The Eastern Conference semifinal matchups are set and after enduring four underwhelming first-round battles, NBA fans will be blessed with two thrilling series.
The Bucks will take on the Celtics, having lost to Boston in Giannis Antetokounmpo‘s second trip to the postseason last spring. This Milwaukee team features an improved supporting cast, a new coach, and an advanced version of The Greek Freak.
Boston’s squad also will have new faces, as Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward did not play in the franchise’s 4-3 series win over Milwaukee. The Celtics will likely be without Marcus Smart, though the Bucks aren’t fully healthy either with Malcolm Brogdon still sidelined.
The Sixers and Raptors will face-off on the other side of the Eastern Conference bracket and both sides feature varying degrees of unfamiliarity.
Kawhi Leonard (22 games) and Kyle Lowry (17) each missed significant time for Toronto in 2018/19. Including the Raptors’ five postseason games, the pair has suited up together in a total of 48 games. The Raptors made a shrewd addition in Marc Gasol, but they didn’t initially commit to inserting him in the starting lineup and it further complicated their continuity.
The Raptors have put out the Gasol-Leonard-Lowry-Danny Green–Pascal Siakam starting five on just 14 occasions this season (including the postseason), though the group played together in five other contests in which Gasol came off the bench.
The Sixers also have just 14 games with their starting five taking the court at tip-off — Philadelphia’s five has just 168 minutes of action together compared to Toronto’s which has 257.
Which team do you think will advance in each of the next two rounds and represent the Eastern Conference in the NBA Finals?
Vote below in our poll, then head to the comment section to weigh in!
Trade Rumors app users, click here to vote.
in most 7 game series i’ll take the healthiest/deepest team, so whoever wins bucks vs celtic series shud run the table
MIL can miss pieces and keep their flow. Supposedly Brogdon will return eventually.
Milwaukee vs Philly will be the ECF, as both teams are clearly superior to Boston/Toronto.
It will be very close in the ECF, but at the end of the day, as deepness don’t much matter in the post-season, but is all about star power, Philly should be able to edge it for the finals.
Nah i doubt the 6ers beat the raptors. It will be toronto vs milwaukee
And Golden state vs Portland
Raptors have no answer for Embiid. If he is healthy, Toronto is in trouble.
who is an answer for Embiid? Raptors have best chance against him with Gasol, Ibaka, and Siakam up front.
No answer? The Raptors traded for Marc Gasol to guard Embiid in the playoffs.
Raps literally have the best answer possible, the are stacked with talented big guys.
Why is Philly “Clearly superior” to Toronto? I can tell you the oddsmakers won’t agree with you.
You consistently have the worst takes on this site.
If you’re talking to me, let’s check the odds when they come out. Toronto will be favored.
He’s talkin to CESC
Many thanks, if you think so it means I am quite right… so I take it as a compliment dude!
philly vs buck in east final
I say Boston and Toronto
No way Boston gets past the Bucks. Looks like Hoops Rumor fans agree, giving MIL a 40+% chance of taking it all and Boston 23%
Celtics and 76ers with Celtics making a trip to the Finals and lose to the Warriors
They won’t make it out of the second round.
NBA playoffs start in the Second round. Basketball is about to be very good.
The Raptors’ second option is Pascal Siakam. Mike Scott,Ben Simmons,Jimmy Butler, and Jonathan Simmons can all guard him. Kawhi is good for 25-50 but they don’t have much else.
I say Sixers and Bucks ECF with Philly winning in 6 on their way to the Finals where they’ll face the Warriors and win in 6.
I feel like you haven’t watched any Raptors games.
Boston vs Toronto. Experience prevails
Raptors are coming out of the East. Defense wins championships. They won’t beat the Warriors though.
I actually think that the Bucks and Raptors are a super interesting matchup… could just come down to who hits the most 3s or who gets the benefit a few additional whistles.
Philly’s first round matchup was draft high versus draft low. Their second round matchup is Big Five versus Bigger One with excellent role players.
I refuse to set Redick outside the “Big x” category. Especially on a team with four other ‘Bigs’ that are less ‘Big’ than KL.
I’m not superconfident in the Raps. Tobias is hot.
Raptors mostly manhandled the 76ers this year.
It will be interesting to see how the teams adjust to play each other in a 7 game series.
But with home court, it seems unlikely to me that the 76ers pull off the upset – unless Embiid continues to get a ridiculously favorable whistle. But I don’t think he gets those calls vs Gasol/Ibaka.
Kyrie Irving if healthy takes the Celtics to the finals. Toronto added Green and Leonard but Celtics have a healthy heyward with growth from Brown, Tatum and Rozier.
I would love to see a Celtics vs Raptors series, but I just don’t think the Celtics will be able to get past the Bucks.
Bucks in 5.
Everything would have to go right for Bos and everything would have to go wrong for MIL. Bucks are a better team, a better connected team, and the match up favors them.
The Bucks are NOT a better team than the Celtics. Celtics are deeper and have been getting absolutely screwed by the officiating.
Raptors running the table…