Planting East Seeds With Green Thumb

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Planting East Seeds With Green  Thumb


 
 
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By Jon Barry
ESPN.com

Here's a look at how the _playoff  matchups_ 
(http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/matchups)  would shape up if the Eastern Conference postseason began  today. 
With the regular season's conclusion less than five weeks away, I don't  think 
you'll see much movement in these seeds by the time April 16 rolls around.   


 
In one scenario, however, the _Cleveland Cavaliers_ 
(http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/clubhouse?team=cle)  could overtake the _Orlando Magic_ 
(http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/clubhouse?team=orl)  for the No. 3 spot. That could put the 
_Detroit Pistons_ (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/clubhouse?team=det)  in a 
second-round matchup with  Cleveland. Neither Boston nor Detroit wants anything to 
do with Cleveland in the  East semifinals.  
No. 1 _Boston Celtics_ (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/clubhouse?team=bos)  
vs. No. 8 _Atlanta Hawks_ (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/clubhouse?team=atl)  -- 
For the Hawks' sake, let's hope _Mike Bibby_ 
(http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?statsId=3245)  will be playing better come playoff time. He  
doesn't look healthy to me. The Hawks are disappointing to me; they could finish 
 10 games under .500 in a bad conference. The Celtics take care of business 
here  with relative ease. (Celtics in 4)  
No. 2 _Detroit Pistons_ (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/clubhouse?team=det)  
vs. No. 7 _Philadelphia 76ers_ 
(http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/clubhouse?team=phi)  -- Fans in Philly have seen one  of the better coaching jobs in the NBA 
this season done by Mo Cheeks, and the  Sixers have played hard all season long. 
_Andre Miller_ (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?statsId=3331)  
has been their most consistent player and  the rookie _Thaddeus Young_ 
(http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?statsId=4290)  has played well. 
Unfortunately they run  into a Pistons team upset over how it went out versus the 
Cavs last season.  (Pistons in 5)  
No. 3 _Orlando Magic_ (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/clubhouse?team=orl)  vs. 
No. 6 _Washington Wizards_ (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/clubhouse?team=was) 
 -- Another great job by Wizards  coach Eddie Jordan. The Wizards have run 
their system even without _Gilbert Arenas_ 
(http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?statsId=3540)  for much of the season and _Caron Butler_ 
(http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?statsId=3608)  in and out of the lineup.  
The Magic have taken a step forward with Stan Van Gundy's coaching and 
_Dwight Howard_ (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?statsId=3818) 's move 
into absolute stardom. The Magic  are limited in some ways at power forward, 
having never replaced _Tony Battie_ 
(http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?statsId=3176) . The Wizards win a couple here based on  previous playoff 
experience. (Magic in 6)  
No. 4 _Cleveland Cavaliers_ 
(http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/clubhouse?team=cle)  vs. No. 5 _Toronto Raptors_ 
(http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/clubhouse?team=tor)  -- I like the Cavs' big trade,  getting some shooting to surround _LeBron 
James_ (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?statsId=3704) . Last 
season's team -- a club that had no  business being in the NBA Finals -- was 
built just on defense and LeBron.  
As for Toronto, _Jose Calderon_ 
(http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?statsId=3989)  has been off the chart as the most  improved player in the 
league, mostly because his opportunity to play has  increased, allowing him to 
show what he can do. Still, too much of a  jump-shooting team. (Cavaliers in 6) 
 
EAST SEMIFINALS  
Boston vs. Cleveland -- A scary series for the Celtics. I don't see a  real 
good defensive matchup Boston can put on James. I'd assume _Paul Pierce_ 
(http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?statsId=3253)  would have the honors 
over the Allens, _Ray_ 
(http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?statsId=3080)  and _Tony_ (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?statsId=3842) 
.  
It helps that Pierce is having his best defensive season and best overall.  
Boston has been a great defensive team, but it would have its work cut out for  
it with Cleveland's shooting ability, which greatly improved with the 
deadline  trade. LeBron is a better jump-shooter now, with a better understanding how 
to  finish games. He has figured out how to be The Man. Still picking Boston, 
 though. (Celtics in 6)  
Detroit vs. Orlando -- This Orlando team is still not ready for title  
contention. Detroit's frontcourt is too much for the Magic -- _Antonio McDyess_ 
(http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?statsId=3004) , _Rasheed Wallace_ 
(http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?statsId=3006) , _Jason Maxiell_ 
(http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?statsId=3952) , _Amir Johnson_ 
(http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?statsId=3982)  and now _Theo 
Ratliff_ (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?statsId=3020) . The 
Pistons have too many big guys they  can throw at Howard, who's bedeviled by poor 
free-throw shooting (59.8 percent).  
The Magic's other problem here is no adequate matchup for _Chauncey Billups_ 
(http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?statsId=3174)  -- _Carlos 
Arroyo_ (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?statsId=3585)  and _Jameer 
Nelson_ (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?statsId=3837)  are 
smaller point guards. _Hedo Turkoglu_ (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/prof
ile?statsId=3415)  should have been an All-Star, but the  Pistons still have 
_Tayshaun Prince_ (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?statsId=3621)  
and _Richard Hamilton_ 
(http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?statsId=3330) . This series is a matchup made in  heaven for Detroit. (Pistons in 5)  
FINALS  
Detroit vs. Boston -- Think this is a seven-gamer all the way, one  that 
could end up coming down to final possessions in multiple games. Very  evenly 
matched teams, with the experience factor going to Detroit . But I love  the way 
Boston has defended. The team played well during the absence of _Kevin Garnett_ 
(http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?statsId=3007) . While the 
team's marquee big man was  sidelined, _Leon Powe_ 
(http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?statsId=4177) , _Kendrick Perkins_ 
(http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?statsId=3730)  and _Glen "Big Baby" Davis_ 
(http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?statsId=4313)  got more opportunities to play. 
 
Finally, I love the pickup of _Sam Cassell_ 
(http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?statsId=1295)  by Boston, with the immeasurable experience  and 
confidence he brings. You like seeing him out there on the floor at the end  
of a game. _P.J. Brown_ 
(http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?statsId=814)  could be a factor, as well. Expect a play  here or a play there that's 
going to decide the series. (Celtics in 7)  
ESPN analyst Jon Barry is a regular contributor to the Daily Dime 




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