There’s still a couple days remaining before the 2019-20 NBA regular season comes to a conclusion at Walt Disney World in Florida.
While the Western Conference remains very much up in the air, everything seems to be settled back east. The first round matchups in the Eastern Conference Playoffs are already set.
It’s going to be rather interesting given the injuries we have seen and some struggles from the top-seeded Milwaukee Bucks. Without further ado, let’s look at some early predictions for the first round of the Eastern Conference Playoffs.
Milwaukee Bucks sweep the Orlando Magic
Sitting at eight games under .500, Orlando is among the worst teams to make the playoffs in recent NBA history. Playing in their home city without fans in attendance is not going to change the end result as the Magic take on the top seed in the Eastern Conference.
Sure Milwaukee has lost seven of 10 dating back to when the season was suspended on March 11. But this team is just too good to even consider an upset. Reigning NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo will be rested after receiving a one-game suspension. Khris Middleton has a plus-level matchup against Orlando wings. It will result in a lopsided four-game sweep for the Bucks.
Early exit for the Indiana Pacers
Set to take on a surprising Miami Heat team in the first round, Indiana does not find itself in the best of positions. Star guard Victor Oladipo has not been himself since ultimately deciding to resume the season with his team. The veteran is averaging just 16.0 points on 46% shooting from the field in five games at Walt Disney World. One of the leading scorers in Orlando, T.J. Warren, is dealing with plantar fasciitis in his foot.
On the other side sits a Heat team that was among the most surprising in the NBA prior to the season being suspended. Riding rookies Tyler Herro and Kendrick Nunn, this squad is a hard out. The emergence of All-Star big man Bam Adebayo and presence of Jimmy Butler adds to that. Look for Miami to take out Indiana in six.
Ben Simmons’ injury proves to be too much for the Sixers
Given how erratic they have been throughout the season, it was hard to believe that the Sixers had much of a chance in the Eastern Conference once the campaign resumed. Now that Simmons is out for the season with a knee injury, that’s magnified even further. Who will Philadelphia be able to rely on behind Joel Embiid on offense? Is he going to be enough to take out the Celtics?
Don’t bank on it. Boston boasts one of the best young players in the game in that of Jayson Tatum. Fellow wing Jaylen Brown is morphing into a star. The team is well coached with the recently extended Brad Stevens manning the bench. Look for these Celtics to take out Philadelphia in five, potentially leading to an offseason of change in the City of Brotherly Love.
Defending champs refine their game against lesser competition
We have to give the Brooklyn Nets credit for their performance in Orlando thus far. Down three-fifths of their starting five even before the season resumed, the Nets won five of their first seven at Walt Disney World. It’s a testament to the performance if interim head coach Jacque Vaughn.
Even then, there’s absolutely no reason to believe that a team relying on Justin Anderson, Džanan Musa and Donta Hall for substantial minutes can compete with the defending champion Toronto Raptors. This is the most lopsided first-round matchup. Fred VanVleet has taken his game to a whole new level. Toronto has not missed a beat following the departure of reigning NBA Finals MVP Kawhi. Look for a four-game sweep here.