EASTERN CONFERENCE

No. 2 DETROIT (54-28, 4-1) vs. No. 3 NEW JERSEY (47-35, 4-0)

Season series: 2-2. Detroit won the final meeting 89-71, when New Jersey called a late timeout and made a meaningless basket to end the Pistons' five-game streak of holding opponents to fewer than 70 points.

Storyline: A rematch of one of the most unwatchable series in NBA playoff annals, the Nets' 4-0 sweep in last season's Eastern Conference finals. Two big changes for Detroit since then: a new coach, Larry Brown, and a new power forward, Rasheed Wallace.

Whom to watch: Richard Jefferson vs. Tayshaun Prince. Both players have made substantial strides in the past year, Jefferson improving all facets of his game so much that he's about to be put on the U.S. Olympic team. Prince, who had a breakout postseason a year ago, was Detroit's most consistent player in the first round vs. Milwaukee.

X-factor: Home court. The Nets rested Jason Kidd and Kenyon Martin for a long stretch late in the season rather than try to pass the Pistons in the conference standings, thereby giving up a chance of playing a Game 7 at home.

Little-known fact: Rasheed Wallace played one game this season for the Atlanta Hawks, scoring 20 points at New Jersey. Wallace wore uniform No. 36 for the Hawks, becoming the first player in franchise history to wear that number.

Prediction: Nets in 6.

NOTE: A look at the remaining Eastern Conference second-round matchup between Indiana and the Miami-New Orleans winner will appear this week.

Key matchup Rasheed Wallace vs. Kenyon Martin. The big question in this pairing is which player can shut down the other. Both are exceptional defenders, with Wallace's length and speed giving the Pistons an added weapon for their traps. Martin's strength is one-on-one defending, but Wallace has played well against him.