The NBA playoffs begin in ten days, and though the Boston Celtics and the Indiana Pacers are battling for the final postseason berth in the East, seven teams have already clinched a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. The Philadelphia 76ers with their win over the fading Celtics on Monday night improved their record to 54-23, the best in the conference. Philadelphia has been led the entire season by the NBA's top scorer, guard Allen Iverson. Iverson who is averaging 31.3 points per contest is the most prolific scorer in the game and has single-handedly beaten many a team in the league.
Iverson, however, has been the benefactor of solid play down low all season. Whether it has been Theo Ratliff or Dikembe Mutumbo, Iverson, a 42 percent shooter, has had the help of a dominant big man to patrol the middle and scoop up offensive boards. Mutumbo, who came over in a trade for Ratliff from the Atlanta Hawks, has averaged more than 12 rebounds and 12 points per game in the second half of the season. Aaron McKie has also been a formidable defensive force for the Sixers averaging nearly 2.5 steals per contest. As long as Iverson is healthy the Sixers should be the team to beat in the East. But if Iverson goes down, don't look for any of his teammates to compensate. As proven by the Sixers' recent skid during an Iverson injury, they may really be a one-man show.
The Milwaukee Bucks have had a phenomenal season and are all but assured a second seed and home court advantage in the first two rounds of the playoffs. The Bucks are led by two dominant scorers and a solid point guard. The bulk of the scoring comes from forward Glenn Robinson and guard Ray Allen. Robinson has become a versatile player having both an outside touch and ferocity inside making him a tough matchup for anybody. Ray Allen is simply one of the best pure shooters in the league. Allen, shooting a phenomenal 42.7 percent from three-point range, is also averaging 21.9 points per game. Sam Cassell is playing the point nicely, giving the Bucks that all-important third scoring option. Cassell is averaging 18.4 points and 7.5 assists per game. The only thing stopping the Bucks from reaching the conference finals is playoff inexperience. The Bucks are primarily a young team with only one round of playoff experience last season. Look for the Bucks to lose a tough second round series to one of these teams.
The Miami Heat, coming off an 81-76 victory against the rival New York Knicks, are finally starting to click with Alonzo Mourning back in the lineup. The Heat improved to 46-30, good enough for the third seed in the East. Mourning is beginning to show signs of his old self, averaging 11.3 points and six rebounds per game since his return from a rare kidney disease, which kept him out of much of the 2000-2001 season. Mourning's kidney condition has not completely disapeared, but his doctors cleared him to play, saying his disease seems under control and will not worsen for at least another year (if ever).
Miami's biggest concern as they head into the playoffs will be adjusting to life with Mourning in the lineup. The Heat played well this season in Mourning's absence, as Anthony Mason and Brian Grant more than filled the void in the middle. Mason is having a solid year, averaging 16.1 points and 9.6 rebounds per game, and he continues to improve on his once shaky free throw shooting, boasting a 78.5 percent from the line. Eddie Jones's 18.1 points per game and 37.4 percent three-point shooting combined with Hardaway's 15.1 points per game and big game abilities should help the Heat be a formidable playoff opponent. Also look for Bruce Bowen, the feisty seventh man, to give opposing two-guards a lot of grief, as his defense has lifted the Heat all season long. Given the right matchups, the Heat could easily make it to the conference finals and challenge the Sixers for the crown.
The New York Knicks are a hot and cold, night and day team. One minute they are beating the Los Angeles Lakers, and the next night they are losing to the Chicago Bulls. The Knicks are the mark of inconsistency in the East, and could go to the NBA finals or could lose in the first round. They boast of a strong trio of shooting guards spearheaded by all-star Allan Houston's 19.1 points per game and Latrell Sprewell's 17.5 points per game. Glen Rice, the Knicks' six man, provides a nice touch off the bench averaging 11 points per contest. If two of these three combine for 50 points a game the Knicks will likely win their playoff games. But one cold night from Sprewell or Houston and the Knicks could be playing golf in Florida by the beginning of May. The Knicks don't have Ewing anymore to intimidate Mourning in the playoffs. This lack of imposing presence in the middle may be the pitfall for the Knicks as they look to fend off Eastern Conference foes.
The Orlando Magic, who have compiled an impressive 41-35 record, clinched a playoff berth and are currently the seventh seed in the conference with six games left to play in the season. This is a rather remarkable feat considering that their free agent superstar Grant Hill has been out the entire season with a broken ankle. For an explanation of the Magic's success look no further than Tracy McGrady. "T-Mac" has easily had the best season of his young career putting up an uncanny 26.8 points per game. McGrady is the leading candidate for the most improved player award as well as a strong candidate for league MVP.
Mike Miller has been another great story coming out of Orlando this year, as the rookie out of Florida University has stepped up this year to score 11.7 points per game and average 39.3 percent from three-point land making him a leading candidate for Rookie of the Year honors. Darrell Armstrong has also had a solid season at the point netting 16.0 points and dishing out seven assists per game.
As the Magic gear up for the playoffs their biggest ally is a tepid Eastern Conference. The Magic with their young talent could surprise just about anybody in the first round. But youth will also be their biggest obstacle to overcome. The Magic has little playoff experience and may struggle against veteran clubs.
For the Toronto Raptors the story remains the same: in Vince we trust. Once again, Vince Carter has taken the Raptors on his shoulders and has flown them to prominence. Carter, with his 27.9 points per game average, has carried Toronto to the playoffs for the second straight season. The X factors for the Raptors, as they take their 44-33 record into the last five games of the regular season and the playoffs, will be center Antonio Davis and point guard Alvin Williams. Davis, who seems to get better with age, is having a career year, averaging 13.7 points and ten rebounds per contest en route to his first all-star appearance. Davis is also shooting 75.5 percent from the line, a remarkable feat for a center. Alvin Williams' play at the point will be pivotal in determining the Raptors chances for success in the playoffs as he has averaged nearly ten points and five assists per game. With playoff veteran Chris Childs coming off the bench, the Raptors have a solid point guard rotation. The Raptors can beat the Knicks, Heat, or the Bucks in the first round if Williams and Davis both play solid ball.
The Charlotte Hornets have quietly put together quite the season. The Hornets are holding onto a record of 42-36 and the fifth seed in the East, a feat they accomplished without a single all-star on their squad. The Hornets have relied heavily on a balanced scoring nucleus of Jamal Mashburn, David Wesley, Baron Davis, and Elden Campbell. Mashburn is the Hornets' leading scorer, averaging 20 points and 7.6 rebounds per game. Wesley provides the Hornets with an outside threat, putting up 17.6 points per game while shooting an impressive 37 percent from beyond the arc. Baron Davis, a celebrity for his now infamous "blind man's bluff" dunk in the slam dunk contest, has a 13.8 points per game average and is feisty on defense, robbing his opponents for 2.1steals per game. The final piece to the Hornet puzzle is center Elden Campbell. Campbell, with his 13 points and eight rebounds a game, is the cog in the middle that the Hornets need to challenge strong big men like Toronto's Antonio Davis and Miami's Alonzo Mourning.
The Hornets, however, have got to focus attention on offense away from big man Derrick Coleman, who has brought nothing but bad luck this year as the team has played its best with Coleman injured or on the bench. The Hornets will need their "Big Four" to play well together if they want to stop their four game losing streak and have a chance to beat either New York or Miami in the first round.
