BY GUS RIDDER and JACK MAKEHAM
If you’re looking for something to keep you occupied during isolation, basketball has returned to the ESPN Wide World of Sports complex at Orlando’s Disney World, after a five month hiatus.
The first round of playoffs kicked off last week, on August 17, after a series of seeding games to ensure all players were in game shape.
MOJO News delves into a comprehensive analysis of the first round of the eastern conference of the playoffs, which is still underway, to tell you what to expect and who to look out for.
All rounds of the playoffs are a best-of-seven series, with the last three games only being played if needed.
The teams who come out on top after the first round will progress to the semi finals.
Milwaukee Bucks vs Orlando Magic
The Milwaukee Bucks, led by the ‘Greek Freak’ Giannis Antetokounmpo, should suffer no shocks in the first round against a depleted Orlando Magic.
Finishing with the best record this season (56 wins and 17 losses), the Bucks arrived in Orlando as serious championship contenders.
Antetokounmpo, the emerging face of the league and reigning MVP, is once again favourite to take home the award, as well as this season’s Defensive Player of the Year trophy.
He has been masterfully complemented by the continued rise of elite shooting wing, Khris Middleton, and the defensive play of both Brook Lopez and guard Eric Bledsoe.
The Magic finished with an overall winning percentage of just .452 per cent, the lowest to reach the playoffs since the Indiana Pacers in 2011.
To make things worse, the Bucks comfortably won all four regular-season games against the Magic.
As Jonathan Issac, hailed to be an emerging star and potential ‘Giannis Stopper’, suffered a horrific ACL injury at the beginning of August, the Magic’s task is made monumentally more difficult.
Pick: Milwaukee Bucks beat Orlando Magic, 4-0.
Toronto Raptors vs Brooklyn Nets
Last season’s NBA Champions, the Toronto Raptors, begins its championship defence against the injury-riddled Brooklyn Nets in another seemingly one-sided matchup.
Despite the free agency departure of last season’s Finals MVP, Kawhi Leonard, and starting guard Danny Green, the Raptors surprised many by finishing with the second-best record this season (53 wins and 19 losses).
Led by the heart-and-soul of the franchise, veteran point guard Kyle Lowry, and all-star forward Pascal Siakam, Canada’s only NBA team will be looking to repeat its historic feat from last season.
Watch out for talented 3&D wing OG Anunoby, who missed last season’s playoffs due to appendix surgery, but will play a significant role this year.
It is quite unlikely the Nets will be pushovers, as it has exceeded expectations since the NBA restarted despite missing the majority of its key players.
Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving are sitting out due to injuries, adding to the missing Spencer Dinwiddie, Deandre Jordan, Taurean Prince and Wilson Chandler.
Caris LeVert will be a significant scoring threat for the Nets, hoping to continue his phenomenal run-of-form against the Raptors’ defense.
Pick: Toronto Raptors beat Brooklyn Nets, 4-1.
Boston Celtics vs Philadelphia 76ers
Two eastern conference heavyweights, the Boston Celtics and the Philadelphia 76ers, meet in the first round for an enticing matchup.
The 76ers will likely be without star Australian point guard Ben Simmons for the first round due to his injury, leaving dominant big man Joel Embiid with an enormous role to play.
Despite injury concerns himself, Embiid will look to take advantage of the Celtics’ undersized centres Daniel Theis and ‘The Timelord’ Robert Williams.
Jayson Tatum is set to continue his rise to NBA stardom, while Jaylen Brown and Kemba Walker are additional weapons the 76ers might struggle to handle.
The 76ers rookie and rising YouTube phenom Matisse Thybulle will be left to pick up the slack in Simmons’ absence.
This matchup also sees former-Celtics big man Al Horford return to face his old side.
After agreeing to a massive contract with the 76ers in free agency, Horford has been less than impressive this season when paired with Embiid.
Celtics’ depth of talent should prove too strong for a Simmons-less 76ers across a potential seven-game series.
Pick: Boston Celtics beat Philadelphia 76ers, 4-2 (4-3 if Simmons is healthy).
Indiana Pacers vs Miami Heat
It is impossible to ignore the highly anticipated showdown between Indiana Pacer’s TJ Warren and Miami Heat’s Jimmy Butler during the playoffs.
The Heat’s emerging squad, with Most Improved Player candidate Bam Adebayo, and shooters Duncan Robinson and Tyler Herro, will be hungry for its first real taste of playoff success.
Butler’s undeniable tenacity and leadership, coupled with championship coach Eric Spoelstra, should put the Heat ahead despite finishing lower in the standings.
Missing a home-court advantage by finishing fourth seed, the Pacers will hope Warren’s bubble-form continues.
All-star Lithuanian big Domantas Sabonis is still out with injury and with Victor Oladipo’s recent return, the Pacers has a tough task ahead.
Recently re-signed coach, Nate McMillan, will be looking to justify his new contract after fans were seemingly unhappy with the decision.
Pick: Miami Heat beat Indiana Pacers, 4-2.
You can watch the playoffs on ESPN, they are also streamed through Foxtel and Kayo.
The schedule for the matches is available here.