Of course, the big news surrounding the NBA now is that LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers have just been eliminated from the playoffs at the hands of the mean green Boston Celtics. Yeah, there is a lot of speculation as to what uniform King James will be wearing next season but once again that's next season. The playoffs are not over and we can't forget that the Eastern Conference Finals are now in progress. The Boston Celtics will face off against the red hot Orlando Magic to earn a spot in the NBA Finals. Boston wants to repeat as champions just like they did in 08' while, Orlando wants to make that second straight return like last year and this time win it. Breaking it down this match up is going to draw some heavy interest with their similar playing styles. Both teams can score from the perimeter, provide a great frontcourt game & they have all-star point guard so this series can go either way. Can Boston prove everybody wrong by eliminating the Magic to get to the NBA Finals or will Orlando's vengeance to make it back to the championship to win it when it all over power the Celtics' ambitions?

The Orlando Magic have surprised many by smashing teams in the playoffs. Not only crushing them with each win but big time blowouts with wins of twenty-five points and up. The team is playing well together to the point where in both of their first two series they swept the Charlotte Bobcats and the Atlanta Hawks. Can you really argue about whether they are better than they were last year? I think now you have to say so. The team is now more experienced and the main difference is now they have a healthy Jameer Nelson. Nelson has been prolific in the playoffs this year averaging at least twenty points per game adding himself as a consistent scoring threat that makes Orlando dangerous. Vince Carter has struggled in the series versus Charlotte but in the one against Atlanta Carter has put in a more than great contribution with at least eighteen points per game and have been shooting very well from the perimeter. Dwight Howard is the center piece of this team so its already a given what he'll bring to the table on both sides offensively and defensively, to help the Magic succeed. Matt Barnes and Mickael Pietrus are still great options off the bench for Orlando. Barnes shuts down top scorers on the opposing team as a reliable defender and Pietrus provides the spark with his ability to score and knock down the three when needed. 

The Boston Celtics showed that they are not old, as many analyst claimed this as the reason they would not beat the Cleveland Cavaliers. Coach Doc Rivers rounded up his team to thrash the Cavs in six games rounding up his mean green fighting machines to show they still have a shot to win another NBA title. The big four are now what the team stars are called adding point guard Rajon Rondo in the mix along with Allen, Pierce & Garnett to dethrone King James and the Cleveland Cavaliers. Tony Allen was very surprising in his play during the Cavs series complimenting Rajon Rondo's great play coming off the bench making things happen. Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett have not been the best of their ability, but still were good enough to put the cap on Boston winning the series. Glen "Big Baby" Davis will have his hands full in the paint to faceoff against Dwight Howard as him, Rasheed Wallace, we will lending Kevin Garnett a hand to slow down Howard's dominant takeover ability. 

Prediction: Magic in 6. As much credit Boston deserves for proving many wrong that their old, now this time the age will be put to the test. They beat Miami because of the fact that their a one man team and they just had to stop D-Wade. LeBron James lacks solid role players to get him over the hump so Boston took advantage of that. I'm not taking anything away from the Celtics but now they'll be facing a challenge to a team that equally matches up with them. The Celtics on the frontcourt give you Kevin Garnett, the Magic brings Dwight Howard. The Celtics have deep threat shooters with Allen, Pierce, Wallace and Orlando comes back with Nelson, Lewis, Carter, Pietrus. Point guards are equal too with Rajon Rondo versus Jameer Nelson. That's not even to mention the bench as the Celtics give you Tony Allen and Big Baby, while the Magic gives you Jason Williams, Matt Barnes, and of course Mickael Pietrus. Orlando has the home court advantage, the youth, and looks to win Eastern Conference for the second straight time. I like the Celtics chances but Orlando's powerful magic will be too much.