Is there anything sadder than watching an aging NBA team trying to defend a championship only to crumble to pressure, injuries and uniforms featuring a hideously outdated mascot?

That’s what I’m expecting as we hear the Celts are going to go without Kevin Garnett for the playoffs. Bummer. And yet, I don’t feel sorry for the dudes in green. Sure, I rooted for them last year, only because I a) hate the Lakers, b) I like Ray Allen and hoped he’d get a ring, and c) figured if Garnett didn’t get one soon he might kill everyone in sight. Not that he’s mean, it’s just … dude looks like he could do it. Just sayin’.

With Mo Williams making LeBron even better (is that possible? Guess so) , the Cavs look like the cream of the crop in the east. There are a couple of interesting match-ups in the first round and lots of hoops to be played.

No. 1 Cleveland Cavaliers vs. No. 8 Detroit Pistons
The first time LeBron marched his way to the finals, he was doing much of it alone. At least, that’s how it seemed. But Mo Williams makes this guy unstoppable. No more triple, quadruple and octuple teams. Mo makes ‘em pay.
I don’t know if they have the legs to win it all, but the east looks like it’s primed to be LeBron and Mo’s kingdom to lose.
The Cavs are simply solid. They’re getting great minutes from big Z in the post, their guards, and they could be reeeaaal tough if Ben Wallace decides to play.
The Pistons are a good team but without Chauncy Billups, just another team. Can’t believe I’d be writing that. Iverson isn’t the same and doesn’t create the kind of aura he once did. Rasheed is bored and in a contract year, which is odd, but simply means he’s done after this season, Rip Hamilton is ticked for being sent to the bench and Tayshaun Prince, while remaining a talent, is Richard Jefferson without all that scoring baggage.
They aren’t the same and haven’t been for a while. Time to start over in D-town. On the bright side, Rodney Stuckey hasn’t been arrested yet, has he?
My pick: Cavs in 5

No. 2 Boston Celtics vs. No. 7 Chicago Bulls
Garnett is hurt. Ray-Ray isn’t shooting so well. Other injuries are hurting the bench.
Which means, of course, Paul Pierce has to go in and clobber Chicago all by himself.
The Bulls aren’t bad. Derrick Rose could be one of the best true point guards that city has seen in years. I like John Salmons and Ty Thomas.
But Chicago is mismatched, overmatched and not ready for this, even if the Celts are primed for an upset.
My pick: Celtics in 5

No. 3 Orlando Magic vs. No. 6 Philadelphia 76ers
Rafer Alston, please stand up.
When Jameer Nelson went down with an injury, every pundit and fan following this team knew they needed a ringer to come in and help this uber-talented team stay the course. Enter: “Skip to My Lou,” the And-1 star and erratic showboat turned solid NBA star and the key to the Magic’s season.
You know what you’re going to get from Dwight Howard: 20-25 points, 10-18 rebounds, 3 blocks and some downright scary dunkage. And you know Rashard Lewis will perform adequately. Hedo Tukoglu needs to stay healthy for the Magic to get past Boston in the next round.
Oh yeah, Philly. This is a team that doesn’t scare many folks and they probably should. Andre Miller and Andre Iguodala are studs and Thaddeus Young is fun to watch, but Sam Dalembert coving Howard? Yikes. Get a mop.
My pick: Magic in 5

No. 4 Atlanta Hawks vs. No. 5 Miami Heat
This is the match-up I’ve been waiting for, and I may be the only one outside of Atlanta and Miami.
I have visions of Dwyane Wade dragging dudes all over the place and fighting through bodies like in some B-roll flick on a cable channel, clubbing Al Horford in the face to make him look even stranger (think: Sloth from the Goonies) and scoring at will.
The rest of the Heat, well … do they have other players? They do, and Michael Beasley and Mario Chalmers are going to have to step up in these playoffs — not an easy task for youngsters.
On the other side is the overachieving Hawks. Atlanta’s Joe Johnson is a star but is being obscured in Atlanta. He seems destined for that, though. Johnson and Antawn Jamison should go have a beer somewhere and talk about taking over the world.
Marvin Williams is dinged up but the Hawks do have Mike Bibby, freak Josh Smith and home court.
This one’s a tough call. The first time I picked Dwyane Wade, I chose his Marquette team to win the NCAA championship. His team lost in the semis. I’m taking the Hawks, but only because of home court.
Dwyane, forgive me.
My pick: Hawks in 7