NBA-Eastern Conference First Round Playoff Predictions

The NBA playoffs will start on Monday, August 17th, 2020. There will be four games played every day, two Eastern Conference games and two Western Conference games. There is a play-in game between the Portland Trailblazers and the Memphis Grizzlies to determine 8th seed in the Western Conference First-Round matchups. The Eastern Conference has already been set, below is an overview of the Eastern Conference matchups. 

(#1) Milwaukee Bucks  v Orlando Magic (#8)

The Bucks have gone 4-0 against the Magic in the regular season, and I do not see the first-round series being any different. The Magic just don’t have the firepower to keep up with what the Bucks will be running. If the versatile Jonathan Isaac had not broken his leg earlier in the bubble, the Magic would have their X-factor that might have made this series a little more competitive. 

Giannis Antetokounmpo will have his way against the Magic, just as he did in the regular season. He averaged 30+ points per game and 15 rebounds. Playing the MVP is never easy, but the Bucks also have better payers overall. I smell a sweep for the Bucks in this one; my final prediction is the Bucks win 4-0.

(#2) Toronto Raptors v Brooklyn Nets (#7)

I do not feel any team in the Eastern Conference is playing better than the reigning champs, the Toronto Raptors. The injured Brooklyn Nets do not stand a chance in this series. The Raptors are 3-1 against the Nets over the regular season, and that one loss is something the Nets should be studying as carefully as possible to exploit the same weaknesses that got them the win. 

The Nets have Caris Levert and Jarrett Allen, one of the most underrated players in the league, but they do not have the experience and talent of Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, or DeAndre Jordan. The Nets cannot expect the players they do have in uniform to fill in and take out the defending champs. The Raptors are well-coached and have enough depth for the Nets to do any damage. They will not give up more than one game to the understaffed Nets; the Raptors will take out the Nets 4-1.

(#3) Boston Celtics v Philadelphia 76ers (#6)

The 76ers beat the Celtics 3-1 in their season series, but that was with Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons. Simmons is out for the season, and Embiid has had limited game time after returning from a wrist and ankle injury. I cannot see how a weakened 76ers can go up against a healthy Celtics team and come out unscathed. 

The 76ers do have some talented players, but it will not be enough to match the young and healthy core the Celtics have. The biggest X-factor in this matchup will be the coaching.  Brad Stevens vs. Brett Brown is the real matchup for this series. Brown has proven he cannot figure out how to reassemble his team when his stars are down, and Stevens can do precisely that. Stevens knows how to take advantage of any edge given to him. The Celtics will handle the injured 76ers and win the series 4-1 to advance to the next round. 

(#4) Miami Heat v Indiana Pacers (#5)

The Miami Heat won the season series against the Indiana Pacers 3-1, back when the Pacers had their star Domantis Sabonis. The Pacers do have a rising (bubble) star, TJ Warren, but now that Sabonis is out for the rest of the season, it is time for Miami to shine.

The Heat are led by star G Jimmy Butler and rising star PF/C Bam Adebayo, but the supporting cast makes the Heat more dangerous than people think. And to add fuel to the flame, Jimmy Butler will be focused on shutting down his nemesis, TJ Warren. 

The Heat will take down the Pacers 4-2, but it will be the closest matchup of the first round and kill any more talk about TJ Warren and Jimmy Butler being on the same level.