Bucks vs Celtics

The Milwaukee Bucks will face the Boston Celtics in the second round of the NBA Playoffs. Both teams swept their opponent in four games. This is the first playoff series win for the Bucks since 2001.

The Bucks have been hot in the postseason, averaging 121.8 points per game as a team, while shooting 51% from the field and 37% from three. The Pistons averaged only 98 points per game.

A major factor of Milwaukee’s dominance over Detroit was Giannis Antetokounmpo’s continued high-level of play. The MVP hopeful averaged 26.3 points, 12 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.5 blocks per game.

For the Celtics, their games against the Pacers were a lot closer. The Celtics averaged 99.3 points per game, while the Pacers averaged 91.8. However, the Celtics looked more like a team in this series than they had all season. That is critical going into a series against Milwaukee.

The Celtics will have to play up to the Bucks, who play at a very high pace. Antetokounmpo may be the superstar of the team, but he’s not the sole reason the Bucks are as good as they are. Fellow All-Star teammate Khris Middleton is averaging 19 points a game, along with the team’s point guard Eric Bledsoe.

On paper Boston has the better team, featuring All-Star talent like Kyrie Irving, Al Horford and Gordon Hayward, along with future stars like Jason Tatum and Jaylen Brown. As long as they play together, they have a very good chance at pulling off the upset.

Even with the Celtics improved play, Milwaukee will defeat Boston in seven games.

Raptors vs 76ers

The Toronto Raptors will face the Philadelphia 76ers in the second round of the NBA Playoffs. Both teams pulled of the “gentleman’s sweep” which means their opponent won the first game of the series, then proceeded to drop the next four games.

The Raptors averaged 106.4 points per game on 48% shooting as a team. Superstar forward Kawhi Leonard averaged 27.8 points, 6.6 rebounds, 3 assists and 1.2 steals per game in his first playoff series since 2017. Potential Most Improved Player of the Year Pascal Siakam averaged 22.6 points and 8.4 rebounds per game.

Aside from their stars, Toronto has a very deep roster with many savvy veteran players, including current and former All-Stars like Kyle Lowry, Marc Gasol, Serge Ibaka, Danny Green and Fred VanVleet.

The Sixers averaged 122.4 points per game on about 50% shooting. They had six players that averaged double figures, although some of their key players had off games.

Superstar center Joel Embiid is currently playing through a leg injury, causing him to miss game three against the Brooklyn Nets. Ben Simmons played terribly in the game-one loss, J.J. Redick shooting from three some nights was hard to watch and Jimmy Butler’s was not much better.

Philadelphia made a lot of great moves during the season through trades, however the chemistry is not where they hoped it would be at this point in the season. It may be a major factor in the series against Toronto.

The Raptors will be tough defensively, and they match up really well against the Sixers. Toronto takes down Philly in six.