Eastern Conference
(1) Bucks vs (8) Pistons - Bucks win, 4-1
The Bucks are the scariest team in the league. Yes, scarier
than the Warriors, the Rockets, and the Sixers. And that's because they not
only have the current best player in the world, Giannis Antetokounmpo, but also
stud players like Khris Middleton, Eric Bledsoe, and Brook Lopez, with starter-quality
role players in Malcolm Brogdon, Tony Snell, and Nikola Mirotic ready to contribute.
The Pistons, on the other hand, are of the Eastern team favorites who
underperformed in the regular season. There were modest expectations of this
team, considering their roster, and they barely lived up to it. As things get
tougher in the playoffs, there is no indication that they will suddenly find
that higher gear they need to move up.
Matchup to watch out for: Giannis Antetokuonmpo vs Blake Griffin.
The best players of each team will need to be even better. The Greek Freak
should have no trouble stepping up while Griffin needs to fire up on all
cylinders to give the Pistons a fighting chance.
Underperformer vs overperformer. The Celtics were supposed
to be an even better team than the monster team they were last year. They were
tipped to lead the East (with the Raptors), with the Bucks and Sixers chasing
them. But then the games were played and while the Celtics had more star power,
they also lost their cohesiveness and chemistry. Kyrie Irving and Gordon
Hayward are certified superstars but their presence may have proven to be too
much of a good thing. In fact, their stock has fallen so low that they were
basically a Victor Oladipo injury away from being both the lower seed and the
team destined to fall in the first round. The Pacers, on the other hand, are in
a win-win situation. Expectations are low (less pressure), they get playoff experience
for their young guys, and they get a better gauge on what they need to fix in
the summer.
Matchup to watch out for: Bojan Bogdanovic vs Jayson Tatum.
The Pacers need scoring badly and Bogdanovic is the default main man, for now.
Tatum, on the other hand, is the Celtics' most versatile player. If he impacts
both ends of the floor, Celts will win handily.
(3) Sixers vs (6) Nets - Sixers win, 4-2
The Process is now about The Progress, and the Nets should
be a minor bump in the road for that. D'Angelo Russell is darned good and
Jarret Allen, Spencer Dinwiddie, DeMarre Carroll, Allen Crabbe, and Joe Harris
are good players. But Allen is no match for Joel Embiid (yet), Ben Simmons is
more unstoppable on offense and better at defense than Russell, JJ Redick can
still outshoot Harris, and no one on the Nets can contain either Tobias Harris
or JImmy Butler. The Nets is the team of the future though and will benefit
from this tough matchup.
Matchup to watch out for: D'Angelo Russell vs Ben Simmons.
While Butler will most likely guard Russell, game flow will depend on who can
impose his will. That means either Russell or Simmons will spell the difference
in this matchup.
(2) Raptors vs (7) Magic - Raptors win, 4-1
The Orlando Magic have, surprisingly, made the playoffs. Unfortunately,
they face the second seeded Toronto Raptors, who seem more than ready to go
farther than they've ever gone, especially with LeBron James no longer standing
in their way. Nikola Vucevic, Aaron Gordon, Evan Fournier, Terence Ross, and Jonathan
Isaac won't be enough against a stacked Raptors team...but if they can turn
their expected beatdown from the Raptors into action points for next year, they
won't be an easy out for much longer.
Matchup to watch out for: Kawhi Leonard vs Aaron Gordon.
Gordon needs to match Leonard's production, just so the Magic won't get blown
out every game.
Thoughts on the Western Conference, up soon.
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