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Winderman: Series-by-series Nba Playoff Previews – Nba- Nbcsports.

EASTERN CONFERENCE SERIES

Cleveland Cavaliers (1) vs. Chicago Bulls (8)

PLAYERS TO WATCH

CAVALIERS: Shaquille O'Neal
The good news? Shaquille O'Neal has lost 20 pounds during his injury rehab, showing that he appreciates the moment at hand. The bad news? He still is Shaquille O'Neal, a lumbering presence who slows the offense and clogs the lane and takes Cleveland away from the smallish approach that has proven so successful over the second half of the season. It will be interesting to see how much Cleveland integrates O'Neal early, or if it merely waits until a series against the Magic and Dwight Howard.

BULLS: Joakim Noah
The energy Noah has provided since his return from foot problems has been undeniable. The Bulls simply have been a different team since his return. What that does is again make Chicago an energy team, and against a Cleveland team that clearly has its sights on greater goals, that could allow the Bulls to sneak in a victory or two. Of course, with all the drama surrounding Noah and his foot, it will be interesting to see if any type of limitations are placed on his minutes.

INTANGIBLES

CAVALIERS: The entire focus of the season has been that nothing short of a championship will suffice. But the backstory is one that still could emerge as an issue: Are these LeBron James' final days with the Cavaliers? The All-Star forward has yet to shoot down any of the speculation. While James has proven he can handle such distractions, how will the speculation weigh on teammates, who will be bombarded with questions as the Cavaliers push closer to James' July 1 window of opportunity? The Cavaliers could wind up more interesting off the court than on the court for the next few weeks.

BULLS: Based on what Chicago accomplished in last year's first round against the Celtics, there should be no doubting Derrick Rose. When he is on top of his game, Rose can be as much of a game-changer as any point guard in the league. Yet while the leadership is strong on the court, can the same be said on the sideline, where coach Vinny Del Negro has been on shaky ground for months, hardly helped by this latest revelation of a falling out with general manager John Paxson? Somehow, the sight of Del Negro on the bench hardly inspires postseason confidence.

OUTLOOK

In some ways, the Cavaliers could wind up using the opening rounds of the playoffs to find their game, as odd as that might sound.

With Zydrunas Ilgauskas back and Shaquille O'Neal returning, the question becomes the degree that Cleveland moves away from the more wide-open style that proved so effective during the closing weeks of the season.

And then there remains the continued integration of Antawn Jamison into the offense.

Beyond that, LeBron James also will be working himself back into form, after being given a vacation over the final week of the season.

For Cleveland, this never was about the first round, even though Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah certainly could provide this challenges. The one thing the Cavaliers proved last season is that they can be cleanly efficient against the lesser lights in the conference.

No, this has been about steeling a game that will work against both the Celtics and then the Magic.

That could have Cleveland looking ahead if it gets up quickly in the opening round, producing, dare we say, an actual defeat along the way.

But there is no LeBron stopper here, as if there was such a thing.

Instead, there merely is a glad-to-be-here opponent, one more than content with somehow earning the right to make its season last for one more week.

PREDICTION

Because some experimentation will be involved in the process, and based on what Chicago did in last season's opening round against the Celtics, there actually could be the taste of defeat. But only once. Cavaliers in five.

Orlando Magic (2) vs. Charlotte Bobcats (7)

PLAYERS TO WATCH

MAGIC: Jameer Nelson
Nelson was reduced mostly to bystander during last season's playoffs, making an ill-advised bid to return for the NBA Finals. This time around, he is the engine, responsible not only for getting the offense set, but also creating his own offense. The Magic was at its best last season when Hedo Turkoglu was making plays. Now Hedo is gone and Vince Carter is a shell of himself. Nelson needs to set the tone against Raymond Felton and the equally fleet D.J. Augustin.

BOBCATS: Stephen Jackson
For as stout as the Bobcats' defense has been this season, there is only so much that can be done to limit Orlando's inside-outside game. No, the Bobcats will have to put points on the board and no one is better equipped for that challenge than Jackson, who helped Golden State pull off its remarkable first-round upset of Dallas in the 2007 Western Conference playoffs. Jackson can shoot you into games and out of games. But he also can win a game or two on his own.

INTANGIBLES

MAGIC: This is not the same team that advanced to last season's Finals. While the depth is superior, what with the additions of Matt Barnes, Jason Williams, Ryan Anderson and even Brandon Bass, there no longer is the unique skill set that a motivated Hedo Turkoglu delivered in his contract year. There are, however, plenty of questions when it comes to Vince Carter, who finally has his first 50-victory season, but still is looking to make it out of the second round. Dwight Howard will have to make his free throws, because the Bobcats will have plenty of fouls to throw around.

BOBCATS: While this is the Bobcats' first visit to the playoffs, there is plenty of playoff experience, starting with coach Larry Brown, and continuing through Stephen Jackson, Boris Diaw, Tyson Chandler and Theo Ratliff. What there isn't is consistent offense. Raymond Felton and D.J. Augustin will have to step up with their playmaking. And while Charlotte's defensive brilliance comes off its pick-and-roll containment, the Magic are not a particularly high-volume pick-and-roll team. Instead, the veterans will have to be quick to Orlando's 3-point shooters.

OUTLOOK

Larry Brown got the best of Stan Van Gundy when the matchup was Pistons vs. Heat and there is little doubt that Brown will have his team prepared, while also creating enough drama to keep the focus away from his team's long odds.

The Bobcats are bulldogs in the halfcourt with their defensive tenacity, but that pace also plays to the defensive strengths of the Magic's inside-out game.

For a basketball purist, it will be interesting to see how much of a hack-a-Howard approach Brown takes, with the luxury of playing Tyson Chandler, Theo Ratliff, Nazr Mohammed and even DeSagana Diop against the Magic big man.

For those who forget, the Magic started slowly in last season's playoffs and nearly were victimized by the 76ers in the opening round, with Howard seemingly raising his game only when needed.

Orlando does not necessarily have the athleticism to counter Gerald Wallace, but Wallace's ability to wipe the boards clean figures to be significantly offset by the presence of Howard.

It will be interesting to see how Vince Carter, Jameer Nelson and even Matt Barnes react to the moment.

Ultimately, the Magic's abundance of weapons figures to overwhelm the Bobcats' relentless defense. It is highly unlikely Charlotte will be able to sustain in more than a victory or perhaps two.

PREDICTION

The Bobcats will smother the Magic once, and perhaps even twice, in Charlotte, but it won't be nearly enough in the franchise's playoff debut. Magic in six.

Atlanta Hawks (3) vs. Milwaukee Bucks (6)

PLAYERS TO WATCH

HAWKS: Jamal Crawford
Well, what do you know, Jamal Crawford has reserved a table in the playoffs. No longer holding the longest tenure without a playoff appearance, Crawford has essentially served as the Hawks' entire bench this season, changing games upon his entrance, a lock to emerge with the league's Sixth Man Award. Last year, it didn't get any better than Flip Murray when it came to the second unit. Now Atlanta has a game-changer, as well as someone to hit shots if Joe Johnson is off or if Marvin Williams is proving too one-dimensional.

BUCKS: John Salmons
No player had a stronger close to the season than the way John Salmons put the Bucks on his back and lifted them to a higher-than-expected seed. Considering the damage Salmons did for Chicago in last season's opening round against the Celtics, who is to say that an encore is out of the question? With Andrew Bogut out, Salmons will have to put up at least 20 a night to keep Milwaukee competitive, something he certainly is more than capable of accomplishing on such a stage. For Salmons, the reward could be a rich summer as a free agent.

INTANGIBLES

HAWKS: How high is the upside? Last season, after struggling through seven games against the Heat in the first round, the Hawks were swept by the Cavaliers in the second round. This season, the roster is mostly the same, which makes the question the degree of internal growth. Josh Smith certainly has lifted his game, as a candidate for the Most Improved Player award, and Al Horford took the next step to All-Star. But Mike Bibby continues to age rapidly and questions remain about whether coach Mike Woodson is up to such moments. What matters for the Hawks is not getting through the first round, but rather making some sort of second-round statement.

BUCKS: It all comes down to coach Scott Skiles, who already has made this season a success by leading Milwaukee to the postseason. Skiles' next spotlight moment could be accepting Coach of the Year honors, because it is highly doubtful that a team running on fumes has the ability to make any sort of postseason breakthrough. This mostly will serve as a playoff initiation for Brandon Jennings, who has proven up to almost every challenge this season. Still, the Bucks are feisty enough to steal a game or two if their shooting is on. But, in the end, we're talking about a team lacking both Andrew Bogut and Michael Redd. And that simply is not good enough.

OUTLOOK

The Hawks certainly have taken another step this season, pushing past the 50-win mark and improving from last season's No. 4 seed to a No. 3 seed. That last step is most significant because it moves them out of Cleveland's second-round bracket, something that proved to be their undoing last season.

This remains a rather limited roster, with little depth beyond Jamal Crawford, but this also is a team with solid chemistry, as shown in its ability to switch with its length defenders on almost every pick and roll.

Mike Woodson has done a quality job in consistently moving his team up the standings, yet this could prove to be somewhat of a put-up-or-shut-up moment. Yes, his coaching future could be on the line in this first round, should there be an upset.

As for the Bucks? Well, sometimes life isn't fair.

Andrew Bogut has emerged as the best center in the Eastern Conference this side of Dwight Howard, yet can only watch this series from the bench.

Then there is John Salmons, who has closed out the season so well that he's almost certain to depart as a free agent in the offseason.

But there is the feistiness of Scott Skiles and Brandon Jennings, dogged point guards who have proven to be quality leaders in their own way.

This could prove to be an ugly series as Skiles tries to keep it competitive.

PREDICTION

If Milwaukee was at full strength, this could have proven to be an extended series. But the Bucks arent. Hawks in five.

Boston Celtics (4) vs. Miami Heat (5)

PLAYERS TO WATCH

CELTICS: Kevin Garnett
Something just isn't right and hasn't been right for a while. Kevin Garnett simply has not looked like Kevin Garnett. The trouble is, it's not as if anyone on the Celtics is willing to step up and say as much. So Garnett still is counted upon to smother opposing offenses, even though he seems a step late, is still counted upon for timely rebounds, even though the Celtics as a team don't rebound, and still is expected to hit timely shots. If he doesn't get right, then this remains all wrong.

HEAT: Michael Beasley
A year ago during the playoffs, Michael Beasley wasn't even a starter. Now, he's a starter but hardly has been the Heat's best power forward, with Udonis Haslem still the player most trusted at closing time. But with opposing defenses to further load up against Dwyane Wade in the postseason, the Heat will need someone to create his own offense. Jermaine O'Neal can only do that in limited doses. The Heat need Beasley to finally make his move before his entire sophomore season goes to waste.

INTANGIBLES

CELTICS: Boston enters the postseason reeling, loser of seven of its last 10. This has the look of a team on the downside, scrambling for one more moment of glory, but unable to seize the necessary energy. Kevin Garnett looks old. Rasheed Wallace looks older. Paul Pierce no longer is a guarantee from mid-range. And Ray Allen is an all-or-nothing proposition. In essence, it could come down to the ultimate supporting player, with point guard Rajon Rondo arguably the Celtics' best player this season. Rondo will have to set the tone on both ends, by creating easy scores in transition and with his deflections and steals.

HEAT: The rent-a-parts have meshed remarkably well this season. But will the Heat be able to hold it together as speculation increases that Jermaine O'Neal, Quentin Richardson, Udonis Haslem and Dorell Wright all will be allowed to walk as free agents in the offseason, when the Heat sets its sights and cap space on the likes of Chris Bosh and Amare Stoudemire? It will be an interesting dynamic, to see if a group in its final days as a team can summon the energy to do something the franchise has not done since its 2006 championship, win a playoff series. As it is, the Heat have won just three playoff games since that 2006 postseason.

OUTLOOK

Both teams were planning on a better fate than this opening-round pairing.

The Celtics entered the season with championship visions and therefore a higher playoff seed, certainly something outside of the Cavaliers' second-round bracket. Instead, Cleveland sets up as the next opponent.

The Heat, in closing 12 games above .500, figured on something more reasonable as an opening opponent than a team designed to contend for a championship this season.

The styles are similar, with both teams favoring a slower pace. And each team can win with its defense.

It all comes down to whether the Celtics are on their last legs, or whether there is another gear. There certainly have been enough moments along the way this season to create encouragement about big-game moments.

For the Heat, the question is whether their strong close to the regular season was the product of a team coming together, or whether it was the product of a ridiculously favorable closing schedule.

There is plenty at stake here for the futures of each franchise. Will the Celtics be willing to come up with big bucks for Paul Pierce and Ray Allen this summer? And will the Heat create enough confidence for Dwyane Wade to remain a South Florida fixture when free agency rolls around?

PREDICTION

This is not a good matchup for the Heat, with Wade having to work on the defensive end against either Pierce or Allen. Celtics in six.