The Eastern Conference Playoffs have been only slightly more competitive than the West, with three out of the four series at 2-0. In one of the least exciting playoff series, the #4 Atlanta Hawks own a 2-0 series lead on the #5 Boston Celtics. The Celtics just don't have enough firepower on offense, partly because they don't have a true star. Isaiah Thomas is pretty good, but needs some help, which is why the Celtics should be a big player in free agency this summer.
The Miami Heat have been the one team to really prove me wrong, they were the lower seed, and yet they won the first two games on the road. Now they have a serious advantage in the series, and will likely win the series in four games. The Heat have been red hot from the field, shooting at just below 60% in their first two games. They have also been getting good contributions from their bench and their veteran players. If their role players keep producing at the rate that they are, then I wouldn't be surprised at all if they made it to the Eastern Conference Playoffs. Players like Dwyane Wade, Luol Deng, and Joe Jackson are all veteran players who have playoff experience and can be very good in moderate roles. I don't think however they can beat any of the true playoff contenders, but it is possible if they continue to shoot like they have been.
The #2 Toronto Raptors and #7 Indiana Pacers are tied at a game apiece, and this is the one series in the East that has the highest chance at making it to six or seven games. The Raptors are trying to exorcise their demons by finally winning a playoff series. Toronto has won a couple playoff series since 1995, but recently the Raptors have had a lot of trouble advancing out of the first round.
The most interesting series has been Cleveland vs Detroit, even though Cleveland won the first two games in the series. LeBron is usually unstoppable in the playoffs, but he really hasn't had to "carry" his team, they have been getting good contributions from Kyrie Irving, Kevin Love, and some of their role players. They are having trouble guarding Detroit center Andre Drummond, who is nearly perfect when he is in close to the basket. But the farther away he gets from the basket, the less capable he becomes, so the Cavs have been trying to deny him the ball at all times. I wouldn't be surprised if the Pistons win a game or two in this series, because they have been playing very hard and pushing the Cavs more than most thought they would.
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