Does anyone really care about the Eastern Conference? How did it get this bad? What happened to the East Coast Bias? Personally, I blame Isiah Thomas. It’s one thing to destroy a storied franchise to the ground, but an entire conference? Then again the is the guy who sunk the CBA.

That being said, the Eastern Conference Playoffs are again being held this year. Sure every media member (non-team-centric bloggers included, I’m guessing) thinks that the Champ emerging from the West is a foregone conclusion, but they’re still going to play the games. After the jump, my humble and most likely incorrect selections for the Eastern Conference Playoffs. Feel free to put your own picks in the comments. If anyone gets everything right I’m sure there will be an “Atta-boy!” in it for you.

And yeah…that’s Leon Powe.(!) Sure, every other blog is probably using a picture of him to go with their previews, but we decided to run with him anyway.

First Round:

No. 1 BOSTON CELTICS vs. No. 8. ATLANTA HAWKS

This is an easy one – the Celtics! In…5. Why 5? Because my undying admiration for both Briana and Acie Law IV (for different reasons) won’t allow me to predict a Boston sweep. Sure Law only played 15 minutes a game this season, but I still think he’s pretty nifty. The Hawks can win a game, right? Right?

Celtics in 5

No. 4 CLEVELAND CAVALIERS vs. No. 5 WASHINGTON WIZARDS

This is the match up everyone wanted. Everyone except for the NBA because the Wizards are a much better team and the NBA wants needs LeBron to get out of the first round. Why? Because they think we’re all in love with LeBron. Anyone who has seen a Ballin’ post knows that’s simply not the case. Most of us want to see good games and more often than not this Cavaliers team is going to make for ugly basketball. Don’t screw the Wizards just because LeBron is the face of the NBA. Pretty please?

Wizards in 6

No. 3 ORLANDO MAGIC vs. No. 6 TORONTO RAPTORS

A commenter once said that Dwight Howard is pretty much the greatest thing since sliced bread. That combined with late-season struggles by the Raptors make me very weary of Toronto’s chances here. So weary in fact that I see Orlando winning this one easily.

Magic in 5

No. 2. DETROIT PISTONS vs. No. 7 PHILADELPHIA 76ERS

The award for First Round Series I Don’t Want To Watch goes to…. Detroit – Philadelphia! To tell you the truth, I just can’t see the ‘6ers stealing a game.

Pistons in 4

Second Round:

Aside from some low-scoring affairs in the first round, I think the Eastern Conference Playoffs are going to be just as entertaining as the West. The one problem will be the lack of marketability: No LeBron. We poor fans will be left with nobodies like Kevin Garnett, Gilbert Arenas, Rasheed Wallace, Dwight Howard, Paul Pierce, Caron Bulter…*sigh* Why even bother watching?

No. 1 BOSTON CELTICS vs. No. 5 WASHINGTON WIZARDS

This could be an all-time great series. I see Washington high off the fumes of beating LeBron James pushing Boston to the brink. At that point Kevin Garnett is likely to have a 40-point, 20-rebound game 7, right? I can dream. Washington should be able to take a couple games before giving in to the Celtics will.

Celtics in 6

No. 2. DETROIT PISTONS vs. No. 3 ORLANDO MAGIC

Feel good Magic fans – you made it out of the first round! Unfortuantely the Pistons are destined to play in the Eastern Conference finals every year from now until forever. Will they ever win another championship? No chance in Hell, but they’ll keep trying.

Pistons in 6

Conference Finals:

The idea of ‘Sheed and KG battling in this series has Bill Simmons wet and it should have you pumped up too. Its the match up of the teams that’s been there before with 3 Super Stars (Garnett, Paul Pierce and Tony Ray Allen) who have never been.

No. 1 BOSTON CELTICS vs. No. 2. DETROIT PISTONS

How weak is it to pick the top two seeds to advance to the conference finals? Very. Luckily, this is the same year where 4 # 1 seeds made the Final Four. High seeds are in this season. Of course that means that Boston area sports fans will get treated to yet another championship contender. Rats.

Celtics in 7

Tomorrow: The Western Conference Playoffs Preview and the Champion is revealed! (Its not Golden State)