Column: Second-round NBA playoff predictions

Consider the second round of the Eastern Conference playoffs a gift for finals week. The second round will feature two long, gritty series: the Chicago Bulls take on the Atlanta Hawks, and the Boston Celtics play the Miami Heat. While neither of the first two games of this round were particularly close, these series will prove to be terrific matchups that basketball fans can appreciate on multiple levels. The teams are evenly matched and the legacies of players and coaches are at stake. In short, this gift is more like an obligation. A true basketball fan has no excuse to miss these games.

If anyone had any doubts that the Hawks were a legitimate threat in this year’s playoffs, their demolition of the Magic in the first round and victory over the Bulls in the first game should have put those doubts to rest. In the first round, no ESPN “experts” picked the Hawks to win (I did), and at the outset of this series, ESPN analyst John Hollinger wrote that we should not take much away from the Hawks’ victory; they matched up well against the Magic but had no chance against the Bulls.

What analysts have been ignoring, though, is that the Hawks have played below their true talent level. A team with Al Horford, Josh Smith and Joe Johnson should not be as mediocre as it is. In this year’s playoffs, the Hawks’ young stars have shown glimpses of the enormous potential they first demonstrated at the beginning of the regular season. One gets the sense that their focus may be suspect, but at their best, they could defeat Chicago’s unidimensional offense handily.

While the Hawks come into this series confident after defeating the Orlando Magic, Chicago seems to be on the decline. Carlos Boozer has been relatively ineffective with turf toe, and MVP Derrick Rose’s ankle may be bothering him. While Rose and Boozer may not be essential to the success of the team’s spectacular defense, its offense is quite dependent on the contributions of the two.

Chicago Bulls chairman Jerry Reinsdorf predicted earlier this season that this Bulls squad had “an awfully good chance of winning at least four championships.’’ Even at the time, that prediction appeared foolish, but if Rose’s play declines due to injury and Boozer continues to not score, declarations of a Bulls dynasty will seem downright idiotic. MVP voters who chose to reward Derrick Rose over clearly statistically superior candidates might also come to regret their decision if the Bulls collapse. Of course, Derrick Rose might play through his grade-two ankle sprain and win with last-second heroics, reaffirming the almost messianic devotion of his many fans.

The Bulls should win this series, but it will be close. Prediction: Bulls in seven.

The Celtics-Heat series is incredibly painful to watch as a Celtics fan. The Celtics’ days of relevance are dwindling as our trio of stars ages. Still, for Celtics fans such as me, this playoff run represents an exhilarating last stand. This series is the team’s Alamo, and if it loses, it will be close, hard-fought and, quite possibly, bloody.

The potential for desperate fighting already manifested itself in game one with Paul Pierce’s ejection. The Heat will likely triumph, but the Celtics are going to bruise and taunt them throughout.

For the Heat, beating the Celtics would be a huge symbolic victory. The Celtics have dominated the East ern Conference for three years and have the stars of old: Garnett, Allen and Pierce. The next generation of stars — Wade, LeBron and Bosh — want to cement their reputations as the NBA’s best with a victory over the old guard.

A win over Boston, followed by a victory over the team that should rival them in the East for the next half-decade — Chicago — would seem a fitting way to reach the finals.

Prediction: Heat will defeat the Celtics on the road in game six, and Boston College kids start a mini-riot outside the TD Garden.

Because this column will be my last of the year, I thought I would issue a Finals prediction as well. The Heat will beat the Lakers in six, as most of America struggles to decide which team to root against.