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Below, what you'll find is a recap of each of the two remaining playoff series, and the implications of each given their (i.e. the series) likely respective outcomes.

Beside each team, in parentheses, you'll find two numbers. The first is the team's seed. The second is the team's SRS number (short for Simple Rating System). Developed by Doug Drinen, SRS is an attempt to look at a team's underlying points-scored and -allowed numbers, adjusted for strength of schedule (SOS). Every team's rating is their average point margin, adjusted up or down depending on the average point margins of their opponents. So, an exactly average team with an exactly average SOS would have an SRS of 0.

East

Teams: Orlando (2/7.12) v Boston (4/3.37)

Series: Boston, 3-0

Next Game: Monday, May 24, at Boston

Thoughts: In last week's dispatch I began my analysis of this series with the following line: "Just going by the numbers, this series shouldn't be much of a contest." In fact, that statement is totally accurate: it hasn't been a contest. The only problem? The wrong team is up 3-0. Actually, sure, it's probably unfair to say that the series hasn't been close at points. In fact, Orlando lost the first two games by only a total of 7 points. But when you consider that Boston now has a significant series lead, that they won the most recent game by 23 points, and that they have at least two more game on their home floor -- well, it's just not looking good for Orlando. The regular season nerd numbers -- adjusted for home/away -- still give Orlando about a 14% chance of pulling out the series. Anecdotally, however, that seems way too high.

West

Teams: LA Lakers (1/4.78) v Phoenix (3/4.68)

Series: LA Lakers, 2-1

Next Game: Tuesday, May 25, at Phoenix

Thoughts: While the Boston-Orlando series is upsetting the applecart that is this So-Called Expert's Drive to the Final strategy, the Los Angeles Lakers are doing their part to install some sanity back in the process. In my original analysis of this series, I suggested that (a) the teams were pretty closely matched in terms of regulard season numbers, but that (b) those numbers didn't account for L.A.'s regular season injury problems or their playoff experience. Watching the Lakers -- both against Utah, and also in their first two games versus Phoenix -- the overall impression with which I'm left is just how big they are. Bynum, Gasol, and Odom are all big guys athletic enough to defend smaller players. And Ron Artest -- well, he's still a menace defensively. It's just a real impressive team. The concern for the moment, of course, is the health of Andrew Bynum's knee. The Laker center was held to just 7 minutes in L.A.'s Game Three loss. 

Below are your So-Called Expert's picks for Monday through Tuesday. Really, it's impossible to say what'll happen after those two days. Such is playoff basketball.

Date: Monday, May 24, 2010

Player: Rashard Lewis - ORL

Opposition: at Boston

2009-2010 Averages: 14.1 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 1.5 APG (20.0 PRA)

General Thoughts: Superficially, this Rashard Lewis pick seems pretty sweet. Lewis is averaging more minutes in the playoffs (36.4) than he did in the regular season (32.9), and his PRA has followed suit, standing now at 21.2 per game after coming in at exactly 20 per game during the regular season. So, that's the good news. The bad? In his last three games, Lewis has posted PRAs of 15, 13, and 8, respectively, with that last mark coming in Orlando's 24-point home loss in Game Three. So, yeah, picking Lewis is kind of a necessity now, but it doesn't feel real great.

Date: Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Player: Robin Lopez - PHO

Opposition: vs LA Lakers

2009-2010 Averages: 8.4 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 0.1 APG (13.5 PRA)

General Thoughts: Tonight's pick is informed by a couple of considerations. For one, there's the fact that Phoenix is down 1-2 in this series. Barring the unexpected, the Lakers will very probably take the series. So, that's the first thing. The second thing is Andrew Bynum -- and, specifically, Andrew Bynum's availability. The Driver might recall that, owing to said balky knee, the Laker center was limited to a grand total of 7 minutes in Sunday's Game Three. Should Bynum continue to be troubled by the knee, L.A. will have to go to a slightly smaller lineup -- which situation could help Lopez. Already picked Lopez? Well, Bynum's injury increases Pau Gasol's and Lamar Odom's respective values, too.