It’s the time of year we’ve all been waiting for, the NBA post season. If you’ve been bored with the regular season proceedings or just didn’t have time to follow, I’ll tell you what to look for during the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs.
No. 8 Brooklyn Nets vs. No.1 Atlanta Hawks
Look for Joe Johnson, who still has enough pride in him, to take over a game against his old team and help Brooklyn steal a contest at home. However, Atlanta will win this series in five games.
No. 7 Boston Celtics vs. No. 2 Cleveland Cavaliers
Look for probable sixth man of the year Isaiah Thomas to get buckets and be a problem for the Cavs’ defense, but Cleveland will have a relatively easy time against Boston, and they should sweep this series.
No. 6 Milwaukee Bucks vs. No. 3 Chicago Bulls
The Bucks are a team that still hasn’t figured out how to put the ball in the hoop consistently, so they’ll have to rely on their conference-leading defense. Look for the experienced Bulls to taste their blood a little but win this series in six games.
No. 5 Washington Wizards vs. No. 4 Toronto Raptors
It’s the most even matchup of the entire first round. These teams play contrasting styles; Washington is more defensive minded while Toronto’s focus is on offense. Look for this series to go seven games as it will come down to the physicality of the Wizards’ interior players to make the difference.
For a complete, detailed breakdown on these matchups read NBA Playoffs Predictions – Eastern Conference: What to look for
