Orlando Magic (8) +850 vs. Detroit Pistons (1)-1300
Orlando got off to a red-hot start but fizzled out before coming back to life late in the season when it counted the most. The Magic started by winning 13 of their first 17 games and looked like a team that finally had all the pieces to make a legitimate run. That ended with losses in 10 of their next 14 and then, after a five-game winning streak, losses in 22 of 29 games. Orlando won four straight and six of seven to close out the season and avoid even reaching the postseason that would have been devastating after that start.
The Pistons weren’t insurance for the top seed in the Eastern Conference midway through the season, but all of a sudden, they started winning and winning big. The acquisition of Chris Webber was key in the midseason stretch as Detroit won 17 of 21 games at one point to pull away from the competition. The Pistons went 11-7 down the stretch with six of those losses coming against playoff teams. Detroit has tended to overplay or underplay the competition at times this year and can’t get caught up looking ahead.
Orlando won just eight of 26 games against teams ranked in the top ten in the league, thus failing to take charge of the best finishing. Asking a team to win four games after winning only eight all season is too much. Detroit swept the regular-season series against the Magic and has won eight of the last nine. For the Magic to even smell a surprise, they need to win two games in Detroit, as the Pistons won’t go without wins in Orlando. Seeing as Orlando went 15-26 on the road, it’s not going to happen. pistons in five
Washington Wizards (7) +1450 vs. Cleveland Cavaliers (2)-2500
This is over before it starts. Washington had a late-season free fall, but was able to avoid eighth place and miss the playoffs entirely. The loss of Gilbert Arenas and Caron Butler showed down the stretch as the Wizards lost eight of their last 10 games and went 10-20 in their last 30 games. The offense was at one point some of the best in the league, but the options are now limited and the Wizards have averaged 87.8 points per game in their last six games and topped 100 points just once in their last eight, which was one game. of extra time. .
Cleveland was able to take advantage of an easy closing schedule to win its last four games and edge out the Bulls for the second seed in the Eastern Conference. With that, the Cavaliers avoid playing Detroit until the conference finals if both teams make it that far. Cleveland finished the season with a 30-11 record at home, which was second best in the Eastern Conference but more importantly, it learned how to win on the road. The Cavaliers went 8-4 down the stretch on the road and will have no problem winning on the road in this series.
This is a rematch of last season’s memorable first-round series that saw the Cavaliers win it in six. The last two games went to overtime, so it could easily have gone either way. This year, that will not be the case. The Cavaliers have won two of three in the regular season, including a five-point win at Washington with Arenas and Butler out. Washington’s lone victory came with Cleveland’s Larry Hughes on the sidelines. Washington has no confidence, no scoring, no defense and just no answers. gentlemen in four
New Jersey Nets (6) +140 vs. Toronto Raptors (3)-160
Toronto finished 37 games behind Detroit last season and this year, the Raptors finished just six games behind the Pistons, so to say they narrowed the gap is an understatement. This team surprised many and the Raptors arguably have the best team in the conference right now. Many seem to forget how much Toronto struggled earlier in the year, as they started 6-14 and were left for dead. The Raptors are 41-21 in their last 62 games, one game better than the Pistons’ 40-22 mark in the same span.
The Nets are playing very well right now, having won 10 of their last 13 games to finish the year at an even .500. More importantly, they defeated the Bulls in their season finale to clinch the sixth seed and a date with Toronto instead of the seventh seed to play Cleveland. Vince Carter picked up his game down the stretch and it became quite apparent that he wanted the sixth seed to be able to take on his old club. New Jersey has been knocked out of the playoffs the past two seasons by Miami, getting swept both times.
Toronto had won six straight games and nine of 10 before losing its last two games of the regular season. The first loss came in Detroit, where Chris Bosh didn’t even play, but Wednesday’s loss in Philadelphia is worrisome as there’s no momentum heading into the postseason. The Raptors haven’t seen the playoffs in five years, so inexperience could play a role early. The home team won all four games this season by double digits. Carter can’t do it alone and the Raptors advance. raptors in six
Chicago Bulls (5) -145 vs. Miami Heat (4) +125
Chicago had a chance to clinch the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference with a win over New Jersey on Wednesday, but couldn’t do it. Instead of playing the Wizards in the first round and playing at home until the Conference Finals, the Bulls open with the defending champions. The good news is that they have home court advantage in this series and finishing tied for the third-best home record in the NBA doesn’t hurt. Chicago closed out the season with 17 wins in its last 23 games.
The defending champions weren’t expected to finish fourth in the conference, but injuries and age played a part in the Heat’s poor season. To have a chance of winning a second straight title, Miami will have to do the road work in every series, unless it faces a surprised team and is a lower seed. The Heat have gone 17-24 on the road this season but have won six of their last 11. No one thought Dwyane Wade would be available for the postseason, but here he is, with a damaged knee and shoulder, ready to lead the team. again.
Chicago won the regular season series 3-1, but Shaquille O’Neal was around for only one of those losses and played limited minutes. He played in the Heat’s only win, which was a 33-point blowout in March. The Bulls won Game 1 on opening night by 42 points when Miami was more involved in getting their championship rings than playing a game of basketball. This is only the second time that both O’Neal and Wade will be on the court in this series, but it won’t matter. The Bulls are playing too well, but they’ll still be in contention. bulls in seven