Previewing Round 2 of the NBA Playoffs: Eastern Conference Edition
Who Makes it to the Eastern Conference Finals?
After two weeks of playoff series that included a sweep, a slog, and a few misfortunes on and off the court, the second round of the NBA playoffs commence this week, with the top four seeds advancing in the East. With another two weeks to go before the next round begins, I’ll once again preview the current round of the playoffs by conference and pick the two teams that will make their way out of the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals to face off in the Conference Finals.
Cleveland Cavaliers (2) vs. Toronto Raptors (3)
Regular Season: Split 2–2
The Cavaliers began the 2017 postseason by sweeping another first round challenger, albeit through close games but also where Playoff LeBron nonetheless asserted his will over opponents to clinch the win. As previously noted, Cleveland has played inconsistent defense since the all-star break, allowing 114.7 points per 100 possessions during the postseason according to basketball-reference.com, defensively ranking them 13th out of 16 playoff teams. To take care of the Raptors, Cleveland’s supporting all-stars will need to make an effort on defense and limit the half-court game of Toronto, especially after relying on a lineup sans Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love to bring the team back from a 25-point deficit in Game 3 of the Pacers series.
Anticipating a rematch with Cleveland following last season’s defeat in the Eastern Conference Finals, the Raptors responded by adding Serge Ibaka and P.J. Tucker for assistance on defense. This should provide some help for them to protect the rim and to gain a few offensive boards from Tristan Thompson and Kevin Love on the glass. However, they will still have trouble guarding Irving on isolation plays and dealing with LeBron’s keen vision of the court and quick transition defense. The Raptors have to show up to for Game 1, a significant issue for them after continuing a recent trend of losing the opening game of a series for the fourth consecutive year. Additionally, Kyle Lowry struggled through most of Toronto’s series with the Milwaukee Bucks, and while DeMar DeRozan can still provide plenty of buckets for Toronto by barreling his way into the paint, he will need plenty of offensive support on the perimeter, which could become problematic if Lowry’s not entirely a hundred percent for the series.
Final Pick: Cavaliers in five
Boston Celtics (1) vs. Washington Wizards (4)
Regular Season: Split 2–2
With both teams coming off of grueling six-game series against older but more experienced opponents, the Celtics and Wizards set of games should be just as drawn out and uncertain for playoff viewers expecting a quick and drama-free series. The matchup also promises a burgeoning rivalry that will entertain viewers, regardless of team allegiance. While nimble and explosive on offense, the Celtics got torched on the glass in the first two games of their series with the Bulls, allowing a massive 29.6% hull of offensive rebounds against Chicago. Fortunately for the Celts, the Wiz lack the height and rim protection that enabled Chicago to upset Boston in Games 1 and 2, as Washington recovered only 22.5% of the offensive boards in their games with the Atlanta Hawks.
The Wizards will rely on their high-scoring back court of John Wall and Bradley Beal for the majority of their points while the Celtics have Isaiah Thomas eluding taller defenders near the basket and dishing to his teammates on the perimeter. These are both their strengths and weaknesses. If the Celtics have another cold shooting night from 3, then that could doom them on a night when Wall and company effectively guard players behind the arc. Likewise, a road game where Washington’s bench fails to get involved in a meaningful way will also hurt their chances against a spirited hometown crowd in Boston.
Final Pick: Wizards in seven
