With a trying six weeks firmly in the past, the Indiana Pacers are looking to the future, including the first round of the NBA playoffs.

Five regular-season games remain and the Pacers still have a chance at finishing atop the Central Division and Eastern Conference.

If the playoffs began today, the third-seeded Pacers would be matched against No. 6 Boston. The Celtics haven't soared like some might have expected after their run to the Eastern Conference finals last season. They're still dangerous, though, particularly when All-Star forwards Paul Pierce and Antoine Walker are playing their best. If Indiana finishes fourth in the conference, a first-round matchup against New Orleans is probable.

"Honestly, it doesn't matter who we play. We feel confident that no matter what team it is, we can handle our business because we'll have the home court," said Pacers forward Al Harrington, who had to watch the playoffs from the bench last season as he recovered from knee surgery.

"We know we have a chance to win any series because we're at home. And if we take care of getting the top spot in the East, we'd have home court all the way through to the Finals.

"Personally, I'm really comfortable with our situation because we've beaten everybody in the East, except for New Jersey (the Pacers' are 0-2 against the team they'll face in the regular-season finale April 16 at Conseco Fieldhouse). We've gone to other people's places and beaten them, so we know what we're capable of. And I think we're back in our groove now."

Five wins in six games creates that kind of confidence. But the Celtics have shown that they're capable of sustaining a high level of play during the postseason.


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Call Star reporter Sekou Smith at 1-317-444-6053.

Center

A healthy Brad Miller gets the nod over Tony Battie, an adequate but rather pedestrian big man by NBA standards. Miller's ability to stretch a defense with his 17-foot jumper makes his play critical for the Pacers in the postseason.

Shooting guard

Like teammate Antoine Walker, Paul Pierce has the kind of numbers (26.1 points, 7.3 rebounds, 4.4 assists) that any coach would cherish. Pierce shoots nearly 42 percent from the floor and 31 percent from 3-point range and has much younger legs than Reggie Miller. But if the game comes down to a last-second shot, who would you want on your side?

Power forward

Jermaine O'Neal is the only true franchise player on either team's roster. The Celtics, like most teams, have had no answer for him the entire season. Eric Williams is a quality NBA player but unable to match up with O'Neal in any category.

Point guard

Jamaal Tinsley appears to have regained his form after a tumultuous two months that culminated with his mother's death after a long bout with cancer. Boston point guard J.R. Bremer is the best -- and lowest paid -- rookie starter you've never heard of. But Tinsley triggers the Pacers' attack while Bremer mostly stays out of the way of Pierce and Walker.

Small forward

Antoine Walker's numbers (20.3 points, 7.1 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game) are attractive, but Ron Artest is one of the NBA's best and most complete defenders. He can also score points in bunches when presented with a physical mismatch.

Bench

This is where things get a little tricky. Al Harrington leads a deep Pacers bench and has few peers around the league as a sixth man, with his ability to score and defend against players two and three inches taller. Boston counters with veteran shooters Walter McCarty and Tony Delk, both of whom have spent time in the starting lineup the past two seasons.

Analysis

With the first-round extending to seven games this season, the team with the homecourt advantage gets the nod. The Pacers win it in six.