While we await the conference semifinal pairings out West, we look first at the Eastern Conference semifinal pairings to be played out over the next two weeks. Sorry Bulls fans, but better luck next year.
(2) Miami Heat vs. (3) Indiana Pacers
Regular Season: Miami won 3-1
The Indiana Pacers enter unfamiliar territory. A bulk of the roster have never won a playoff series, which means Indiana will play underdogs to a powerful Heat team that have one too many players with series victory experience. Miami's 'Tres Amigos' of James, Wade and Bosh, plus a slew of playoff-hardened veterans, will have their hands full against a Pacers team with something to prove. Only David West, George Hill, Lou Amundson and Leandro Barbosa have won a series before while playing for the Hornets, Spurs and Suns, respectively; the rest of Indiana's roster are in their first second-round series.
Indiana's hot April landed them in third place, and exploited Orlando's lack of 'Superman' in a five-game warmup. However, they now face a superpower in Miami, who easily disposed another star-studded yet mercurial team in the Knicks in five. The Heat dominated the Pacers all season, winning three of four. Now the East's team to beat, Miami needs to outgun and slow down the much-improved Pacers at every turn in hopes of returning to the Eastern Conference Finals.
(4) Boston Celtics vs. (8) Philadelphia 76ers
Regular Season: Philadelphia won 2-1
Classic battles between Boston and Philadelphia have been well-documented in NBA history. From 'Havlicek stole the ball' to Bird vs. Dr. J, this rivalry had it all, and it reached its highest points during the 1960s and 1980s. In 2012, a new chapter in the rivalry begins anew.
The Celtics are expected to be here, but the 76ers? They were lucky to have beaten a wounded Bulls crew without reigning MVP Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah in six games, and now drew an aging crew from Boston whose time is ticking fast. Philadelphia dominated Boston in two of three regular season games, but their late-season slump helped the Celtics steal the division title from them. Still, by winning the first round series over Chicago, they appeared to have redeemed themselves from that slump. But they need to prove that their win was not a fluke by overcoming the playoff-hardened Celtics, which is easier said than done. Andre Iguodala, Elton Brand, Jrue Holiday and Evan Turner will have their hands full against Boston's Big Four of Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, Paul Pierce and Rajon Rondo, which makes Boston a tough assignment in the playoffs against younger, faster competition.
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