NBA Eastern playoff predictions
(2) Raptors vs. (7) Nets
(3) Celtics vs. (6) 76ers
Eastern Conference
First Round
(1) Bucks vs (8) Magic
I can only really see this going one way unless the whole magic team is on absolute fire the whole series long. The Bucks of the last two years have been imperious and whoever will stop them, have to deal with the Giannis situation. An 87" wingspan at 6"11 and with decent handle and playmaking abilities, when this man gets going he has terrifically hard to stop. Coupled with a supporting task including Brook Lopez and Khris Middleton, the Bucks have simply too much for this Magic team.
Bucks in 4
(4) Heat vs (5) Pacers
As most 4 and 5 matchups usually are, this one is a very close call. The heat have a great young core, with an excellent coach and two in particular veterans that will have a big impact on the end of this season, in Andre Igoudala and Jimmy Butler. Jimmy Butler has shown that he is the man to make shots in the dying embers of the ball game and Andre Igoudala, the recent acquisition from Memphis, has elite level defense with a handy 3 ball. Pacers again are another young team where superstars have developed in recent years with the most prominent example of this is Paul George. Two of the components of the trade to the Thunder are Domantas Sabonis and Victor Oladipo and if these two were fully fit, I would have no idea who to pick. Sabonis will sit out the restart with a foot injury and Oladipo will also sit out the restart for more apparent personal reasons. Without these two, they are not on the same level as they could be, therefore I am going to give this to the heat.
Heat in 6
(3) Celtic vs (6) 76ers
Probably the pick of all the ties in the first round. Both young teams with Philly perhaps further ahead in the *process* than the Celtics despite their lower seeding. The addition of Kemba Walker to replace Kyrie Irving has made the Celtics more of a team and with breakouts this year for Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, the Celtics are a dangerous force for any team. However, Celtic's one weakness is Philly's strength and that is height. Joel Embiid is one of the most dominant centers in the league on his day. Embiid against Enes Kanter or Daniel Theis will give nightmares to Brad Stevens, the Celtics coach. Ben Simmons's injury definitely restricts the sixers but if Joel and the ex Celtic Al Horford stand up and be counted which he hasn't looked like doing at times this season. If Philly gel and play like a team then this series will be magnificent. However, at this current time, I haven't seen enough from Philly and have to back Boston due to what I have seen this season.
Celtics in 6
(2) Raptors vs (7) Nets
As a Raptors fan, I will try to keep any bias out of this. RAPS ARE WINNING BACK TO BACK BABY. That was a joke, a bad one but still a joke. Nick Nurse has done incredibly well this season, improving after Kawhi left. Siakam is on the verge of a superstar but I do not think he is quite there yet. Van Vleet and Lowry and the ultra big lineup will cause problems for any team, and I think the nets are no different. Lavert is on the edge of all-star status and Allen is improving every season he is in the league. With KD and Kyrie especially, this team will be hard to stop, however without them both, I can't see them causing too many problems for the Raps.
Raptors in 5
Semi-Finals
(1) Bucks vs (4) Heat
(2) Raptors vs (3) Celtics
(1) Bucks vs (4) Heat
A ver y good matchup where I think the Heat could cause problems to the Bucks, however, there are a lot of ifs to it. If Andre Igoudala or Jimmy Butler can do on defense what Kawhi did last year to the Bucks in the finals then a similar outcome is possible. If the Heat shooters can be on fire such as Duncan Robinson who has the potential to set alight then this will hurt the Bucks, who allow their opponents to shoot the three-ball more then an easier bucket inside. However, if the Heat cannot slow Giannis down, this could be a mauling, coupled with the fact that the Heat are still a young team. Therefore, I am going to go with the Bucks.
Bucks in 6
(2) Raptors vs (3) Celtics
I really want to go with the Raptors here but I think it'll be a slog. Last year the North had Kawhi, but this year I do not see the killer in this team. The player who will take and make that last shot. I do not see spicy P as that yet and that is not Lowry's strength. The Celtics, on the other hand, have at least three in Jayson Tatum, Kemba Walker, and Jaylen Brown and I think that will be the difference in this series. The Raptors defense has to come in clutch and hope the offense can carry the Canadian outfits through.
Celtics in 7
Finals
(1) Bucks vs (3) Celtics
I cannot see this being a problem for the Bucks at all. As I said previously, the Celtics look to have a problem stopping the big man on the team and I see no simple fix to stop the Greek Freak. Many will probably have a go but I can't see the Cs slowing him down enough without double-teaming which plays into the Bucks shooters who are no slouchers. The only option if the Celtics shooters go off and they outscore the Bucks massively, making Giannis pretty irrelevant.
Bucks in 6
This is my playoff predictions for the East, I will drop my predictions for the West and then subsequently who will succeed the Raptors as the 2019/20 NBA champion
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