No. 8 Pacers (42-40) vs. No. 1 Nets (52-30)

Hall of Fame coach Dr. Jack Ramsay provides analysis for ESPN on SportsCenter and NBA Today. Here he breaks down the playoffs for ESPN.com. Also a former color analyst for the Heat, Ramsay's impressive résumé includes making the playoffs in 16 of his 20 seasons as coach and winning an NBA title with Portland in 1977.

Throughout the 2002 playoffs, Dr. Jack will break down each series from the backcourts to intangibles. Look for his analysis from the first round all the way through to the NBA Finals.

BACKCOURT

EDGE

The Pacers will go with rookie Jamaal Tinsley and Reggie Miller against the Nets' combination of Jason Kidd and Kerry Kittles. I like Tinsley, who has performed well in his first season. But he will not be able to handle Kidd, an MVP candidate and the league's best point guard. Kittles is a tenacious defender who will stay on top of Miller and not allow him to get any easy looks. Big advantage for the Nets.

FRONTCOURT

EDGE

This is a good matchup between Kenyon Martin and Keith Van Horn of the Nets and Ron Artest and Brad Miller of the Packers. The battle between Van Horn and Artest is rather even. Artest is a tough defender who will climb all over Van Horn and try to negate his game entirely. And Van Horn doesn't have a post-up game. Against Miller, Martin is a physical player who is quicker than Miller. While Miller is strong and gets good results, he is more of a plodder. In the middle, Todd MacCulloch goes against Jermaine O'Neal, who really emerged this season. O'Neal has a post-up game. Plus, he can put the ball on the floor and shoot the face-the-basket jumper. He is a great leaper and quicker than MacCulloch. But MacCulloch manages to hang around against whomever he plays.

BENCH

EDGE

Both benches are pretty good. New Jersey has given extended time to Richard Jefferson, who has done well as rookie and has developed. Coach Byron Scott has great confidence in him. Scott also uses Lucious Harris, Aaron Williams and rookie Jason Collins. When MacCulloch was out, Collins got some valuable experience. The Pacers, meanwhile, go with Jonathan Bender, Austin Croshere and Jeff Foster. The spindly Bender, who can play in the frontcourt or the backcourt, has stepped up his game. He can shoot the ball deep and put it on the floor. Foster is a banger and a good defender who can score around basket. Croshere has playoff experience and has performed well in the postseason.

EVEN

INTANGIBLES

EDGE

The Nets have the East's best record and plenty of confidence. They also have the irrepressible Kidd, who gets everyone running and playing their best games. I've heard people say during the season that the Nets could get bounced early in the playoffs. I think the Nets want to show it won't happen. The Pacers roared into the playoffs and had to use all its players all the time down the stretch. It will difficult for them to maintain the same attitude and intensity. The Nets also beat the Pacers in three of four meetings, even though the games were all close.

PREDICTION
Nets in 4. Kidd is the difference. The Pacers have no one to match him. If they can't stop Kidd, they can't stop the Nets.