Your NBA Playoff First Round Preview
By Steve Risser
Eastern Conference
1. Bucks vs 8. Magic
As expected the Bucks had the best recorded in the Eastern Conference and where lead my Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Bucks should cruise thou their first round series with the Magic Orlando does not have a player close to Giannis level or even as good as Kris Middleton.
The player on the Magic that had the best chance of containing Giannis is Jonathan Isaac, but he tore his ACL 2 games into the restart and Brook Lopez should be able to contain the Magic’s Leading scorer Nikola Vucevic.
Series Prediction Bucks in 4
2. Raptors vs. 7 Nets
Few people thought the defending champion Toronto Raptors would have the season that they had after losing their best player Kawhi Leonard to free agency but with the improvement of Pascal Siakam and Fred Van Fleet they were able to finish with the 2nd best record in the East. I know the Nets have played well in the bubble going 5–3 but let’s not forget that they are without their 3 best players and are in for a very difficult series with the Raptors. The Raptors should be able to contain the Nets leading scorer since the restart Caris LeVert with their 2 best defenders Pascal Siakam and OG Anunoby.
Series Prediction Raptors in 5
3. Celtics vs. 6. Sixers
In the East the most interesting series is the Celtics and the Sixers. Despite the Sixers not having Ben Simmons the Sixers do match up well with the Celtics because of their size with Al Horford and Joel Embiid you will probably see the Celtics either double Embiid a lot in the post or they will use Enes Kanter and Robert Williams more than usual to defend him. The big question is what will win in this series size or shooting I’m going to go with the Celtics because they got 3 guys that average over 20 points per game Jason Tatum, Kemba Walker and Jaylen Brown and their the much better 3-point shooting team.
Series Prediction Celtics in 6
4. Pacers vs. 5. Heat
Erik Spoelstra and Pat Riley have their imprint on this heat team their tough their gritty and their best player Jimmy Butler unbodies that the most he’s one of the best two way players in the game. TJ Warren has been great since the Pacers entered the bubble the problem is he’ll be going up against one of the best defenders in the league in Jimmy Butler and he will contain him. The Pacers will need Oladipo to get back to what he was before his knee injury and have Domantas Sabonis return from injury to have a chance to win this series. Why I think the Heat win this series is they are deeper and they have the best player in the series in Jimmy Butler.
Series Prediction Heat in 6
Western Conference
1. Lakers vs 8 Blazers
When the Lakers traded for Anthony Davis last offseason they were going for a title and this year him and Lebron proved to be the best duo in the NBA . Despite how great Lillard has been the Blazers don’t look like a team that can compete with the Lakers. I know they got 2 really good players in McCollum and Nurkic but the way they have played on the defensive end its hard for me not seeing Lebron and AD both averaging over 30 points a game in this series.
Series Prediction Lakers in 5
2. Clippers vs 7 Mavs
When the Clippers traded for Paul Gorge and signed Kawhi Lenord they became the best team in the NBA. The Clippers are more built for the postseason than any team in this league with their start power, depth and defense. Luka Doncic had a great year for the Mavs and is a top ten player in the league but with all the guys the Clippers can throw out there to defend him Kawhi, Gorge and Beverly it’s very hard to see them not be able to contain him. Kristaps Porzingis is going to have to be outstanding for the Mavs to stretch this series more than 5 games.
Series Prediction Clippers in 5
3. Nuggets vs. 6 Jazz
Both the Jazz and Nuggets came into the bubble with injures the Nuggets were without 3 starters when they got to Orlando Jamal Murry, Garry Harris and Will Barton and the Jazz lost their 2nd leading scorer Bojan Bogdanovic for the season. Today the Jazz found out they’ll Mike Conley due to the birth of his child great news for him, but things will get more difficult for the Jazz with him out. One of the biggest stories of the restart has been the play of Michael Porter Jr of the Nuggets who’s averaging 22 points per game for the Nuggets if he continues to play this way the Nuggets would easily beat the Jazz and could give the Lakers or Clippers trouble late in the playoffs. The loss of Bogdanovic is big because now Donovan Mitchell is their only consistent scorer and that’s probably going to hurt when they have to face a team with Jamal Murray, Nikola Jokic and Michael Porter Jr.
Series Prediction Nuggets in 5
4. Rockets vs. 5. Thunder
The most interesting series in the Western Conference is the Rockers and the Thunder.
The Rockets will be without Russel Westbrook to start this series even thou I think he’s overrated the Rockets will still have a difficult time a winning this series without him. A big reason for that is the guy Westbrook was traded for Chris Paul, he’s had a career resurgence this year averaging over 17 a game. The Thunder also have 3 really solid players with potential superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Danilo Gallinari and Steven Adams. Even thou the Rockets live and die by the 3 and will be without Westbrook to start the series I’m still not going against James Harden he’s clearly the best player in the series he should average over 30 points a game in this series and he’ll elevate the other guys around him.
