EASTERN CONFERENCE

No. 1 Indiana vs. No. 8 Boston

THE SCHEDULE

* at Indiana...Saturday, 11 a.m.

* at Indiana...Tuesday, 5:30 p.m.

* at Boston...April 23, 4 p.m.

* at Boston...April 25, 10 a.m.

* at Indiana...April 29, TBA*

* at Boston...May 2, TBA*

* at Indiana...May 4, TBA*

THE BREAKDOWN

* Season series: Indiana, 3-1.

* Records: Indiana (61-21), Boston (36-46).

* Series preview: Not since the Chicago Bulls in 1997 had an Eastern Conference team compiled the league’s best record, but the Pacers established a franchise record for victories and own home-court advantage as long as they remain in the playoffs. Ron Artest is one of the NBA’s top defenders and in Jermaine O’Neal they possess a big man who could hold his own in the West. The Celtics probably would have been better off in the lottery, but somebody had to finish eighth in the East.

* Coaches’ playoff records: IND: Rick Carlisle (12-15); BOS: John Carroll (0-0).

*--* STATISTICAL COMPARISON IND BOS Points per game 91.4 95.3 Opp. points per game 85.6 96.7 Rebounds 41.7 40.1 Shooting % 43.5 44.3 Opp. shooting % 43.2 43.7 Three point % 35.1 34.6 Opp. three point % 32.4 36.2 Free throw % 76.4 75.0

*--*

* Prediction: Pacers, 4-0.

*

No. 2 New Jersey vs. No. 7 New York

THE SCHEDULE

* at New Jersey...Saturday, 1:30 p.m.

* at New Jersey...Tuesday, 5 p.m.

* at New York...Thursday, 4 p.m.

* at New York...April 25, 4 p.m.

* at New Jersey...April 28, TBA*

* at New York...May 1, TBA*

* at New Jersey...May 3, TBA*

THE BREAKDOWN

* Season series: New Jersey, 3-1.

* Records: New Jersey (47-35), New York (39-43).

* Series preview: This is by far the most important first-round series in the New York metropolitan area, if nowhere else. With consecutive trips to the NBA Finals behind them, the Nets of Jason Kidd, Kenyon Martin and Richard Jefferson are playoff veterans still looking for championship rings. Kidd’s matchup with Stephon Marbury at point guard will light up Madison Square Garden, which won’t be dark during the playoffs for the first time since 2001. Marbury has energized the Knicks.

* Coaches’ playoff records: NJ: Lawrence Frank (0-0); NY: Lenny Wilkens (80-94, 1 NBA title).

*--* STATISTICAL COMPARISON NJ NY Points per game 90.3 92.0 Opp. points per game 87.8 93.5 Rebounds 40.7 42.6 Shooting % 44.1 44.2 Opp. shooting % 42.7 42.9 Three point % 33.6 36.4 Opp. three point % 35.0 33.8 Free throw % 75.3 79.3

*--*

* Prediction: Nets, 4-3.

*

No. 3 Detroit vs. No. 6 Milwaukee

THE SCHEDULE

* at Detroit...Sunday, 10 a.m.

* at Detroit...Wednesday, 4 p.m.

* at Milwaukee...April 24, 12:30 p.m.

* at Milwaukee...April 26, 4 p.m.

* at Detroit...April 29, TBA*

* at Milwaukee...May 1, TBA*

* at Detroit...May 3, TBA*

THE BREAKDOWN

* Season series: Detroit, 3-1.

* Records: Detroit (54-28), Milwaukee (41-41).

* Series preview: With their suffocating defense, made stronger by the midseason trade that brought in Rasheed Wallace, the Pistons put together the second-best record in the East. The Bucks staggered out of the regular season, losing fourth-quarter leads in each of their last three games and blowing home-court advantage in the opening round of the playoffs. It won’t be easy overcoming such a wrenching end to the season, especially on the road against the relentless Pistons.

* Coaches’ playoff records: DET: Larry Brown (69-72); MIL: Terry Porter (0-0).

*--* STATISTICAL COMPARISON DET MIL Points per game 90.1 98.0 Opp. points per game 84.3 97.0 Rebounds 42.8 42.2 Shooting % 43.5 44.7 Opp. shooting % 41.3 45.2 Three point % 34.4 35.0 Opp. three point % 30.2 35.2 Free throw % 75.3 77.5

*--*

* Prediction: Pistons, 4-1.

*

No. 4 Miami vs. No. 5 New Orleans

THE SCHEDULE

* at Miami...Sunday, 4 p.m.

* at Miami...Wednesday, 5 p.m.

* at New Orleans...April 24, 10 a.m.

* at New Orleans...April 27, 5 p.m.

* at Miami...April 30, TBA*

* at New Orleans...May 2, TBA*

* at Miami...May 4, TBA*

THE BREAKDOWN

* Season series: Miami, 3-1.

* Records: Miami (42-40), New Orleans (41-41).

* Series preview: An 0-7 start has long been forgotten by the Heat, which rode former Clipper Lamar Odom to its first winning record in three years. The versatile forward was the only player in the league other than Kevin Garnett to average at least 17 points, nine rebounds and four assists. The Hornets were 19-28 after a 22-13 start, but in the East that was almost enough to get them home-court advantage. In the playoffs, they’ll be without injured forward Jamal Mashburn.

* Coaches’ playoff records: MIA: Stan Van Gundy (0-0); NO: Tim Floyd (0-0).

*--* STATISTICAL COMPARISON MIA NO Points per game 90.3 91.8 Opp. points per game 89.7 91.9 Rebounds 41.5 42.8 Shooting % 42.5 42.0 Opp. shooting % 42.8 44.1 Three point % 35.7 31.9 Opp. three point % 34.3 34.1 Free throw % 76.2 75.1

*--*

* Prediction: Heat, 4-3.

*

WESTERN CONFERENCE

No. 1 Minnesota vs. No. 8 Denver

THE SCHEDULE

* at Minnesota...Sunday, 6:30 p.m.

* at Minnesota...Wednesday, 6:30 p.m.

* at Denver...April 24, 6:30 p.m.

* at Denver...April 27, 7:30 p.m.

* at Minnesota...April 30, TBA*

* at Denver...May 2, TBA*

* at Minnesota...May 4, TBA*

THE BREAKDOWN

* Season series: Minnesota, 3-1.

* Records: Minnesota (58-24), Denver (43-39).

* Series preview: The knock on the Timberwolves is that they have never won a playoff series. But they have never had this much depth and firepower, nor MVP candidate Kevin Garnett playing at such a high level. Plus, newcomers Latrell Sprewell and Sam Cassell are playoff-tested veterans. By carrying the Nuggets into the playoffs, Carmelo Anthony may have nudged past or at least pulled even with LeBron James as the top rookie, but he’s taken them as far as they’ll go this season.

* Coaches’ playoff records: MIN: Flip Saunders (7-22); DEN: Jeff Bzdelik (0-0).

*--* STATISTICAL COMPARISON MIN DEN Points per game 94.5 97.2 Opp. points per game 89.1 96.1 Rebounds 42.9 42.3 Shooting % 46.2 44.3 Opp. shooting % 41.4 45.3 Three point % 36.3 33.6 Opp. three point % 33.4 35.6 Free throw % 78.1 76.7

*--*

* Prediction: Timberwolves, 4-1.

*

No. 2 Lakers vs. No. 7 Houston

THE SCHEDULE

* at Lakers...Saturday, 7:30 p.m.

* at Lakers...Monday, 7:30 p.m.

* at Houston...April 23, 6:30 p.m.

* at Houston...April 25, 12:30 p.m.

* at Lakers...April 28, TBA*

* at Houston...May 1, TBA*

* at Lakers...May 3, TBA*

THE BREAKDOWN

* Season series: 2-2.

* Records: Lakers (56-26), Houston (45-37).

* Series preview: Will the Lakers dial it up for the playoffs? They usually do, but after a regular season that was wildly unpredictable and altogether unforgettable, even by their standards, they seem more vulnerable than ever. The Rockets have some great individual parts -- Yao Ming, Steve Francis -- but they break down more than they should and have a hard time taking care of the ball. All eyes, of course, will be on the matchup between Yao and Shaquille O’Neal.

* Coaches’ playoff records: LA: Phil Jackson (162-60, nine NBA titles); HOU: Jeff Van Gundy (37-32).

*--* STATISTICAL COMPARISON LA HOU Points per game 98.2 89.8 Opp. points per game 94.3 88.0 Rebounds 43.1 42.6 Shooting % 45.4 44.2 Opp. shooting % 44.0 41.2 Three point % 32.7 36.6 Opp. three point % 33.7 37.2 Free throw % 69.3 77.3

*--*

* Prediction: Lakers, 4-3.

*

No. 3 San Antonio vs. No. 6 Memphis

THE SCHEDULE

* at San Antonio...Saturday, 5 p.m.

* at San Antonio...Monday, 5 p.m.

* at Memphis...Thursday, 6:30 p.m.

* at Memphis...April 25, 6:30 p.m.

* at San Antonio...April 28, TBA*

* at Memphis...May 1, TBA*

* at San Antonio...May 3, TBA*

THE BREAKDOWN

* Season series: Memphis, 3-1.

* Records: San Antonio (57-25), Memphis (50-32).

* Series preview: Despite their late fade, the Grizzlies were the most improved team in the league, eclipsing the franchise record for victories by 22. But the Spurs, with six new players and despite the loss of retired center David Robinson, might be better than they were last season too, and they won their second championship in five years last June. They begin the playoffs with an 11-game winning streak and, with two-time MVP Tim Duncan as their anchor, won’t easily be dethroned.

* Coaches’ playoff records: SA: Gregg Popovich (47-30, two NBA titles); MEM: Hubie Brown (14-20).

*--* STATISTICAL COMPARISON SA MEM Points per game 91.5 96.7 Opp. points per game 84.3 94.3 Rebounds 45.1 41.8 Shooting % 44.2 44.5 Opp. shooting % 40.9 43.6 Three point % 35.8 34.0 Opp. three point % 32.7 33.8 Free throw % 68.1 72.7

*--*

* Prediction: Spurs, 4-2.

*

No. 4 Sacramento vs. No. 5 Dallas

THE SCHEDULE

* at Sacramento...Sunday, 12:30 p.m.

* at Sacramento...Tuesday, 7:30 p.m.

* at Dallas...April 24, 4 p.m.

* at Dallas...April 26, 6:30 p.m.

* at Sacramento...April 29, TBA*

* at Dallas...May 2, TBA*

* at Sacramento...May 4, TBA*

THE BREAKDOWN

* Season series: Dallas, 3-1.

* Records: Sacramento (55-27), Dallas (52-30).

* Series preview: When these teams met in an entertaining conference semifinal series last season, the outcome turned on a knee injury suffered by King forward Chris Webber. His injury, which knocked the forward out of a matchup won by the Mavericks in seven games, is still a concern as the Kings try to reverse a late slide that cost them the Pacific Division crown. With Webber sidelined for the season’s first 58 games, the Kings were 44-15. Since his return, they’re 11-12.

* Coaches’ playoff records: SAC: Rick Adelman (60-55); DAL: Don Nelson (69-81).

*--* STATISTICAL COMPARISON SAC DAL Points per game 102.8 105.2 Opp. points per game 97.8 100.8 Rebounds 41.2 45.3 Shooting % 46.2 45.9 Opp. shooting % 45.4 45.9 Three point % 40.1 34.8 Opp. three point % 33.9 36.3 Free throw % 79.5 79.6

*--*

* Prediction: Mavericks, 4-3.