Though they didn’t last as long as we would’ve liked, the first-round playoff matchups in the NBA’s Eastern Conference went about as expected.
With the exception of the Atlanta Hawks -- who had the best player in their first-round playoff series against the New York Knicks -- all the higher seeds advanced and now we’re in for what should be a much more competitive and, hopefully, entertaining second round.
The second round of the playoffs will kick off Saturday night with Game 1 of the highly anticipated Brooklyn Nets-Milwaukee Bucks series. But before that gets started, here’s a quick look at the two Eastern Conference seminfinal series and who we think will come out on top in each.
(1) 76ers vs. (5) Hawks
Philadelphia 76ers' Joel Embiid, right, of Cameroon, blocks a shot by Atlanta Hawks' Trae Young, left, during the first half of an NBA basketball game. (Chris Szagola/AP)
The Philadelphia 76ers worked hard during the regular season to earn the No. 1 seed in the East, to avoid the slugfest that will be taking place at the bottom of the Eastern Conference’s playoff bracket between the Nets and Bucks.
Their effort will be rewarded now as their second-round matchup will be against an inexperienced and, quite frankly, overmatched Hawks team. If Philly was completely healthy, it wouldn’t be a stretch to say this matchup wouldn’t go beyond five games.
However, the Sixers aren’t at full strength at the moment, and that opens the door just enough for Atlanta to have some hope in this series.
Star centre Joel Embiid is dealing with a meniscus tear in his right knee that has him listed as “day-to-day.” This injury forced him to miss Philly’s clinching Game 5 against the Washington Wizards and, depending on how many more games he could miss in Philadelphia’s second-round series, this means that the Hawks will once again feature the most dangerous player in the series.
The Knicks had absolutely no answer for Trae Young, and even though the Sixers can throw out better perimeter defenders than New York could -- like Matisse Thybulle and Danny Green -- there still isn’t much defence for a young man who can pull up from 35 feet-plus and splash home triples that way.
If Embiid is able to go in every game of this series, Young’s impact will be mitigated as there’s absolutely no one on Atlanta’s roster who can stop Embiid down low, but should he miss time, the opportunity for Young to steal games by himself becomes that much greater, particularly because, after seeing what DeAndre Hunter did to stymie Julius Randle, you have to believe he could have similar success slowing down Tobias Harris.
This would leave Philadelphia with Ben Simmons as their feature offensive player, something that would likely make 76ers fans nervous.
Ultimately, though, if Philly is optimistic enough to list a knee issue with Embiid as just “day-to-day,” he probably won’t miss enough time for the Hawks to take full advantage and win the series.
It’ll probably be closer than Philly would like, but expect to see them in the conference finals for the first time since they made the Finals in 2001.
Prediction: 76ers in six.
(2) Nets vs. (3) Bucks
Brooklyn Nets' Kevin Durant drives past Milwaukee Bucks' Khris Middleton during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, May 2, 2021, in Milwaukee. (Morry Gash/AP)
Quite possibly the most anticipated second-round matchup in the entire playoffs, this series has promise to be an instant classic not only because of the tremendous star power and talent on both sides, but also because of the opposing philosophies both teams feature.
A classic scenario of an unstoppable offence squaring off against an impregnable defence, this Nets and Bucks series will figure to be destination viewing.
Obviously, in terms of raw talent, the Nets look like the stronger team because of their superstar troika of Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and James Harden. This trio helped the Nets to the No. 1-ranked offence in the NBA during the regular season and so far during the playoffs.
On the flip side, though the Bucks’ Big Three of Giannis Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton and Jrue Holiday isn’t nearly as dangerous-sounding, this is a team with greater depth than the Nets. Plus, as good as Brooklyn’s three stars are, Antetokounmpo still might be the best player in the series -- particularly with the way he’s been playing of late as a player who can more comfortably play out of the pick-and-roll (as both the ball-handler and roll man).
Additionally, the Bucks’ defence, while not as dominant during the regular season, was downright impregnable in their first-round sweep of the Miami Heat. Milwaukee gave up just 95.4 points per 100 possessions to the Heat -- something that isn’t indicative of how things will go against the Nets’ potent attack, but still a good sign, as it looks like the Bucks are locked in defensively.
So far during the regular season and post-season, the Nets have relied on a strategy to just out-gun opponents, because no one in the league can keep up with their attack. This has come at the expense of their defence, however, and even though they looked better on that side of the ball against the Boston Celtics, given Milwaukee’s obvious size advantage, will Brooklyn find similar defensive success?
There’s never been an NBA champion who has just outscored their opponent. Brooklyn has the potential to be the first, but it won’t happen this year. Running into a Bucks team with a defensive personnel as good as theirs, great shot-makers all over the floor and a two-time MVP in Antetokounmpo -- who looks to be an even more robust offensive player than ever -- will be too much for even Durant Irving and Harden to overcome.
Prediction: Bucks in seven.
