2010 NBA Playoffs Prediction: Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Chicago Bulls

Lebron James will win the 2010 NBA MVP. Despite having a worse final record than last year, the Cavaliers are coming off back-to-back 60-win seasons. The Bulls, meanwhile, barely made the 2010 NBA playoffs, and were only able to sneak past the Toronto Raptors because of Chris Bosh's injury in the final weeks of the season.

Cleveland Cavaliers 2010 NBA Playoffs Preview

The Cleveland Cavaliers, for the second straight season, are entering the playoffs with the best record in the NBA. Lebron James is arguably the best player in the NBA. Mid-season pickup Antawn Jamison is finally starting to get used to the Cavaliers' offensive schemes. Shaquille O'Neal should be healthy and back in the lineup for the start of the playoffs.

If there was one weakness for the Cavaliers in the 2009 NBA Playoffs, it was their inability to stop dominant big men like Dwight Howard. Shaq's presence gives the Cavs a strong, physical center who can go toe-to-toe with any other elite NBA center.

As long as none of Cleveland's starters suffer a major injury, the Cavaliers are the prohibitive favorites to win the Eastern Conference. If James and O'Neal remain healthy and Jamison continues to fit himself into the Cavalier's offense, Cleveland may be the favorites to win the NBA Championship.

Chicago Bulls 2010 NBA Playoffs Preview

The Chicago Bulls have had a very uneven season. They came into the season hoping to build upon an epic seven-game series against the Boston Celtics in the 2009 NBA Playoffs. The low point in the season came when the Bulls lost a game against the Sacramento Kings after blowing a 35-point lead, a game that almost cost coach Vinny Del Negro his job.

The Bulls used improved play and some good luck to sneak into the eighth playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. They have beaten the Cavaliers twice this season, although it's doubtful they will repeat that in the first round. Both victories were by a single point, and the second of those victories came against a Cavaliers team that was resting James for the playoffs.

With salary-cap room to sign a top-level free agent in the off-season, the Chicago Bulls' future looks bright. Their prospects for the 2010 NBA Playoffs are decidedly dimmer.

Cavaliers vs. Bulls Conclusion

Chicago has a good core of young players (Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah, Luol Deng, Taj Gibson, Kirk Hinrich), but lack the polish needed to make a run in the playoffs. Having to start the 2010 NBA Playoffs against the team with the best record in the NBA means the Bulls will be lucky to win more than one game.

2010 NBA Playoffs Prediction: Cavaliers defeat Bulls, 4-1

Source(s):

All statistics retrieved from ESPN.com

http://espn.go.com/nba/playoffs/2010/matchup/_/teams/bulls-cavaliers