#1 Cleveland Cavaliers vs #8 Miami Heat
Cavaliers win series 4-1
The Cleveland Cavaliers are coming off a historic season. Their regular-season success was daunting. They propelled themselves to 64 wins and a league-best 121.0 offensive rating while having multiple 10+ win streaks. To me, that shows consistent dominance. So, how will this all translate to the playoffs? I think pretty seamlessly. Cleveland has a fantastic starting five that has found balance in its approach to attacking opposing defenses. That push and pull deserves a lot of attention because it’s what was plaguing them in past seasons. They were already a dominant defensive team, but now that the offense has caught up, they’re in a good place for a long run.
The Cavs will be facing the darlings of the play-in format, the Miami Heat, in the first round. Miami will test them in classic Heat culture style. Head coach Erik Spoelstra is always laser-focused on identifying weaknesses and adapting his team’s game plan accordingly. Miami is going to throw everything at Cleveland’s guards, and Bam Adebayo and Kel’el Ware present a formidable matchup for Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen. That being said, Miami has real scoring issues, and in a series that gives Cleveland more margin for error in terms of play style. Miami has to play perfectly, but I’m not sure that can happen for four games.
#4 Indiana Pacers vs #5 Milwaukee Bucks
Bucks win series 4-3
It’s great news that Damian Lillard is back for the Milwaukee Bucks. The added star power is never a negative. Adding that Dame was practically the last man standing for the Bucks against the Pacers last year, he should get another look at them.
The Bucks survived this season. That’s not a negative statement either. Not a lot of attention was brought to the injuries and roster maneuvering the Bucks did this season. To stay above water and finish in the middle of the playoff pack is a testament to the consistently great play of Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks’ coaching staff.
Speaking of the coaching staff, I thought it was right to compliment Doc Rivers and his staff’s work before we talk about the playoffs. The resume isn’t very appetizing for Rivers over the past 10 years. Is it just going to be deja vu this year? I legitimately don’t know. The Indiana Pacers are a tough team to beat. Pesky would be an applicable word to describe them. Their offense is relentless, and although they may not be great defensively, as we saw last year on their path to the Eastern Conference Finals, they work hard defensively.
I think this could be a very exciting series, and I’m leaning towards the Bucks solely because I believe we get a return to form from Giannis for another playoff. Not a great justification, but I think these teams are close, and it goes seven.
#3 New York Knicks vs #6 Detroit Pistons
Knicks win series 4-1
What a turnaround for the Detroit Pistons. A team that most NBA fans were sickened by last season, with whatever went down over there. But a new coach, a refined roster, and a healthy Cade Cunningham as the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference. Oh, did I mention that they are effortlessly entertaining? Their return to winning powers a lot of that, but J.B. Bickerstaff has his team playing a way that fits them. It sounds simple, but last season, the approach was wildly more stringent. Bickerstaff lets his guys play.
With that primer, I’m definitive in my view that New York wins this easily. I’m fully prepared for this to be thrown back in my face, but I think the Knicks are the exact right team to face this Pistons team. I don’t think they are going to get suckered into some of the chaos that comes with playing the Pistons. I think Cade can match Jalen Brunson for most of these games, but as Brunson has shown over and over again, he breaks down defenses better than anyone late in games. Can a young Pistons squad stay disciplined enough in those situations? I don’t think so, yet.
#2 Boston Celtics vs #7 Orlando Magic
Celtics win series 4-2
Last year’s champions, the Boston Celtics, followed up their title with a 61-win season. Pretty impressive when you look at some of the latest title defense seasons. But, for good reason, the playoffs have been bookmarked as the true beginning for the Celtics. They are well-positioned to repeat. Relatively healthy (outside of a nagging Jaylen Brown knee) and playing very well as they enter the playoffs. Boston is a well-oiled machine. For Joe Mazzulla’s squad, it’s just a matter of keeping that machine running, especially right before it’s time to punch out (testing out analogies).
Can the Orlando Magic capitalize on those moments when the Celtics wind down? That’s the big question, and it is one that Orlando needs to answer correctly. The Celtics can be taken advantage of at times. When threes aren’t falling, it allows teams to gain ground and forces Boston to stay engaged defensively. I have real reservations that Orlando can score enough outside of those times when Boston is in neutral for it to really matter. Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner are really talented, but it’s difficult to see a world where they overpower the Celtics without help. It’s not a matter of if Orlando’s bench can contribute; it’s a necessity.
Featured Articles
Featured Writers
