The first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs were the preliminaries to what is the real competition. The second round brings us more compelling matchups with greater upset potential. Let’s take a look and see who is going to emerge victorious.
(1) Milwaukee Bucks vs (4) Boston Celtics
Before the season started, many thought this would be a second-round matchup with the Celtics being the number one seed; but that is why you play the games. The Bucks were the best team in the NBA this year and they absolutely demolished the Detroit Pistons in the first round of the playoffs. Granted, Blake Griffin was not 100% as he looked like a washed up veteran; but even then, it really did not matter. I thought the duo of Blake and Drummond may be able to get a game and I was wrong as this really wasn’t even a series from the start. The Bucks will not have the same sort of luck against the Boston Celtics. Boston looks much more formidable at this point in the campaign which I believe is due in part to the injury of Marcus Smart, oddly enough. Smart is in many ways the heart and soul of this team, but with his injury comes a shorter rotation which helps this very talented roster. Despite having these spurts of greatness, the Celtics-Pacers series could have easily been going on. The Celtics could have and arguably should have been down three games to one in this series. Kyrie was good, not great, while players like Tatum, Hayward, and Brown stepped up. For the Celtics to stand a chance, I think Kyrie is going to have to average 30 this series against the Bucks. Even if he does so, it may not be enough because Giannis is that good and that special. Who do the Celtics have that even stands a chance to guard him one on one? Probably no one, but we have plenty of people who won’t back down. If I were a betting man, I would say the first Celtic Giannis is going to see is the most underrated, the most underappreciated Celtic, Al Horford. From there, we will likely see Hayward, Brown, and Ojeleye get their shot. A big question for me coming into this series is how long Brogdon for the Bucks and Smart for the Celtics are going to remain sidelined with injuries. Their return could provide a spark to their team in what I predict will be a grueling series. The Celtics have not been this consistent all year, but I got a hunch that the Celtics are taking this series in 7 games. Maybe next year Giannis.
(2) Toronto Raptors vs (3) Philadelphia 76ers
No team remaining in the East has as much playoff experience than the Toronto Raptors and it will show this series. I have heard analysts say this series is going 7 and that they wouldn’t be surprised if Philly came out on top. Let’s get this over with early, it’s not going 7. It may not even go 6. All season, I have not believed in the Sixers. Yes, they have a talented starting lineup. That is great, a lot of teams have a talented starting lineup. In their starting lineup is a guy who can’t play defense, a guy who can’t shoot, a guy who could be too passive, a guy who demands the ball at all times, and one jack ass who is so annoyingly talented. The Raptors are deep, coached better, and have the best player in this series. All the rest the Raptors gave Leonard this season is for the next three rounds of the playoffs. What concerns me the most for Philadelphia in this series is the same that concerns me every time they step on the court, who is going to step up off the bench? Most of their key bench guys have deficiencies that the Raptors coaching staff is going to exploit in different ways throughout this series. Depth truly matters in the playoffs. Take the Blazers and Thunder series for example. Lillard was truly special in that series, but the Blazers won that series because they won the minutes when only Westbrook or George were on the floor and not both of them. The same thing is going to happen in this series. In terms of just starting lineups, the Sixers are arguably better than the Raptors, but in those minutes when they are not all on the court, the Raptors will have the ability to capitalize and will do so. Earlier I said this series may not even go 6, but I am going to say Raptors in 6 games. If this does come true, something fun to watch for is whether Brett Brown is fired this offseason as it has been reported that the Sixers ownership group mandated him to make the Eastern Conference Finals. Is this going to be goodbye?
