First round predictions

It has started, the pretenders and contenders to the throne in a fight for survival where only one reigns supreme. With a maximum of seven games for each of the 16 teams in the two conferences, the victorious half will advance to the next round.

Here’s our take on the Eastern Conference pairings :

Milwaukee versus Detroit – in their four regular season matchups, the Bucks swept the Pistons with an average winning margin of 14.7 points. We all of course know who leads Milwaukee and he has a strong frontline support in Brook Lopez, ErsanIlyasova and Nikola Mirotic who came back from a thumb injury. Pau Gasol has some foot issues as well as Malcolm Brogdon but Khris Middleton, George Hill and Eric Bledsoe are putting in decent numbers. Game 1 saw us the Bucks happily manhandling Detroit and Giannis was just being Giannis, unstoppable. The Pistons just looked lost and Blake Griffin’s knee issues won’t help their cause. Milwaukee could wrap up the series in four games unless Detroit finds a solution to problem number 34.

Toronto versus Orlando –Both teams evened their 4-game regular season series with similar 2-2 win-loss records.  But in their series opener, the Magic casted a spell on the favored Raptors that Kyle Lowry’s supposedly playoff mode went poof. He was shooting blanks for more than 30 minutes on the floor. Kawhi Leonard, Pascal Siakam, Fred Van Vleet and Marc Gasol were the bright spots in that game. Seven Magic players scored in double figures led by DJ Augustin with 25 points and they grabbed the homecourt advantage with a Game 1 win in Toronto.  Nikola Vucevic and Aaron Gordon could explode for Orlando and they’ll win a game at home, but I’ll say Toronto advances in six games.

Philadelphia versus Brooklyn – The Nets got away with a Game 1 win over the Sixers at the Wells Fargo Center.  Since going East, D’Angelo Russell had proven time and again that he can lead a team. Brooklyn lacks glitter compared to Philadelphia when we talk of star power but everyone in Nets uniform who were given minutes in that game contributed. Only Jimmy Butler, Joel Embiid and BobanMarjanovic scored in double figures.  Game 2 was a different story. Brooklyn’s second unit were the ones who had a good night as only D-Lo had double figures among the starters. On the other hand, with starters on the bench in the fourth quarter and a playoff franchise record in points scored, the Sixers returned the favor and more in a 22-point rout. Butler only had 7 points but Embiid, Ben Simmons, JJ Redick, Tobias Harris, Mike Scott and yes, Big Boban scored a combined 108 points.  If this keeps up, it will be Philadelphia in five games.

Boston versus Indiana – Kyrie Irving and Marcus Morris were on playoff mode and supported by Jayson Tatum, Al Horford and Gordon Hayward who all had double figures, took a 1-0 series lead over Indiana in a low scoring ball game. Only Corey Joseph and Bojan Bogdanovic scored in twin digits and if the Pacers want to advance, Myles Turner, Domantas Sabonis and Thaddeus Young need to step up. Things could have been different had Victor Oladipo been available and maybe get a win. Celtics in four.

I could be wrong, but I could also be right.  Whatever.  It’s the playoffs and we love this game!