With a condensed season, riddled with pandemic-related precautions and the league’s first ever Play-In Tournament coming to an exciting conclusion, the 2020-2021 NBA Playoffs are merely hours away from commencement. The stage is set once again and there are 16 teams prepared to battle their way to a shot at an NBA Championship. Now more than ever does it seem like a multitude of teams have a legitimate shot at raising this year’s Larry O’Brien trophy, but before any speculation can occur, we set our eyes on the first round match-ups and ponder on how the sets of series we have in store will play out.
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Philadelphia 76ers (#1) vs. Washington Wizards (#8)
Russell Westbrook, Bradley Beal, and the Washington Wizards are fresh off their victory against the Indiana Pacers to stamp their tickets to this year’s Playoffs. However, the Wizards will be instantly put to the test against their first round match-up, the Philadelphia 76ers. Going into this, the 76ers dominated the regular season series having won all three games, hoping to continue that very success against the Wizards. Perhaps even more interesting though is the underlying storyline surrounding this match-up, being the relationship, or lack thereof, between Russell Westbrook and Joel Embiid. This feud dates back all the way to Westbrook’s time in Oklahoma alongside Paul George, where things got heated between the two superstars with some lively exchanges on the court and some memorable off court interviews when asked about one another. Ultimately, the Washington Wizards have their work cut out for them. Based off the regular season, it seems that it’ll take quite the performance from both Russell Westbrook and Bradley Beal in order for them to take any games off the likes of Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons, assuming both parties can remain healthy throughout the course of the series. However, it also doesn’t seem too farfetched for the Wizards to pick up some wins.
Prediction: 76ers in five.
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Brooklyn Nets (#2) vs. Boston Celtics (#7)
Also coming off a recent victory in the NBA Play-In’s, the Boston Celtics will be facing off against the Brooklyn Nets in the first round of this year’s Playoffs. After scoring 50 in his last outing against the Washington Wizards, it seems Jayson Tatum and crew will need to play at an equal level to keep up with some say is this year’s favorites to win it all in the star-studded line up that is the Brooklyn Nets. It is very much a possibility that the Celtics will be able to scrounge out some wins as long as Tatum and Walker can provide offensively in addition to the role players being able to hit shots and play defense. Unfortunately for them, however, it’s almost guaranteed that the Celtics are going to miss Jaylen Brown going into this match-up. As for the Nets, unless too many players either get shut down defensively, they’re surely to never fall short on the offensive side of the ball having as many options as they do. It goes without saying that anyone one player, or perhaps even more, will be able to shoulder the scoring load, whether it be Kevin Durant, James Harden, or Kyrie Irving. The biggest chink in the Nets’ armor is hoping that their players will be able to remain healthy throughout was is sure to be a gritty series.
Prediction: Nets in six.
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Milwaukee Bucks (#3) vs. Miami Heat (#6)
Despite only being a first round match-up, this series just may be the one to watch as we have a rematch of last year’s Semi-Final with Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks facing off against last year’s Eastern Conference Champions in Jimmy Butler and the Miami Heat. Although having seeded 3rd this season, the Bucks seem more prepared in season’s past for the Playoffs with the addition of Jrue Holiday. In addition, with all the skepticism he’s been receiving to his Playoff performances thus far, Giannis truly has something to prove going into this year’s Playoffs. However, we would be remiss to count out Jimmy Butler and the Heat after the run they made last season making it all the way to NBA Finals. This rematch is bound to be proven as must-see with all the underlying storylines that accompany these two teams as of late. It does seem that with the addition of Jrue Holiday that the Bucks are a much more solid team on both ends of the floor, which truly makes things more interesting having already had two teams with high defensive capability.
Prediction: Bucks in seven.
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New York Knicks (#4) vs. Atlanta Hawks (#5)
The Knicks have rallied to make an incredible push, punching themselves a ticket to the Playoffs after being away since the 2012-2013 season. Unfortunately things don’t get any easier by any stretch of the imagination, as the begin their road to the Championship facing off against Trae Young and the Hawks. This particular match-up is actually quite interesting in the sense of New York’s physical and sweltering defense versus the offensive potential the Hawks have. There are a number of factors that can sway this series either way, such as both teams’ production off the bench in players like Derrick Rose and Lou Williams, respectively. Will the Knicks be able to keep up the pace the Hawks play at offensively and can the Hawks handle the Knicks’ top rated defense? This seems to be the one match-up that is the most up in the air amongst many. Despite both teams coming into the Playoffs with a lot momentum, it truly seems like the Knicks are the dark horse in the Eastern Conference.
Prediction: Knicks in seven.
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Here at SneakerReporter, we alongside the rest of the world are excited for things to begin and see how our respective teams will stack up against the rest. Fortunately for us the time has come for the 2020-2021 NBA Playoffs to begin, with the first game between the Milwaukee Bucks and the Miami Heat to kick things off today, May 22nd, at 11a.m. PST/ 2pm ET on ESPN.
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