Why Game 7?

No matter what transpires in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Quarter-finals I can easily say that this has been the most exciting playoff series in NBA history. Over one hundred lead changes, well over fifty ties, and if that wasn't enough SEVEN OVERTIMES (thus far). However, as a Boston Celtics fan this series will not be one I want to remember unless Game 7 ends up in the win column for the home team. As good and exciting as this series has been, I am almost too disappointed to repeat the events on this blog. Harping on missed opportunities and what if questions will not get me or readers anywhere. I will allow myself one complaint and that is with head coach Doc Glen Rivers. Even in the days before the Big Three when the entire Celtic fan base was calling for River's head, I was not one to question his ability as a coach. It was always a look at the lack of talent and experience on the team situation. Yet in this game I felt his distribution of minutes and his lack of using a full pallet of players contributed to the loss. 

Why did Brian Scalabrine play twenty minutes? I do think Scal is a good shooter and has value off the bench, but he hadn't played in over a month and offered very little this game. Why did Stephon Marbury only play eight minutes? What was the point of adding Mikki Moore when you let him play three minutes?  At seven feet tall Moore would have offered you far better defense than Scalabrine and defense would have won this game. The entire series has been a tiresome exchange of leads and high scores, with mostly weak defense and an up-tempo style. I was also wondering why Eddie House was only given ten minutes, but that I can actually understand because of how truly incredible Ray Allen was playing. Paul Pierce was exhausted down the stretch and I think could have used some rest throughout the game, especially because of his offensive struggles. Pierce was an unimpressive 5/13 shooting, including 1/5 from three point range, and made a costly turnover late in the final over time. I dont' blame Pierce for fatigue in a long game (after all the minutes he played during the season) and in a long series, Rivers needs to know when to rest his star. The Celtics could have used a fresher Paul Pierce down the stretch who missed game winning shots in the fourth quarter and in the first overtime period. 

 

It is hard to swallow a loss in which we all witnessed Ray Allen's finest performance of his ongoing illustrious career. An astounding 9/18 from downtown and a career playoff high 51 points were the main highlights of Allen's unforgettable game. However, his clutch shot with eight seconds left in double overtime was the most memorable. It is a hard loss to take for countless reasons besides Allen's wasted excellence, however a win in Game 7 will assuage any disappointments suffered. As we approach Saturday's Eastern Conference Quarter-Finals Seventh Game, I can't help myself wondering why Game 7? Why does such a talented, gritty, veteran, experienced, and Championship caliber team always need a Game 7 victory to sneak out of the first round of the playoffs? Perhaps last year the Celtics were not adjusted to the playoffs after having such a smooth ride through the regular season. Even though they had a far superior bench and a healthy Kevin Garnett, yet still needed the most games ever taken to win an NBA Championship. The previous season had the Celtics go seven games with the lowest playoff seed (eighth) Atlanta Hawks; and now this year a do or die contest with the seventh seed Chicago Bulls. You've still got Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, and Rajon Rondo and you are the defending champions, so why Game 7?

I guarantee the Boston Celtics will win this game at home.

No Post in the Postseason

The Boston Celtics defeat in game four came at great surprise after a blowout win against the Bulls in Chicago. After the improbable victory in game two and twenty one point thrashing in game three; I would have said that the Bulls were finished and their spirit was broken. Yet in game 4 the Bulls were back playing tough minded and inspired basketball grinding out the double over time win. This entire series Garnett's absence on the defensive end has been apparent, but this most recent loss brought out all the Celtics miss with KG's offensive prowess. 

If Garnett was healthy this series would be closing out tonight, but the Celtics find themselves in a must win game 5 situation at home. People are inaccurately comparing this series to the struggles the Celtics experienced in the first round last year against the Atlanta Hawks. Every game in Boston the Hawks got blown out, but on the road the Celtics would lose a tight game in the second half. This quarter final series is quite different first of all because the Celtics have lost a home game, but also because home court no longer guarantees a victory. The Celtics have lost at home and the Bulls have been blown out by twenty plus on their home court. Now the series is a best of three as the first to win two more games advances to the quarter finals. With home court advantage back to the Celtics who will enjoy two home games no matter what from here on out, but they will certainly look to avoid a game seven (even if its in Boston). The reason this series is tied at two is because the Celtics have engaged themselves in a jump shooting contest with a younger and faster team. The C's are best suited to win games in the 80's and 90's, but when they get themselves into the hundreds it means the defense is ineffective and they are in danger of losing. In Game 3's blowout win the Bulls were held to 86 points and it was the Celtics type of game with a slower pace and defensive mindset. Rondo can push the ball and run the fast break offense incredibly well, but when this is the style of play the whole game it takes away from the defense. The Celtics are an older team who can't handle the rigors of an up tempo game; as they are best suited to run the fast break with Rondo after a steal or defensive stop. Playing to the Bulls strength of running up and down the floor putting up jump shots has kept the series even and given a young team all the confidence in the world.

The Celtics need to attack the basket and earn more high percentage close range shots, lay-ups, and dunks. Without Garnett to set the tone defensively the Celtics are at a great disadvantage, but they equally miss his offensive post presence. They have been settling for jump shots, threes, and fade aways without truly attacking the basket. Kendrick Perkins has developed a nice close range hook shot and can back down a smaller player, but other than him they have no close range offense. Leon Powe is skilled under the basket, but of course he is out for the season and the only other big men are Glen Davis, Mikki Moore, and Brian Scalabrine. Big Baby Davis has added an effective mid range jump shot to his skill set, however he lacks the ability so dominate in the paint. Scal has nothing more than an above average three point shot and Mikki Moore at best could get you ten points. Garnett is an excellent shooter, but he can drive to the basket and throw down an exclamatory dunk. With the Celtics taking lower percentage shots and playing to the Bulls strengths this series will go seven games. Paul Pierce was 9 for 24 shooting last game because he stopped trying to get to the basket and settled for fade away jump shots that converted 37% of the time. Pierce is a small forward, but his game is built upon getting to the rim and finishing and getting fouled in the process. The Truth needs to show himself to the Bulls by taking over the game driving to the basket and bringing the offense into the paint. When your post offense is in effect that draws the defense in towards the basket to defend that area and creates open looks for men on the perimeter. In game 4's loss Ray Allen and Paul Pierce had over twenty points each and Rondo had a triple double AGAIN, but it was not enough to get the win. Big Baby and Perkins have played well, but they need to take it inside and dominate the paint. Glen Davis and Kendrick Perkins are the Celtics only true big men and will need to stay out of foul trouble and play well close to the basket on offense and defense. If the Celtics bigs and Paul Pierce can establish a post game and bring the scoring inside they will win this game. The keys to victory for Game 5 are as follows: Slow the pace of the game, look for high percentage shots, score inside the paint, play team defense, Perkins, Big Baby, and Paul Pierce need to step up, and push the ball with Rondo after a Bulls miss. Having a balanced offense will be needed not only to beat the Bulls, but is crucial to embark on a real quest to defend their championship.  Look for the Celtics to heed the call with a seven to ten point victory over the Chicago Bulls in Game 5.

Beyond the Game

During last night's game between the Portland Trailblazers and the Houston Rockets the NBA suffered a great loss. Towards the end of the first quarter a struggle for a rebound introduced us to a new center and said goodbye to an all time legend. Greg Oden grabs the board, sends Dikembe Mutombo crashing down onto the floor writhing in pain. Mutombo is idle under the basket for several minutes before being carried off on a stretcher into the locker room never to be seen again.

The Rockets went on to the lose the game and later find out that Mutombo's injury is to be career ending. The leagues oldest player (42) was quoting saying: "For me basketball is over...I've had a wonderful 18 years staying injury free, so I just want to go out with my head up, no regrets".  Even with his most productive years far behind him he was still a valued presence in the locker room and more than a capable re-bounder and shot blocker. No age could diminish  his seven foot two stature or his desire to play the game of basketball. Number 55 will finish his career second all time in blocked shots and an average of 2.75 blocks per game.He will also end with career averages of  10.33 rebounds and 9.83 points per game. Averaging virtually a double double and three blocks in 1,196 games Dikembe Mutombo belongs in the hall of fame. He was an eight time All-star who was honored with Defensive Player of the Year award four times. Blocking 3,289 shots over the course of an eighteen year career in which he played for six teams. Joining Allen Iverson to reach the The Finals was as close as Dikembe would ever come to an NBA title; in a David and Goliath series against Shaq O'neal and Kobe Bryant the 76ers could only mount one victory.  This is not a tribute to Dikembe Mutombo's hall of fame career as an fearsome shot blocker, or a testament to his immense presence on the defensive end;but a time to further honor his most important contributions, off the basketball court. No player further exemplifies my message given in the Invincible Business blog post. Mutombo achieved great success in the NBA and here in the United States, but he never forgot where he had come from.

 

Dikembe Mutombo Mpolondo Mukamba Jean Jacque Wamutombo was born in 1966 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo also known as Congo-Kinshasa. Mutombo recieved a scholarship to attend Georgetown University as a pre-med major. His dream was to become a doctor and return to the Congo, but he ended up graduating with a dual degree in linguistics and diplomacy. Despite the change in plans; in the end Dikembe Mutombo would fulfill his original quest to aid those in need. Perhaps the most decorated Humanitarian in all of professional sports, Mutombo never forgot the world's true pain by getting lost within stardom. So many NBA stars do indeed come from impoverished backgrounds as their only way out of the ghetto is to be the very best at the game of basketball. Many of them rise from the ashes to become someone new, someone that had never been poor or afraid. Mutombo would not ever let this happen to him because the goal of helping people would be surpassed by no other. Forget forcing a player to donate at least 1% of his total salary (Invincible Business) because there are some men you do not need to force; there is a man so inherently good that fame and wealth only make his will to help stronger.

In 2005 Mutombo was named the "most generous professional athlete" over Tiger Woods and Lance Armstrong by Foxsports.com. In 2007 he was inducted into the Humanitarian Hall of Fame and received the National Civil Rights Museums Sports Legacy award. However, his most important contribution was the creation of a foundation in 1997 that has now taken real action. Mutombo's foundation orchestrated the creation of a twenty nine million dollar hospital in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. This 300 bed Hospital and Research Center was completed in 2007 after a six year construction process. The Biamba Marie Mutombo Hospital was named after his late mother. He has made many other contributions to his home country and to others in need, along with being a legendary basketball player.  The end of Dikembe's NBA career will not mark the end of his impact on the world; as we say goodbye to one of the greatest centers of all time we say hello to an inspirational man and story. All professional athletes should strive to make such influences on their communities, the United States, and the world. We of the NBA world will miss you Dikembe Mutombo, but the rest of the world needs you. 

http://www.dmf.org/videoplayer.php?video=2

Heart of a Champion

With 3:13 left in Game Two of the Eastern Conference quarterfinals, Ben Gordon drains a cold blooded three giving the bulls a five point lead. Doc Rivers stomps onto the court in disgust and the Garden fell silent as the Celtic's were to lose another home playoff game. With Garnett on the bench, Leon Powe injured, Paul Pierce struggling, and Rondo with a swelling ankle all seemed lost.

It was Gordon's second consecutive three pointer and an exclamation point on one of the most impressive hot streaks I've ever personally viewed. Hitting five of six shots down the stretch in crucial situations was remarkable. Gordan, running up the court and firing up shots with pure confidence; with the comment "no way" coming out of my mouth each time the ball went up. No matter what shot he put up, what duress he was under, or what hand was in his face the shots were falling. Ben Gordon was 6/11 from beyond the arch and shot 58% from the floor overall. Despite his heroics, clutch shooting, and 42 points somehow his Bulls would be defeated. The return of "Ben Jordan" would be spoiled by another shooting guard who would match him dagger three for dagger three.

Two years ago Ben Gordan was among the NBA's top clutch performers; a player who could enter a zone in his mind and light up the scoreboard with phenomenal three point percentages. The nick name "Ben Jordan" and the rising stock of his young Bull's team had the experts proclaiming them to come out on top of the Eastern Conference. Gordan continued to convert three pointers at an astounding over .400%, but the Bulls found ways to underachieve. Nonetheless, yesterday Gordan proved he still has what it takes to be an elite clutch player; his only problem was engaging in a three point shootout with the game's greatest shooter.

Under four minutes left in regulation, Celtics up by one with the ball and the chance to finally take the lead. Paul Pierce takes an ill advised fade away jumper, miss, Ben Gordon for three, got it. The Bulls again hold a two point lead with just over three minutes left...Pierce takes another failed hero shot, rims out. Outlet pass by the rebounder Brad Miller to Ben Gordan streaking up court, pull up three over Ray Allen...swish, ball game. That was the sentiment of every instantly silent Celtics fan, Doc Rivers, and the players; who had watched a one point lead with possession violently transform into a seemingly 0-2 series hole. Timeout, Celtics. 3:11 now remains and Kevin Garnet is on the bench in a suit helpless against a five point lead and a bulletproof Ben Gordan. Defense and clutch shooting were what made them Champions a distant year ago, and now without last year's defensive player of the year; it was again time for that championship defense. Down by five the game looked out of reach, but at least the Celtics...oh no wait Ray Allen misses a shot, now down by five about to be put away by the Seventh seed, 41-41 Chicago Bulls. In their darkest hour the heart of a champion illuminated the Garden, and as if KG was on the floor Boston welcomed back Celtic defense. 109-104 with just over two minutes left Gordan misfires as Pierce engulfs a rebound which soon turns into a Big Baby field goal. Paul Pierce steals the ball and bombs it up to Rondo who streaks in for a layup.

One minute and one second left mark the time of Rondo's most impressive and clutch jumper of his young career; a step back jumper over six foot eleven inch Joakim Noah to take the lead.

It seemed that in this contest no crucial pass, block, rebound, or amazing shot could determine a winner. Even after Rondo's timely make he still had to miss a shot grab his own rebound and dish to Ray Allen for three. Ben Gordan was 5/8 in the fourth quarter, missing once between back to back long balls and three consecutive two point shots (in the last four minutes). Ray Allen was 4/7 in the fourth, but hit back to back threes to finally end the bitter relentless see-saw of leads basketball contest. Ray Allen finished with 30 points, five assists, and he was a Hall of Fame 6/10 from deep. Perhaps Ben Gordan's 42 points on 5/8 threes and 14/24 shooting overall will be considered more impressive, but he had zero assists and he missed the one shot that would have buried the defending champs. Rondo's gritty play with a swollen ankle and his triple double (12 rebounds, 16 assists, and 19 points) along with Big Baby's twenty six on 57% shooting were integral parts to the win. Ray Allen Player of the game, Rondo's best game as a professional, Big Baby's finest performance, and KG toughing it out a whole game on the bench all made for a captivating game two victory. Beneath all the glory of excellent performances, Paul Pierce's contribution seem to have been lost, but that key steal in the waning moments of the fourth quarter is the true reason Boston won this game.

In a shootout with a younger, faster, healthier, and fearless group the Celtics were going to lose. The Championship defense returned, if only for a few minutes, but it was all the C's needed to get the job done. Defensive intensity creates stops and then opens the lanes for the fast break which Rondo runs as good as anyone in this league. The old Celtic way from the glory days: team defense leads to the fast break. This win needs to propel the Celtics to sweep the Bulls out of the playoffs and don't ever give them a chance to believe they can win again.

NBA Champs

After dissecting my heavily flawed early season predictions it is time to release the playoff predictions. This Blog's very first post stated the NBA Finals to commence with the Boston Celtics and New Orleans Hornets as the opposing participants. With the losses of Kevin Garnett and Tyson Chandler each team is one big man short of an NBA Finals appearance. However, my early season predictions do have some hope of betterment; if the Magic do win a series, if Lebron does win the MVP, and if the Houston Rockets finally emerge past the first round.

With the disappointment of the failed NBA prophecies behind me; the time has arrived for the 2008/2009 postseason predictions. Keep in mind this is what I think is going to happen and certainly not what I want to happen. The only hope is that this Garnet injury debacle is a hoax or he recovers in time for the Eastern Conference Finals against the Cavs.

WEST

LAKERS OVER Jazz

ROCKETS OVER Blazers

NUGGETS OVER Hornets

MAVERICKS OVER Spurs

EAST

CELTICS OVER Bulls

CAVALIERS OVER Pistons

MAGIC OVER 76ers

HEAT OVER Hawks

Semi-Final Round

WEST

LAKERS OVER Rockets

NUGGETS OVER Mavericks

EAST

CELTICS OVER Magic

CAVALIERS OVER Heat

Conference Finals Round

WEST

LAKERS OVER Nuggets

EAST

CAVALIERS OVER Celtics

NBA Finals

CAVALIERS OVER Lakers

What were you thinking?

Now that the playoffs are upon us it has come time to reflect on predictions made in the early portion of the season. To point out the wrongs and illuminate the few rights of this season's forecast. In the Western Confernce I had the Lakers ending up the number one seed and with the best or second best record in the entire NBA, but the accuracy of my fortune telling ceased there. No other prediction about the Western Conference came true; unless you count the fact that besides Los Angeles, I had six out of seven correct playoff teams. The issue is that the order of the chosen postseason teams was entirely wrong. I had the Lakers at 1, Rockets at 2, Hornets 3, Jazz 4, Suns 5, Spurs 6, Nuggets 7, and Trailblazers holding up the rear with the eighth seed. Yes seven out of those eight teams are in the playoffs, and yes the Lakers are the number one (with the NBA's second best record) seed, but the true postseason totem poll stacks up far differently. Reality's version of the Western Conference playoff seeding is as follows: 1) Lakers 2: Nuggets 3:Spurs 4:Trailblazers 5:Rockets 6:Mavericks 7:Hornets 8:Jazz. My only defense against such incorrectness is that the Rockets, Suns, Jazz, and Hornets were not by any stretch of the imagination equipped with healthy rosters this year. 

The Eastern Conference predictions turned out even worse with only six of my eight playoff teams qualified for postseason action. I had the Celtics at the top of the Conference followed by: 2) Cavaliers 3)Pistons 4)Magic 5) Raptors 6) 76ers 7)Hawks 8)Wizards. Besides the sixth seeded 76ers and preordaining Thaddeus Young's good season the NBA forecast was a disaster. The true outcome of this year's Eastern standings shaped up to be more like: 1:Cavaliers 2:Celtics 3:Magic 4:Hawks 5:Heat 6:76ers 7: Bulls 8:Pistons. Perhaps Lebron can bail me out by winning the MVP, redeeming some of my projection credibility. Again in my defense I planned on a Celtics team with KG and other players being healthy more than they were. The biggest pitfalls these prognostications ran into were under and over estimations. The underestimation of Dwayne Wade's ability to enhance the Miami Heat, the Atlanta Hawks, and the Chicago Bulls. The overestimation of Allen Iverson's effect on the Piston's, Jermaine O'neal teaming up with Chris Bosh, and the Washington Wizards as a team. To predict the NBA seedings final appearance is close to impossible and looking around at other failed predictions from experts and fellow amateur bloggers, I felt better.  

Celtic Blowout not so bad.

So 15-5 didn't happen, but the Celtics will be the number two seed in the Eastern Conference despite today's thirty one point defeat. Although discouraging, this loss means close to nothing because the Celtics were not at full health and needed this game in no way to effect playoff seeding. On the other hand, this game held great meaning for the Cavilers who still need to ensure the best record in the league and prove to the Celtics they are the team to beat this year. To earn home court advantage all the way through to the NBA finals the Cavs must have the best record in the entire league; as they are still reaching for that goal with the Lakers nearby. The Cavilers have two games remaining with a one game lead over the Lakers and the chances of them holding the lead are unquestionably high. Cleveland will have the NBA's number one seed, home court advantage throughout the playoffs, tie the 1985 Celtics Record of 40 wins and one loss at home, and they will win the NBA Championship? 

The 1985-1986 Boston Celtics were 40-1 at home on their way to an NBA Championship led by third time MVP Larry Bird. The 2009 Cavaliers were 38-1 at home coming into this game; and it would have been nice to see the Celtics at least attempt to protect their ancestral Big Three's sole possession of an NBA record. The Cavs may match the 40-1 home record and Lebron as the MVP, but unless they cap it off with their first ever NBA Championship the two seasons will never truly compare. Lebron and the rest of  his team should ease up on the celebrations when they haven't even won a playoff series. The seated dance session and the flexing by Lebron during tonight's win is all fun and games, but they've won nothing yet. Defeat a fully healthy Celtics team in the Eastern Conference Finals and then we'll talk.

On The Rise

(Stats accurate as of 4/9/2009)

The last ten years the Western Conference has dominated the East by winning seven out of ten NBA Championships; with three consecutive to the Lakers and three out of five to the Spurs, but with a new decade on the horizon who is the better conference?

The NBA's Western Conference has been the virtually same for the last several years; with six to nine excellent teams, a couple of mediocre teams, and between four and six abysmal teams. The battle for even the eighth and final playoff spot in the West can often be the most intense and exciting. Last season the Warriors and Nuggets clashed for the eighth spot, as the Nuggets prevailed with a 50-32 record beating out the warriors by two games. At 48-34 the Golden State Warriors finished in ninth place out of the playoffs. This very same 48-34 mark would have been good for fourth place in the Eastern Conference. This year's Phoenix Suns were just eliminated from the playoff picture despite an impressive win over the Hornets. The suns were clinging to a the hope of sneaking into the last playoff spot, but at 43-35 (eight games above .500) there season has come to an end. If playing within the East, the Suns would be two games out of the fourth seed and in sole possession of fifth place.

The West has been consistently dominant and the East has been consistently weak over the last few years, but now the superior conference argument has resurfaced. This season the Western Conference has five teams at least twenty games over .500, three teams at least sixteen games over, and the Suns are eight games over a .500 winning percentage. However, the remaining teams of the West have a combined record of 129 wins and 339 losses. Four of these six teams have at least 50 losses; including the two worst teams in the NBA: the 16-61 Kings and the 18-60 Clippers. As for the Eastern Conference's top eight has three teams that are at least twenty games over .500, the Atlanta Hawks eleven over, two teams at least three games over, and two teams two games under a .500 winning percentage. The ninth seeded Charlotte Bobcats are 35-43 and the remaining six teams are a combined 176 wins and 295 losses.

In simpler terms, the Western Conference has nine very good teams and six weak teams; and the Eastern Conference has three very good teams and an overwhelming amount of par and sub par teams (with one despicable team). The West is 579-592 with a .494 winning percentage and the East is 593-580 with a .506 winning percentage. With the statistics now all on the table the analysis of the better conference can come full circle. The stats would have you believe that the East is superior to the West as an overall conference. Is half amazing and half terrible better than somewhat amazing and mediocre? Perhaps this is an unanswerable question, but in this particular case examining the National Basketball Association there is an answer.

The goal of an NBA season is to win the championship by defeating the other team in a best of seven game series known as The Finals. To get to this coveted "Finals" you must qualify for the postseason and win several best of seven series against three other playoff qualified teams. To determine which conference is better one would look to see which group has a larger portion of teams with a greater chance to win the NBA finals. The 2008-2009 NBA Champion will either be the Lakers, Cavaliers, Celtics, or the Orlando Magic. The Eastern Conference has last year's Champion in the Boston Celtics, this year's best team in the 63-15 Cleveland Cavilers, and will be this year's champion conference. With a greater chance to win The Finals the East is at last the better conference. The changing of the guard has arrived as the Eastern Conference begins to restablish itself as the commanding force in the NBA. Boston, Cleveland, and Orlando will lead the charge in the East's reassertion of league power. Boston's aging Big Three has a window of oppurunity this year and next to repeat as champions. Lebron James is the greatest player since Michael Jordan and Dwight Howard is the Shaq of the new generation; and let's just hope for Kobe Bryant's sake New Shaq and King James don't ever join forces. If Kobe wants to win a ring without Shaq he had better do it soon, because the Eastern Conference is on the rise.

(Stats accurate as of 4/9/2009)

Impossible Road II

Somehow my 15-5 prediction still lives as now the Celtics only need to win four more to make this come true. Let's say the Celtics are able to win four out of their last five, and my prediction comes to fruition; then what can be said about the playoffs? In thirteen days the 2009 NBA Playoffs will begin and the Celtics will again be granted an easily winnable first round series. Last year they faced no real adversity all year and were not accustomed to playoff basketball which led to difficulties in the first round. This season they will have had the benefit of a championship and an entire additional season to build upon team experience end chemistry. You will not see an inability to win on the road or a first round scare, but will you see another championship? This year's Celtic team is better than the group who won it all, but so is the competition. Stephon Marbury and Mikki Moore are not as good as the combination of James Posey, PJ Brown, and Sam Cassell, however the improvements in the play of Leon Powe, Glen "Big Baby" Davis, Rajon Rondo and Kendrick Perkins greatly outweigh the off season losses. The Celtics may be a better team this year, but they will finish with a worse record than last year's and very well may not win another title. The competition in the Eastern Conference this season is vastly superior when compared to last year's and this creates for a more treacherous road through the playoffs. 

The Celtics will face the 76ers or Bulls in the first round and will handle them with ease, but again what happens when you expend so much energy getting past Orlando and there is nothing left for Cleveland? The only hope to save enough energy for the Eastern Finals is to win the first two series in an efficient fashion, say eight to ten games and not fourteen. Last year's championship run was the longest in NBA history as it took twenty six games to finally earn their league best seventeenth NBA title. With Garnet's questionable knee, and many others returning from injury the Celtics can use all the rest possible. I still believe the Celtics can reach and win the NBA finals, but it is going to be a task as close to humanly impossible as can be. The 2009 Eastern Conference Finals will be between the Cleveland Cavilers and the Boston Celtics. At this time the Big Three and company will face their greatest challenge, as they will engage an inspired Lebron James in hostile territory. The Cavs have been no less than dominant at home this year; posting at 37-1 record they look to match the home court mark of 40-1 done so by the 1985-86 champion Boston Celtics. If the current Celtic group can arrive at the Eastern Finals healthy and rested, then prepare yourself for an epic series. A series in which either team could stumble away with victory, but not before a battle of defensive intensity, clutch shooting, and unlikely heroes.