(Picture above courtesy of The Score)

Schedule:

Game 1: Sunday, April 30 at 1 pm EST at TD Garden on ABC

Game 2: Tuesday, May 2 at 8 pm EST at TD Garden on TNT

Game 3: Thursday, May 4 at 8 pm EST at Verizon Center on ESPN

Game 4: Sunday, May 7 at 6:30 pm EST at Verizon Center on TNT

Game 5: Wednesday, May 10 at TBD at TD Garden on TNT*

Game 6: Friday, May 12 at TBD at Verizon Center on ESPN*

Game 7: Monday, May 15 at 9 pm EST at TD Garden on TNT*

*If Necessary

What To Watch For:

THE FUNERAL

This refers to the Wizards-Celtics “funeral” game earlier this season that Washington won 123-108. The Wizards showed up to the game wearing all black and when asked about what they were wearing, John Wall called it a Celtics “funeral.” These two teams do not like each other and have quietly become one of the NBA’s most underrated rivalries. They split the season series 2-2 and got in several scuffles, most notably one that started after Jae Crowder poked Wall’s nose, which led to the “funeral” game. I expect this series to be very intense and would not be surprised if Washington holds another funeral if they have the chance to eliminate Boston.

POINT GUARD MATCHUP

This series will feature a matchup of arguably the two best point guards in the Eastern Conference, John Wall vs. Isaiah Thomas. They are the two best players in this series with Wall averaging 23.1 points and 10.7 assists per game and the diminutive Thomas finishing third in the NBA scoring 28.9 points per game. The one major problem that Thomas has is that he is an absolutely awful defender, and the Celtics will have trouble hiding him because he will most likely have to guard either Wall or Beal, who will both definitely take advantage of the matchup. The winner of this series will likely depend on who wins the point guard battle.

WILL BEAL GET HIS THREE POINT STROKE BACK?

Bradley Beal had a great series against Atlanta, averaging 25.8 points per game, however their was one glaring concern that everyone could see: he struggled mightily from beyond the arc. He shot 26.4% from three on 8.8 attempts per game, and many of these attempts were good shots that he knocked down during the regular season. The Wizards were able to beat the Hawks without Beal’s three point stroke, but if they want to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals and beyond, they need Beal to regain his stroke.

Series Prediction:

Wizards in 7

Game 1 Preview:

General Game Information:

Where: TD Garden in Boston Massachusetts

When: Sunday, April 30 at 1 pm EST

Where to Watch: ABC

Injuries:

Wizards: Ian Mahinmi – out (calf)

Celtics: none

Prediction:

Wall and Beal pick up from where they left off in Game 6 against Atlanta and combine for over 60 points, the teams get into at least one brief scuffle, and Washington steals Game 1 on the Celtics’ home floor. Wizards 118 – Celtics 114

**All stats are via Basketball Reference

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