Here is a look at the playoffs in the NBA Eastern Conference:

1. Boston Celtics (66-16) vs. 8 Atlanta Hawks (37-45):

Season series: Boston, 3-0.

Buzz: Talk about a speed bump, this is one of those gently rounded ones you can take at 30 mph. The Hawks, making their first playoff appearance since 1999 were (a little) better than their record, finishing 7-5, but the Celtics have more experience and defend like demons. Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, Paul Pierce, James Posey and Sam Cassell have played in a total of 30 postseasons. The Hawks only have two players — Mike Bibby and Joe Johnson — who've ever been in one. On sheer athleticism, the Hawks are actually better with Al Horford, Josh Smith and Marvin Williams up front. Unfortunately for them, this isn't the Olympics.

Schedule (Eastern times): Sunday — Atlanta at Boston, 8:30 p.m.; Wednesday — Atlanta at Boston, 8 p.m.; April 26 — Boston at Atlanta, 8 p.m.; April 28 — Boston at Atlanta, 8 p.m.; April 30 — Atlanta at Boston, TBD-x; May 2 — Boston at Atlanta, TBD-x; May 4 — Atlanta at Boston, TBD-x.

x-If necessary.

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2 Detroit Pistons (59-23) vs. 7 Philadelphia 76ers (40-42):

Season series: Season series: 2-2.

Buzz: Not the complete mismatch people expected with the 76ers getting in with a losing record. They started 18-30 but finished 22-12 by going small and athletic, beating the Pistons twice, including once in Auburn Hills. On the other hand, the 76ers cooled at the end, losing five of their last six. Detroit has been doing this a l-o-n-g time, with five East Finals appearances in a row and a starting lineup that has undergone one change (Antonio McDyess replacing the departed Ben Wallace) in four seasons, backed by a younger, deeper bench.

Schedule (Eastern times): Sunday — Philadelphia at Detroit, 6 p.m.; Wednesday — Philadelphia at Detroit, 7:30 p.m.; Thursday — Detroit at Philadelphia, 7 p.m.; April 27 — Detroit at Philadelphia, 7 p.m.; April 29 — Philadelphia at Detroit, TBD-x; May 1 — Detroit at Philadelphia, TBD-x; May 3 — Philadelphia at Detroit, TBD-x.

x-If necessary.

3 Orlando Magic (52-41) vs. 6 Toronto Raptors (41-41):

Season series: Orlando, 2-1.

Buzz: Is this a playoff series or the first postseason three-point shooting contest? The Magic was No. 1 in threes this season and No. 4 in accuracy. The Raptors were No. 12 in makes and No. 2 in accuracy. The difference, aside from 11 games in the standings, is their post players, Toronto's lithe Chris Bosh and Orlando's scary-even-if-he's-still-learning-the-game Dwight Howard. Howard's 14.2 rebound average was the NBA's best in five seasons and almost as much as Toronto's top two, Bosh (8.7) and Jamario Moon (6.2), together. The Magic is on the rise, up from last season's 40 wins. The Raptors are not, down from last season's 47 wins, having lost 17 of their last 26.

Schedule (Eastern times): Sunday — Toronto at Orlando, 12:30 p.m.; Tuesday — Toronto at Orlando, 7:30 p.m.; Thursday — Orlando at Toronto, 7:30 p.m.; April 26 — Orlando at Toronto, 3 p.m.; April 28 — Toronto at Orlando, 7:30 p.m.-x; May 1 — Orlando at Toronto, TBD-x; May 3 — Toronto at Orlando, TBD-x

x-If necessary.

4 Cleveland Cavaliers (45-37) vs. 5 Washington Wizards (43-39):

Season series: 2-2.

Buzz: Eyebrows went up as the Wizards courted disaster by sneering at the Cavaliers, with DeShawn Stevenson calling them "overrated" and Gilbert Arenas saying they were the team the Wizards wanted. TNT's Charles Barkley called the Wizards "the dumbest team in history" for firing up LeBron James. The Cavs finished 15-12 after their big midseason trade as newcomers Ben Wallace, Wally Szczerbiak and Delonte West struggled. The Wizards finished 16-8 and got Caron Butler and Arenas back. The Wizards are definitely deeper and supposedly more mature — at least on the floor. We're about to see if they're dumb or merely brash.

Schedule (Eastern times): Saturday — Washington at Cleveland, 12:30 p.m.; Monday — Washington at Cleveland, 7 p.m.; April 24 — Cleveland at Washington, 8 p.m.; April 27 — Cleveland at Washington, 1 p.m.; April 30 — Washington at Cleveland, TBD-x; May 2 — Cleveland at Washington, TBD-x; May 4 — Washington at Cleveland, TBD-x.

x-If necessary.