NBA Eastern Conference capsule previews

Analysis by Matt Youmans, Las Vegas Review-Journal, with series predictions added by ESPN “SportsCenter” anchor Doug Kezirian.

(1) Cleveland Cavaliers (57-25) vs. (8) Detroit Pistons (44-38)

Best-of-7 series price: Cavaliers -2,500

Cavaliers player to watch: LeBron James. He has not lost a first-round series in his NBA career, and don’t expect that to change. Despite hitting a few bumps in the road - mostly in the form of frayed relationships with former coach David Blatt and star teammates Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love - James has pulled the team together and he appears energized and fresh for the playoffs. In five games in April, James averaged 28.8 points, 8.4 rebounds and 7.8 assists.

Pistons player to watch: Andre Drummond. The 6-foot-11-inch, 280-pound center was an All-Star for the first time this season while averaging 16.2 points and 14.8 rebounds. After one season at Connecticut, he was the ninth pick in the 2012 draft, and the Pistons have followed his growth curve. But he has a hole in his game. On Jan. 20, Drummond set an NBA record for free throws missed in a game with 23, topping the previous record of 22 set by Wilt Chamberlain in 1967.

Big numbers: The Cavaliers rank fourth in the league in scoring defense (98.3 points per game) and eighth in scoring offense (104.3). … Drummond averaged 20.3 points and shot 62.2 percent from the field in three games against Cleveland this season.

Storyline: James is aiming for his sixth straight appearance in the NBA Finals, and this first step should prove relatively easy. The Pistons are in the playoffs for the first time since 2009. But if Detroit has a significant edge, it’s with coach Stan Van Gundy. He’s more than a Ron Jeremy lookalike. Van Gundy is set to coach his 88th playoff game. Tyronn Lue is making his postseason coaching debut for Cleveland.

Matt Youmans’ pick: Cavaliers in 5

Doug Kezirian’s pick: Cavaliers in 5

(2) Toronto Raptors (56-26) vs. (7) Indiana Pacers (45-37)

Best-of-7 series price: Raptors -300

Raptors player to watch: DeMar DeRozan. The seventh-year shooting guard from Southern California was an All-Star twice in the past three seasons. He tied for eighth in the league in scoring this season by averaging 23.5 points, and point guard Kyle Lowry ranked 14th at 21.2 points. The Raptors rely heavily on that explosive backcourt combo. DeRozan had a memorable performance on March 4, when he scored 38 points in a victory over Portland and set an NBA record by hitting 24 consecutive free throws in one game.

Pacers player to watch: Paul George. His comeback is complete. On Aug. 1, 2014, George suffered an ugly compound fracture in his right leg during a USA Basketball scrimmage at the Thomas & Mack Center. But the former Fresno State star is an elite player again. He averaged 23.1 points to rank 10th in the league in scoring this season. A 6-9 small forward, George plays both ends of the floor and is a strong perimeter defender.

Big numbers: The Raptors posted an 18-7 record against the other seven playoff teams in the East. … George started in this year’s All-Star Game and was the leading scorer with 41 points.

Storyline: Is this the year the Raptors finally break through? Toronto never has won a best-of-7 series in its 21-year history. The Raptors had home-court advantage each of the past two seasons and got knocked out, losing in Game 1 both times. The Pacers lost three of four to Toronto in the regular season. However, Indiana has the better coach, Frank Vogel, and George will be the best player on the floor.

Matt Youmans’ pick: Raptors in 7

Doug Kezirian’s pick: Pacers in 7

(3) Miami Heat (48-34) vs. (6) Charlotte Hornets (48-34)

Best-of-7 series price: Heat -150

Heat player to watch: Dwyane Wade. At 34, he’s got a lot of mileage and his best years are definitely in the rearview mirror. Wade was the Most Valuable Player of the NBA Finals 10 years ago. Still, he shows flashes of greatness by beating younger defenders off the dribble and scoring in acrobatic ways around the rim. Wade averaged 19.0 points and shot 45.6 percent from the floor despite an awful 3-point percentage (15.9).

Hornets player to watch: Kemba Walker. In 2011, Walker led Connecticut to the NCAA championship, and he’s a major postseason threat again. This series is a young-versus-old matchup, with Walker running the point for the younger squad. He averaged 20.9 points with a 2.5 assist-to-turnover ratio this season. If the Hornets are to advance, they need Walker to be a big-time scorer, and he’s capable. He scored 52 points in a double-overtime victory over Utah on Jan. 18.

Big numbers: Miami power forward Chris Bosh missed 29 games, and his status for the playoffs is doubtful. A medical condition sidelined Bosh in February. … The Heat scored a franchise-low five points in the third quarter of a loss at Boston on Wednesday. Miami blew a 26-point lead.

Storyline: The Heat won the Southeast Division and emerged on the front end of a four-way tie in the standings ahead of Atlanta, Boston and Charlotte. The advantage to that? The winner of this series faces the Toronto-Indiana winner and avoids the Cleveland half of the bracket. The Hornets are a popular upset pick. But if Miami reaches the conference finals, LeBron and the Cavaliers should be concerned.

Matt Youmans’ pick: Heat in 7

Doug Kezirian’s pick: Hornets in 6

(4) Atlanta Hawks (48-34) vs. (5) Boston Celtics (48-34)

Best-of-7 series price: Hawks -150

Hawks player to watch: Paul Millsap. The Hawks are made up of relative no-names, but they boast a strong inside game with Millsap, a 6-8 power forward, and 6-10 center Al Horford. Millsap led the team in scoring (17.1) and rebounding (9.0) while starting 81 games this season. He posted averages of 22.5 points and 10.3 rebounds in four games against Boston.

Celtics player to watch: Isaiah Thomas. The 5-9 point guard is far from Mr. Irrelevant, although the former Washington star was the final pick of the 2011 draft by the Sacramento Kings. Thomas averaged 22.2 points, ranking 11th in the league this season, and was named an All-Star for the first time. Last year, when the Celtics were swept by Cleveland in the first round, Thomas averaged 17.5 points. On a team with no go-to star, he has become the unlikely No. 1 scoring option.

Big numbers: The Celtics rank fifth in the league in scoring offense (105.7 points per game). … ESPN’s Basketball Power Index rates the Hawks’ chances of winning the series at 62 percent.

Storyline: Brad Stevens, 39, is arguably the brightest young coach in the NBA, and he’s a perfect fit for one of the league’s youngest teams. Boston opened eyes with a stunning upset of Golden State on the road on April 1. Atlanta was a 60-win team and the top seed in the East last year. While the Hawks are perceived to be falling, the Celtics seem to be rising fast. Is perception a reality? This series will provide answers.

Matt Youmans’ pick: Celtics in 6

Doug Kezirian’s pick: Hawks in 7