2008 NBA Eastern Conference Playoff Predictions

by Bodog Sportsbook | Apr 18 2008

The Eastern Conference playoffs are about to tip off, so we asked the Bodog Sportsbook’s confidant extraordinaire the Locksmith for his unique opinion on some first-round predictions.



2008 Eastern Conference Playoffs Predictions

Boston Celtics vs. Atlanta Hawks

This first-round matchup features one team with 66 wins and the other team with 37 wins, 11 of which have come in their last 15 games so at least they are peaking at the right time. Boston has looked every bit like the championship caliber team that they aspired to be at the beginning of the season. As for Atlanta, Mike Bibby brings back shades of Mookie Blaylock with the way he has jump-started this young Atlanta Hawks team. But Atlanta is clearly overmatched - what would it take for Atlanta to have a chance at this series? Locksmith?

Locksmith: A miracle. Basically Atlanta would have to play out of their ass and age about three or four years just to make this series competitive. Boston is on a mission. Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Jesus Shuttlesworth, excuse me, Ray Allen, have one thing on their minds: that’s winning a championship. I have Boston sweeping the Hawks with the quickness and efficiency of a starved and taunted lioness.

 Detroit Pistons vs. Philadelphia 76ers

First off, let us begin by giving some much deserved credit to the 76ers. We tip our hats to the Philadelphia 76ers who have completely and successfully reinvented themselves since the Allen Iverson trade and have morphed themselves into a competitive playoff team in the East. Andre Miller has done a phenomenal job at the point and the other Andre is quickly becoming a superstar in the league. Unfortunately, as their reward, they will face the Detroit Pistons again in the first round. Even though the 76ers have beaten the Pistons twice this season, it’s the playoffs now. Locksmith, how is it going down?

Locksmith: When I first looked at this matchup, I thought sweep, no question. But there’s something gritty about this Philly team and I think they might be able to steal one at home. I like Detroit’s focus this year and I don’t imagine they are going to take the 76ers lightly especially since they have lost twice to them already this year. I got D- town in five games.

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Orlando Magic vs. Toronto Raptors

In the beginning of the season this matchup would have looked fairly even. However, the Raptors have been floundering as of late and just look like a team without a true identity. The Magic, after starting the season on a tear, have since cooled off and have been hovering just under the radar, but they have weapons. Dwight Howard is a beast inside, and the Magic perimeter is littered with snipers and slashers in Hedo Turkoglu and Rashard Lewis. Jameer Nelson really can jump-start this offense when he is on his game. As for the Raptors, Chris Bosh remains the only true dominant player on the team and this team can only play as far as he can carry them. The duo of T.J. Ford and Jose Calderon at the point guard position is a formidable one-two punch when they are both on their games. One thing for sure is that when the Raptors shoot well, they can put points on the board in bunches. Locksmith, who do you have taking this series?

Locksmith: Orlando is taking this series in five games. For one thing, there’s not one player in Canada, never mind Toronto, that can stop or slow Superman. The Magic will be able to control the boards and the paint on both ends against the soft Raptors interior. Bosh will see double teams to limit his production. The Raptors don’t guard the perimeter well so the Magic shooters will get wet and stay wet, making it rain from 3-point land all series long. And lastly, I just don’t think the Raptors have it together. Ford or Calderon? They need to make up their mind; it’s two different styles of play, and the team has shown that once they adjust to one, they can’t readjust to the other.  



Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Washington Wizards

This is without a doubt the series to watch in the East, a rematch of last year’s first-round matchup. There’s been a lot of smack talk between the two teams. Gilbert Arenas and DeShawn Stevenson have openly stated that they want a piece of LeBron James’s Cavaliers and now they have their wish. Both teams will have completely different lineups than they had to begin the season and both teams will have to gel quickly, more so the Cavs who have looked sloppy down the stretch of the season. DeShawn Stevenson has called himself the “Locksmith,” referring to his ability to stop LeBron James; what do you think about that and this series, Locksmith? It looks like there’s a new sheriff in town.

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Locksmith: Well, my name stems from a legendary streak of locks that I called in the mid ’90s, after which I faded into uncertainty and ambiguity, but those who knew me in my heyday still call me the Locksmith. DeShawn Stevenson has yet to prove it when it counts that he is any kind of Locksmith on LeBron James; I don’t think anyone is. It’s almost like a John Starks and Michael Jordan matchup: Stop him when it counts. I think Washington is the better team but I have LeBron James and the Cavaliers taking this series to seven games if for nothing else than because all of this smack talk might have pissed LeBron off. After what he did to the Pistons, I never feel comfortable going against King James but I think this time it’s more of a wild card due to his lower back injury, which might prevent him from morphing into that superhuman player mode. But the Cavs are a better team than last year and the Wizards aren’t the Pistons, so I think that the Wizards and Cavaliers will go the distance to a Game 7. Agent Zero is also a wild card in this series because who knows when he will find his rhythm; he has barely played all season. I think winning Game 7 on the road is a tall order for Washington, and it likely won’t happen, not in LeBron’s house. I have the Cavs in seven games.

Okay, so there you have it. Those are the Locksmith’s picks for the Eastern Conference first-round playoffs. As we all gear up for one hell of a first-round show, it’s time to ask yourself, who do you like? Add to the excitement of the Eastern Conference NBA playoffs and bet on each game of the 2008 NBA playoffs with the Bodog Sportsbook.

Also be sure to check out the Western Conference predictions!