And on the other side... they must play on. I present the spring semster report card for the east.

THE EASTERN CONFERENCE

1. Detroit - The revitalized Chris Webber arrived basically for free, and all of a sudden the Pistons are atop the conference. There is a strong possibility of another Miami-Detroit showdown in the second round. Grade: B+

2. Cleveland - Lebron James managed to lead the Cavaliers to a number-two seed and 50 wins despite not having a legitimate sidekick. But then again this is the East. Grade: B

3. Toronto - The reason the Raptors made the playoffs is because they move the ball and play the game just like an Olympic team with all of those international players on the roster. Grade B-

4. Miami - The defending champs get this seed by virtue of being division leader, but they open on the road with an aging and slower Shaq, a more tentative and less aggressive D-Wade, a disgruntled White Chocolate, an uninspired A-Walker, and a Glove that no longer fits. Good luck, Riles. Grade: B

5. Chicago - Now is the time for Ben Wallace to show us why he arrived in the first place. Because the Bulls could have played a guy named Tyson, who pulled down more boards and blocked more shots than Ben all year but now plays for the Hornets. Grade: B+

6. New Jersey - In what may be the last run together for Kidd, Carter, and Jefferson, the Nets can't help but look forward to Brooklyn. Grade: B-

7. Washington - Gilbert Arenas and Caron Butler might as well go blogging full time because there won't be much to appreciate in the playoffs for the Wizards who, at this point, lack bullets to put up a fight. Antawn Jamison will put up 30 each night as the Wiz go quietly into the night in four games. Grade: C

8. Orlando - There is only so much Dwight Howard can do, when your team's second best player is Hedo Turkoglu. Therefore it'll be tragic, when Orlando runs out of magic. Grade: C

Please check out my playoff predictions in Part 3... Thanks for stopping by...