups) will be defense. Mike D’Antoni is known both for his exquisite offensive mindset and his team’s lack of defensive presence. The team also hasn’t had too much time to practice executing on both ends; many of the Knicks’ recent wins have been due to Melo being Melo and making clutch shots. The Knicks have the potential to make some noise in the playoffs but will need a team-wide effort on the defensive end.
Philadelphia 76ers – #7 Seed
The 76ers’ success has one of this season’s better stories, along with Denver Nuggets head coach George Karl’s excellent health, Gary Neal, and media hyped dominance of Derrick Rose. Philly’s new head coach Doug Collins, has made this team defensively sound and squeezed out just enough offense to eke out wins. Even with Evan Turner’s terrible first season (he was the second pick overall in the 2010 draft and did not look comfortable throughout the season), the 76ers won 14 more games this season than last year and have pieces in place to continue to make the playoffs for years to come. Andre Iguodala is one of the best defenders in the NBA; whether he can contain LeBron or Wade for long stretches of time in the first round will be crucial for the Sixers.
Indiana Pacers – #8 Seed
Indiana had a nice year but they’re not going deep into the playoffs anytime soon. Much of this is due to the collective experience of Indiana’s players, most notably Tyler Hansbrough and Paul George, who prior to this season, had a combined one year of experience. Hansbrough has improved over the season from a player who couldn’t get into the rotation to a decent bench player and potential starter. Danny Granger is a star and Darren Collison’s improvement after being acquired from New Orleans has been instrumental to Indiana’s success. Larry Bird has done a great job in the draft these past few years and Indiana will continue to get better.
