2009 NBA Playoffs: Eastern Conference Semifinals

In case you missed it, check out my Western Conference Semifinals picks, and my first-round picks if you're so inclined to see how awesome I am. Pfff, no one saw Dallas dominating San Antonio, admit it... Overall, I'm 7-1 picking winners with 3 perfects.

Wow, talk about polar opposites. While 5 out of the 7 games between Boston and Chicago were decided by 3 or less points, none of the 7 games between Atlanta and Miami were decided by less than 18. While BOS-CHI was arguably the most exciting series ever, ATL-MIA was a huge snoozefest, every single game decided before the half was over. That being said, after a somewhat exciting Orlando-Philly series in which Philly snuck in a couple victories before going quietly into that good night, and a heinously predictable 4-0 pounding Cleveland unleashed on Detroit, it's time for the 2nd round of the playoffs in the Eastern Conference.

#1 Cleveland (66-16)
#4 Atlanta (47-35)
Cleveland won the season series 3-1
Atlanta is a very good home team. Once more just for emphasis' sake, Atlanta is a very good home team. At home, Atlanta was an impressive 31-10, while they were a paltry 16-25 on the road. That being said, I can't see them taking more than one game from Cleveland. Cleveland is a different animal in the postseason when they shorten their rotation and basically play LeBron for all 48 minutes. However, I really feel like Atlanta is talented enough, and shown by their excellent team defense against Dwyane Wade, they should be able to contain James to some degree. I like their chances of taking at least one game on their home floor, but I don't think Atlanta has it in them to win both. With that and Cleveland's nearly impeccable home record, this one still ends quickly.
Prediction: Cleveland in 5

#2 Boston (62-20)
#3 Orlando (59-23)
Season series tied 2-2
Boston is simply a different team without KG, as shown by their struggles against the young Chicago Bulls, despite 5 amazing games from Ray Allen, who's making the case to be the best clutch shooter ever. Orlando, meanwhile, is playing terrible and will be without their best perimeter defender, Courtney Lee, at SG. The one of the big matchups will be PF, where Rashard Lewis plays an undersized, shooting oriented style, going against the much bigger, fatter, whinier CryBaby Davis. Oh, and Orlando does have Dwight Howard, the 6'11" athletic monster in the middle who is much too fast for Kendrick "I Eat Babies For Pleasure, Not Sustenance" Perkins. This will probably force Boston to double team, something they hate doing, so look for Orlando's shooters to have tons of open shots. Without KG, I just don't think Boston can pull out the victory, especially after playing so hard against Chicago, who were also young and athletic and had shooters galore.

That being said, so long as Boston has Ray Allen and is within 6 points in the final minutes, I'm shaking in my boots if I'm an Orlando supporter. Allen has proven himself to be an assassin, and not just a one-time assassin either. He can do it night-in, night-out, so stopping Allen will be Orlando's toughest mission and the key to this series.
Prediction: Orlando in 6