Hard Drive to the Hardwood: The Conference Semifinals
Our scintillating simulations get to round two

With the NBA Playoffs 2004 in the conference semifinals, we wanted to see if we could sneak a peak at what four teams would make it to the conference finals. So, we looked for assistance from XBOX's NBA Inside Drive 2004 and we placed the cyber-future into our own hands -- in the form of an XBOX controller.

We ran simulations based on the conference semifinals matchups. While the first-round simulations went according to form there are some surprises in the conference semifinals.

So, without further ado, here are the NBA Playoffs 2004 conference semifinals simulations powered by XBOX'S NBA Inside Drive 2004.

EASTERN CONFERENCE SEMIS

Pacers 4 - Heat 0
This semifinals series was no contest from the opening game as the Pacers waxed the Heat by 41.

Game 1: Indiana 114, Miami 73
Game 2: Indiana 102, Miami 72
Game 3: Indiana 102, Miami 97
Game 4: Indiana 99, Miami 96

NBA Playoffs 2004: Pacers-Heat series page

Pistons 4 - Nets 2
Through the first five games of this series, the home team protected their home-court advantage, but the Pistons broke through in Game 6 to stop the trend and end the series.

Game 1: Detroit 110, New Jersey 95
Game 2: Detroit 97, New Jersey 88
Game 3: New Jersey 107, Detroit 83
Game 4: New Jersey 98, Detroit 90
Game 5: Detroit 98, New Jersey 83
Game 6: Detroit 102, New Jersey 77

NBA Playoffs 2004: Pistons-Nets series page

WESTERN CONFERENCE SEMIS

Timberwolves 4 - Kings 1
After never making it past the first round of the "actual" playoffs, the Timberwolves have made it all the way to the Western Conference finals in our simulated games.

Game 1: Wolves 105, Kings 86
Game 2: Wolves 104, Kings 97
Game 3: Wolves 92, Kings 77
Game 4: Kings 115, Wolves 86
Game 5: Wolves 106, Kings 97

NBA Playoffs 2004: Wolves-Kings series page

Lakers 4 - Spurs 1
The Lakers proved dominant in NBA Inside Drive 2004's hard drive as they needed only five games to dispatch the Spurs.

Game 1: Lakers 108, San Antonio 77
Game 2: Lakers 111, San Antonio 85
Game 3: Lakers 104, San Antonio 91
Game 4: San Antonio 93, Lakers 89
Game 5: Lakers 119, San Antonio 107

NBA Playoffs 2004: Lakers-Spurs series page

These playoffs simulations were powered by Xbox's NBA Inside Drive 2004 .

SIMULATED LEADERS THROUGH SECOND ROUND

SCORING LEADERS
1. J. O'Neal, IND: 36.6 ppg*
2. Cuttino Mobley, HOU: 35.3 ppg
3. Paul Pierce, BOS: 34.8 ppg
4. S. O'Neal, LAL: 32.9 ppg*
5. Baron Davis, N.O.: 31.1 ppg
6. Michael Redd, MIL: 30.4 ppg
7. Chris Webber, SAC: 26.9 ppg*
8. Tim Duncan, S.A.: 26.4 ppg*
9. Kobe Bryant, LAL: 25.0 ppg*
10. Dirk Nowitzki, DAL: 24.9 ppg
* Through two rounds

REBOUNDING LEADERS
1. Kevin Garnett, MIN: 12.1 rpg*
2. Tim Duncan, S.A.: 10.6 rpg*
3. Dirk Nowitzki, DAL: 10.3 rpg
4. Shaquille O'Neal, LAL: 9.9 rpg*
5. Pau Gasol, MEM: 9.8 rpg
6. Brian Grant, MIA: 9.0 rpg
7. Nene, DEN: 9.0 rpg
8. Chris Webber, SAC: 8.9 rpg*
9. Brian Grant, MIA: 8.6 rpg
10. Ben Wallace, IND: 8.1 rpg*
* Through two rounds

ASSISTS LEADERS
1. Jason Kidd, NJN: 10.2 apg*
2. Gary Payton, LAL: 8.8 apg*
3. Stephon Marbury, NYK: 8.2 apg
4. Sam Cassell, MIN: 8.1 apg*
5. Jason Williams, MEM: 8.0 apg
6. Jamaal Tinsley, IND: 7.9 apg*
7. Michael Finley, DAL: 7.7 apg
8. Paul Pierce, BOS: 7.5 apg
9. Steve Francis, HOU: 7.5 apg
10. Cuttino Mobley, HOU: 7.2 apg
* Through two rounds