East - Playoffs Preview

[Sky]

EASTERN CONFERENCE
[1] VS [8]

One of the top dogs out East, finished the season with an impressive 65-17 and from that a 33-8 win Loss card on Home games. 1 of the young teams in the league that contends for the CSL Championship. However, coming into the Playoffs the Pistons lost there center piece Andre Drummond with a torn MCL and will be done for the remainder of the season. It was a very tough loss for the team. But they're still looking good as Josh Smith is stepping up this team is deep and I think they're still capable of contending for the title.

X-Factor: Josh Smith, stepping up is the name of the game for Josh now that Drummond is out for the Season. His defensive ability down low will be the key and I think once he establish that his offense will follow.

Surprise Factor: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, I just hope he gets to shine this Playoffs and be the offensive corner stone for the Pistons and to add I think if he can step it up on the defensive end as well the Pistons can be on an elite level contending for the Title.

The defending Champions led by Paul George cannot be pushed back that easily for this edition of the CSL Playoffs. With Paul George's leadership this Pacers team is still included as a contender with that Finals experience that's 1 of the advantages they'll take playing a tough Pistons team. The team will need to heavily rely on both George Hill and Paul George two of the players who helped the Pacers reach the CSL Championship last season.

X-Factor: George Hill, like how he drive the Pacers to the title last year will be needed this Season. His leadership and play making ability I think will be the edge of the Pacers if he and Paul George can take this team to a whole new level they can get the sleeping giant in Detroit a run for there money.

Surprise Factor: Luigi Datome, his a steady contributor all the way to the Playoffs and I think that if he continuous to explode off the bench it will be a huge help for the Pacers, they can probably have both Datome and George as a starter since Turner is currently injured.

[2] VS [7]

Another impressive team, the Celtics finished there season with a 62-20 record. However, they suffered a huge blow when they loss Brook Lopez during the Regular season. A tough break that seems like hit almost each team in the league. The center was 1 of the players expected to contribute heavily for the Celtics title run. This Playoffs the Celtics will rely heavily on there remaining frontline and Goran Dragic's amazing offensive game. Looking at there match up, the Celtics can pull away easily with this series against the Bulls. But they cannot afford to be complacent as the Bulls are hungry and has the tools to bring an upset this Playoffs.

X-Factor: Frontline, yes its Larry Sanders and Amir Johnson. Both players can ball and play hard nose defense. With Brooks exit both Larry and Amir needs to step up on both ends of the court. The only challenges I can see is probably getting them into foul trouble if they limit it and continue to play hard honest defense they'll not gonna miss Brook this Playoffs.

Surprise Factor: Paul Pierce, him coming back to Boston is a mission. Turning 37 next few months Paul is definitely looking to give everything he has left in the tank to get that Championship once more. His leadership will be key, I know his pretty vocal about that but I see him leading this team on and off the bench. Seeing him explode for 20+ will be fun to watch, just like the old days.

Almost everyone predicted an upset. But yes, they do the Chicago Bulls has the ingredients to cook some upset this Playoffs with a healthy lineup. The spotlight goes to Derrick Rose the amazing home town hero will have his chances to get that Championship all Bulls fans are missing when they have the Jordan-Jackson era before. There defense will be a vital piece of there game and I think that will be the key as well.

X-Factor: Jrue Holiday, I got caught up with Zach and Holiday. But my final choice is Jrue his match up with Goran is vital if he can stop him that is a big key for there campaign in the first round. You know why he is playing the off guard position behind DRose now.

Surprise Factor: Taj Gibson, even thou the Celtics loss there big man in Brook Lopez there front line is still way deep. And It looks like the Bulls front line will have there hands full on there match up against the Celtics and that is why I select Taj his 6th man capability to come off the bench and provide almost everything will be essential he can play defense and can bully inside, maybe he might not be consistent offensively but his toughness and aggressiveness is what I think can help the Bulls on these perspective.

[1] VS [8]

The Atlanta Hawks sitting 3rd out East and finished 59-23 Win Loss record. Another tough team at the top of the Eastern Conference standings. Team is the name of the game for the Hawks they do not have a Superstar caliber player but they do have players that compliments well within the system being put up by Rudy Tomjanovich. Jeff Teague there court general will lead this team in the Playoffs.

X-Factor: Rudy Gay, beside Horford and Teague his the next guy that is expected to explode come Playoffs time. His experience in the Playoffs will help but his overall offensive game will help the Hawks a lot on there match up against the Knicks.

Surprise Factor: Kyle Korver, when you play a lot of Ball movement in your system you know shooters are a key component of that system and I bet Kyle explode this series.

The Melo led Knicks will be matched up against the Hawks with the way the Tyson Chandler move failed last Regular Season. Will he still have the fire to give everything he have to win this series against the Hawks. On this series it will be key to close out the series in favor for the Knicks is to play hard nose tough defense.

X-Factor: Thaddeus Young, he might be a little undersized for a Power Forward but his versatility will be the key his quick enough to blow past his big defenders off the dribble and can cause match up problems when switched in the SF position if he can put up consistent numbers offensively he will be a big part of the Series for the Knicks.

Surprise Factor: The Rookie out of Iowa Roy Devyn Marble, if he can put up his hot scoring mentality into this series and have the break away season he can help Melo on the loads offensively

[4] VS [5]

The King will be returning to Cleveland but not with them, but against them. However, the catch is his sidelined. Lebron suffered a broken leg in the Regular Season and will miss a number of games. A lot of responsibility will be moved to Bosh and Dirk to route some Wins in this series. Talk about the injury bug its another superstar over the other. And I bet Miami Heat fans are dissapointed with what happened but still have high hopes with there Heat to pull away this one.

X-Factor: With Lebron James down, OJ Mayo I think can be a huge factor on this series its time to step up as Bosh, Dirk and Lowry will be there consistently. OJ needs to step up both ends of the court as he is matched up against Dion Waiters of Cleveland.

Surprise Factor: Dirk Nowitzki, like what I said with Paul Pierce Dirk is on his twilight of his career and basically his hunger to snatch a title is huge so I expect him to go at it each and every possession. Dirk is a true competitor.

The amazing Cavaliers led by the dynamic duo in Waiters and Irving will be facing the Heat for First round and looking on how Tristan Thompson is at on recovering from a broken nose. They'll rely heavily on Irving's MVP numbers in the regular season. The Cavs system of play suits very well with Waiters and Irving and that is the reason why they finished 5th in a tough Eastern conference this team are no push overs as they can fairly battle toe to toe with the Heat and now that Lebron is out atleast for this series. The Cavaliers are taking this opportunity to try and take over this series.

X-Factor: Dion Waiters, its Playoffs time and I hope he needs to step up his stats line for this series and now that Tristan is out they'll need more offensive fire power.

Surprise Factor: Tristan Thompson, is it safe to say that a broken nose can be played thru. Thompson known as an upcoming top big man in the league will be needed heavily to match up against Miami's frontline and that I think is the only missing link from Cleveland if Thompson will not play.

[NanashiWake]

Wow very cool read. Nice work.

I like the preview of each series and agree with most of these X-Factors as well.

[andrei]

Great article - thanks

There are some major injuries in pretty much every series but each team is very good and its tough to predics the winner here. It hass been mentioned on a number of occasions that East is super deep and you can see that in these matchups.

[Rizzo]

I don't think Tristan Thompson will play any factor in this series at all unfortunately. Great read though and love the playoffs!

[WillyJakkz]

Good preview article

[emplep7]

Great article here. Every matchup is a marquee matchup, which would be awesome if it was like this in real life.

[Dennis]

Nice article. Like you said is Sanders the keyfactor. So far he was able to lock down Zach Randolph. But Zach can foul Larry out every night if he puts together his game.
Another key factor for us is JJ Redick. He will never lose us games as he is just efficient and sometimes (for example last sim) he erupts for 25+ games on unbelievable high efficiency. He's a real differentmaker.

[Marcos_Beck]

That was a great article, one of the best of the season.
Jrue is indeed our biggest factor, along with Zach. Zach can always foul out their best defender in sanders as DJ said, but Jrue has his hands full every night with Goran Dragic, their unquestioned offensive leader. He'll have to play on a very high level for us to win against Boston.

I'm loving those playoffs already. I like most that everyone is fired up for the PO's, we can feel the different atmosphere. Ppl really wanna win this thing.