The NBA playoffs...the East.

The NBA playoffs start today, and the ring is up for grabs.  The Chicago Bulls have the MVP, the best record, and the home court advantage throughout the entire playoffs.  The Miami Heat have LeBron, Wade, Bosh, and a lot to prove.  The Boston Celtics were a quarter away from winning it all last year and come to the table with four all-stars, not including Shaq.  San Antonio quietly won the West with relative ease.  Dallas won 50 games again.  The Thunder got better and bigger.  And the Los Angeles Lakers grabbed the two seed in their quest to three-peat.
Let's start in the East.  In the four vs. five match up, you have to like the Orlando Magic beating Atlanta.  Atlanta has played bad basketball over the last few weeks and it is difficult to just turn it on come playoff time.  The Hawks have a decent team, but show no signs that they have the match ups, or experience to beat Orlando.  Orlando will go as far as Dwight Howard takes them.  Gilbert Arenas, Richardson, Turkoglu, Nelson, and the rest, have been inconsistent to say the least.  The Hack-a-Howard will be in full force.  If Howard can't shoot better than 75% at the line, Orlando goes home.
The three vs. six match up looks good on paper.  Ray Allen, KG, Paul Pierce, Rondo and company, versus Carmelo Anthony, Amar'e Stoudemire, and Chauncey Billups.  But the Knicks don't play defense and don't have the depth to stay with Boston.  Boston has not been the same team since they traded Kendrick Perkins, and the thought that often injured Shaquille O'Neil will be a difference maker is laughable, but despite injuries, the Celtics have experience and the benches get shortened come playoff time.
Miami takes on Philly in the two vs. seven match up.  I worry about the Heat in the playoffs.  I could see Miami getting tight and LeBron forcing things.  I could see strong defensive schemes forcing someone besides LeBron and Wade to make shots.  But I don't see problems versus Philly.  The next round versus Boston is a different story.  Boston plays best in a defensive half court style, and Miami has been dreadful against the good teams.  Look for Boston to advance to the conference finals.
Chicago is way too good for the Pacers in the one versus eight match up, but are they ready for a championship?  Derrick Rose is the best point guard in basketball.  The Bulls are solid at every position with Noah, Boozer, and Gibson up front.  Korver and Deng on the wings.  Thomas, Brewer, and Watson on the bench.  They have depth, defense, and Rose.  But new teams often need a few tries to win championships.  Wade has won championships, LeBron has been to the finals, the Lakers, Spurs, and Celtics have all been there.  Even Orlando went to the finals two years ago.  Who on the Bulls has been there?  Brain Scalabrine? I would love to see the Bulls go to the Finals, but I just don't see it. And as a long time Laker fan, I hate that I'm picking the Celtics.
So mark me down for the Magic, Heat, Celtics, and Bulls to advance.  I like the Celtics in seven over the Heat, and the Bulls in six over the Magic.  In the finals, the Celtics take the Bulls in seven games to advance for a chance for the ring.