As of Thursday, three series in the first round of the 2010 NBA Eastern Conference playoffs have been decided with Cleveland, Orlando, and Boston moving on to the conference semifinals. In the final series, Milwaukee has a three to two game edge over Atlanta with game six scheduled for Friday night and game seven on Sunday if necessary. Here is a review of each series along with each team’s updated odds to win the Conference.
#1 Cleveland Cavaliers (1-2) vs. #8 Chicago Bulls (NA)
Give credit to Chicago for putting up a fight, but the Bulls were just too outmanned against Cleveland to have much of a chance in this series. To their credit, after getting beaten by 13 points in game one (96-83) and 10 points in game two (112-102), they tightened things up by winning game three 108-106 to try and make this a series. Even after getting blown out in game four 121-98 to go down three games to one, they gave it all they had in a series clinching two point 96-94 loss. The only real concern for the Cavaliers is the health of Lebron James’ elbow which obviously caused him some problems in that final game.
#2 Orlando Magic (2-1) vs. Charlotte Bobcats (NA)
Larry Brown’s Bobcats were in the playoffs for the first time in franchise history and their lack of experience was evident despite having a veteran head coach at the helm. Orlando, behind Dwight Howard pretty much had their way with them in a four game sweep. The closest Charlotte could get was a four point loss (90-86) in game three as they lost the others by an average of 11 points. The Magic appear to be just getting warmed up on their march towards a second straight conference championship. They will be well rested and ready to go, taking on the winner of the Hawks –Bucks series in the next round.
#3 Atlanta Hawks (30-1) vs. #6 Milwaukee Bucks (33-1)
In easily the best first round series in the East, both teams used home court advantage the first four games to win two each in their own building. The Hawks won game one 102-92 and game two 96-86, controlling the tempo of the game. As the series shifted to Milwaukee it was the Bucks turn to show that they belonged here with a 107-89 win in game three and a 111-104 win in game four. The shocker so far was Milwaukee’s 91-87 win last night in Atlanta to take a 3-2 edge into game six on Friday night. In a dominant fourth quarter performance, they outscored the Hawks 30-18, holding them to just 38% from the field, erasing an eight point deficit to come away with the win. Atlanta will now have to win on the road to force a game seven back home on Sunday.
#4 Boston Celtics (17-2) vs. #5 Miami Heat (NA)
In what on paper appeared to be a close match-up, turned out to be a one way affair as Boston completely dominated Miami, winning in five games. After a near brawl at the end of Boston’s game one 85-76 victory set the tone for the series, the Celtics were the one who took the fight to the Heat. They won game two by an embarrassing 29 points without Kevin Garnett and came away with a 100-98 win in game three in Miami after surviving a furious comeback attempt by the Heat in the fourth quarter. Miami did manage to win one, taking game four 101-92, but the Celtics sealed the deal with a 96-86 win back home in Boston in game five. They will now take the fight to Cleveland in the conference semifinals.
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