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1) Toronto Raptors vs. 8) Milwaukee Bucks

While the Toronto Raptors continue to cruise toward the best record in the Eastern Conference, the Milwaukee Bucks face a middle-of-the-road schedule for the remainder of the campaign and are still searching for an identity. Since the All-Star break, the deer haven't given too many reasons to be feared, finding themselves on the wrong end of a minus-0.2 net rating.

Those trends aren't reversing themselves.

Toronto has too much star power in the starting five, and the bench continues to function as a wrecking ball. Giannis Antetokounmpo might be able to go off and steal one game from the comfort of his Brewtown arena, but the talent deficit is too significant for Milwaukee to think about an upset. This is the first series in which the Raptors will prove their new-look offense and depth of usable bodies will leave previous postseason perils planted in the past.

Prediction: Toronto in five

2) Boston Celtics vs. 7) Miami Heat

The Boston Celtics have to love the cushion they built up with their scorching start to the season as hurdles present themselves in the form of injuries.

Marcus Smart is trying to return for the playoffs after thumb surgery, but that's far from guaranteed. Kyrie Irving is going under the knife to fix a knee issue, and he's not a lock to feature in the opening-round lineup. Daniel Theis is done for the year. Gordon Hayward remains out with no return predicted in the foreseeable future.

Fortunately for the C's, the Miami Heat are the opponent they should most want to see. With Goran Dragic, Josh Richardson and Hassan Whiteside as the marquee figures, they have the least upside of any bottom-half playoff squad in the East. Even if the aforementioned key presences are still sidelined, Boston could sneak by with a starting five comprised of Terry Rozier, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, Marcus Morris and Al Horford.

Oh, and that Brad Stevens guy is still pacing the sidelines, ready to milk talent out of whichever Boston players populate the parquet floors.



Prediction: Boston in six

3) Philadelphia 76ers vs. 6) Washington Wizards

The Washington Wizards feel like a veritable lock for the No. 6 seed, especially after a disappointing loss to the New York Knicks on Sunday. Regardless of the timing with John Wall's return, they're not going to chase down the Indiana Pacers or any of the other top squads, and the Heat and Bucks don't have the momentum or ease of schedule necessary to close the gap.

Predicting the youthful Philadelphia 76ers at No. 3 is far bolder, but Joel Embiid's goal of a 50-win season remains a legitimate possibility. The Sixers are No. 4 in net rating since the All-Star break (7.9), and they boast the league's easiest remaining schedule. Just a game behind the up-and-down Cleveland Cavaliers at the time of these predictions, they're already that far ahead of schedule.

When these two squads match up against one another, Philly's superiority will be on full display. Washington doesn't have anyone who can corral Embiid and Ben Simmons, especially as Dario Saric, JJ Redick and Robert Covington drag defenders out to the perimeter.

Here's your key stat, though: Washington's net rating, per PBPStats.com, stands at an impressive 9.9 when Wall, Bradley Beal and Otto Porter Jr. share the floor. Philly, however, is at 16.0 when Embiid, Simmons and Redick are playing.

Prediction: Philadelphia in six

4) Cleveland Cavaliers vs. 5) Indiana Pacers

Led by Victor Oladipo during a go-round that should result in a Most Improved Player accolade, the Pacers have enjoyed a magical season. They're a legitimately dangerous squad that deserved to remain in contention for home-court advantage all year.

But the Cavaliers are starting to flip that switch.

"Ignore the Cavs' chances to run right back to the Finals at your peril. Cleveland is averaging a cool 124.3 points per game since Kevin Love's return last Monday," David Aldridge wrote for NBA.com while bumping the northeast Ohio representatives to No. 4 in his latest power rankings. Since that return, the Cavs are undefeated with victories at the expense of the Bucks, Raptors, Phoenix Suns and Brooklyn Nets.

Michael Jordan lost in the opening round three times. LeBron James never has.

That isn't changing.

Prediction: Cleveland in five