The Eastern Conference’s postseason picture is much clearer after Friday night’s games, though we’ll still have to wait until next week’s play-in tournament to determine who will emerge as the Nos. 7 and 8 seeds.
The top six seeds are now set after Brooklyn defeated Orlando:
- Milwaukee Bucks
- Boston Celtics
- Philadelphia 76ers
- Cleveland Cavaliers
- New York Knicks
- Brooklyn Nets
Two first-round playoff matchups are finalized: Philadelphia will face Brooklyn, and Cleveland will face New York.
As for the bottom end of the postseason picture, Toronto lost to Boston tonight, which means the play-in tournament has been finalized for the East (Twitter link via Mark Medina of NBA.com).
- No. 7 Heat will host No. 8 Hawks on April 11 — the winner advances as the No. 7 seed to face Boston.
- No. 9 Raptors will host No. 10 Bulls on April 12 — the winner advances to face the loser of Miami vs. Atlanta.
- Loser of the Heat/Hawks matchup plays the winner of the Raptors/Bulls on April 14 — the winner advances as the No. 8 seed to face Milwaukee.
The first round starts on April 15, according to the NBA. The Bucks have locked up the best record in the league and will have home court advantage throughout the playoffs.
Raptors and Heat should be moving on…
The Bulls are a bit too disjointed and the Hawks are just a mess with Trae so they are easy targets…
Raptors are more consistent but Bulls to me have a higher ceiling, at least offensively, when they’re cooking, which they may very well be. Then again, disjointed, inconsistent, it’s really anyone’s guess.
Just don’t tell Siakam if you’re putting any money on the outcome…
Yeah the Bulls just never know when to actually show up for a game…
When they do they give their front office enough reasons to keep them together… It’s just not often enough to warrant it at this point…
Worst thing to ever happen to the NBA . Fire silver before he destroys it all
How about…
No…
Heat and Bulls will move on. Then the second rd will be Bucks, Heat Philly and Cleveland
Don’t forget our bet
Play-in gms should be very competitive imo. It’s only one gm. So all have a shot.
I see Heat and Bulls moving on.
Seven gm series. Is a whole other story.
Bulls might get swept by Bucks.
I see Heat vs Celtics going 7. Heat have a shot here.
Knicks three #1 picks make history ….
Obi – 32 pts
Grimes – 36 pts
Quickley – 39 pts
This is what REBUILDING looks like ……
For the Clowns, the Geniuses, the Haters
Bring on the Cavs lols ……… hihihohofuall
Heat probably clutch up and lock in for 1 game and beat the raptors.
Hawks/Bulls who cares, Raptors beat either side.
Hawks been so inconsistent, lock up Trae with OG then it good night, Capela barely plays 30 minutes and averages like 13-10 so Raptors can play their small ball line ups and kill them.
If it’s the Bulls, have Vuce but aside from him continue to play guards in the forward spots. It would basically be a bunch of 6’5 guys versus a bunch of 6’9 guys. They wouldn’t have any answer for OG Scottie and Siakim.
In which case the Bucks get the Raptors, I think the raptors could take a game or possible 2. Nick nurse does know how to coach, this team has playoff history and actually match up rather well. They got guys like OG and Siakim they can throw at Giannas and slow him down, FVV and GTJ play some defence occasionally and occasionally get hot too.
The next match would be Boston Miami, again I could see Miami taking a game or 2. Miami slaps has a history of going to the playoffs and being a good side. Jimmy Butler can put this team on his shoulders. The lack of a natural PF shouldn’t be a huge issue cause they can put Jimmy on Tatum and play small off that. Bam vs Rob would be a good match up. However in the end I think Boston has too much depth and is to good for the Heat.
Either way as a Sixers fan I’d be happy if both the both seeds drop a couple games. Be that little bit more tired and worn out for us. We have got Brooklyn, they have some decent guys Dinwiddie Bridges Johnson but I don’t see us having any issues. Embiid locks up the paint, Tucker will apply the clamps on someone, good luck for Claxton stopping Embiid. Plus we have the depth Maxey McDaniels Niang etc. Only thing will be taking no possessions off which means everyone on the court needs to be locked in. I don’t want to see no easy buckets for Seth Curry from 3.
Next round we have the Celtics or Heat, that’s going to be the best series these playoffs