Eastern Conference opening round previews
Milwaukee vs. Detroit
One versus eight, Bucks won season series 4-0
SUN, WED, SAT, MON, WED, FRI, SUN
Bucks in four.
STUFF THAT MADE SENSE AT THE TIME
“The Pistons didn’t have the same length on Monday, the Bucks had too many arms in the right places and sturdy helpers to prop up the project.
“The Bucks still run a Chicago Guy with a huge ass in the rotation, but this year’s outcomes are different because Sterling Brown replaced Jabari Parker’s little puddles, the do-it-all Buck was in Blake Griffin’s beard all evening.” — Dec. 18.
“The Pistons were like ‘hey, we’re just going to hold onto the ball and let you settle into whatever defense you want’ and the Bucks were like ‘great’ and then the Pistons went out and tried a bunch of shots they never really take.” — Jan. 2.
“Giannis draws so much goshdarn attention, on the break or bumping butts around the paint in the half-court.
“It was clearly bashed over Detroit’s head to deny, deny, deny but Antetokounmpo is too good for that, half the reason the Bucks are the best in the East.” — Jan. 30.
BUCKS ROTATION
C: Brook Lopez — indispensable defender and three-point shooter. OK.
PF: Giannis Antetokounmpo — regular season MVP is dinged everywhere.
SF: Sterling Brown — bundle of jump plays two positions but can disrupt four of ‘em.
SG: Khris Middleton — Dandridge-type only here when you need him most.
PG: Eric Bledsoe — only averaged 29 minutes per game, ready to gear into that hill.
George Hill hit over half his shots and averaged 13.8 points per game in April, so it’s time for him to go and hide until May … Tony Snell’s bum ankle will keep him gimpy (but you won’t be able to tell the difference) … Bouncy forward D.J. Wilson isn’t the finisher you’d like but he did park 46 threes in 48 games this season … Ersan Ilyasova is great but he was terrible in April … Pat Connaughton rebounds and dunks and won’t stop moving for you or your stupid tractor … Late-season point guard pickup Tim Frazier has done excellent work (41.7 three-point shooting) in a dozen stretch games as a Buck.
PISTONS ROTATION
C: Andre Drummond — NBA’s top offensive rebounder vs. MKE’s No. 1 ranking on the defensive glass.
PF: Blake Griffin — did it all until there was nothing more he could do.
SF: Bruce Brown — Rookie in the lineup since Christmas, NBA already hates him.
SG: Wayne Ellington — Game-tilting three-point shooter enjoyed a wonderful campaign (which will end within days because Blake is hurt).
PG: Reggie Jackson — Did well to make right with Griffin before boosting Detroit into the postseason.
Luke Kennard’s ability to spread the floor and finish accurately decided a lot of wins for Detroit this season but those games were against, like, Minnesota … Glenn Robinson III was in and out of the rotation all season, up to and including spring … Langston Galloway remains a menace to either side … Ish Smith can absolutely win a playoff quarter for you … Zug Island Pachulia will give good minutes and also maybe still fall on a guy … Thon Maker is still around to reject shots and miss three-pointers.
Detroit can win if the Bucks all shoot left-handed.
Milwaukee can win if it participates in four out of seven games.
Toronto vs. Orlando
Two versus seven, regular season series tied 2-2.
SAT, TUE, FRI, SUN, TUE, THU, SAT
Raptors in six.
STUFF THAT MADE SENSE AT THE TIME
“The Magic played damn well and earned the right to be defeated in a much nicer way.” — Nov. 21.
“Nik Vucevic was every bit as good as his stat line, the short/long man was everywhere, adding an All-Star sensibility to the Amateur Hour that often raged below him.
“Orlando’s effort was contagious. Everyone dug in, but Vucevic owned this night. His was more than a good statline pitched during a strong, team win.” — Dec. 29.
“The Magic aren’t in Toronto’s class and this realization eventually bled out and onto Monday evening.” — April 2.
RAPTOR ROTATION
C: Marc Gasol — Toronto is a different team with him around. Problem is, so was Memphis.
F: Pascal Siakam — Most Improved Player will emerge from this series with bruises.
F: Kawhi Leonard — Supreme scorer, disruptive defender, otherwise he could take it or leave it.
SG: Danny Green — imagine the best year you, personally, could have as an NBA player.
PG: Kyle Lowry — everything took a hit this season, now’s the time to win a Game 6 on the road.
I’d expect the bum-thumbed Patrick McCaw to leap past the sweet shootin’ Jodie Meeks in the playoff head count … Fred VanVleet is down for whatever, his shot is back and his body looks right … Norman Powell hit 48 percent of his threes after the All-Star break, dude can also cut … Sorry to tell you that Jeremy Lin shot 37 percent as a Raptor in 23 games … Serge Ibaka enjoyed his best season in years, a credit to good diet and strong familial relations with members of your traveling team.
MAGIC ROTATION
C: Nikola Vucevic — ready to pound his way into Canada’s cordial bosom.
F: Aaron Gordon — disappears a bunch but like nobody gets angry?
F: Jonathan Isaac — is only 21 but plays much younger.
SG: Evan Fournier — bottled up a lot of wins for Orlando with his batshit play.
PG: D.J. Augustin — the starting point guard on a playoff team (that’s gonna be on TV).
Khem Birch takes strange cuts and collects passes like he’s Ronnie Harmon out there, it’s intoxicating and you’ll love it … Michael Carter-Williams plays, they give him the ball and everything, it’s more or less what you remember (but in a crappier uniform) … Rather ready for action is Wes Iwundu, he’s going to bump into scores and you’re going to dig it … Jerian Grant hasn’t been around much recently … Terrence Ross is as superb as bench scorers come, his green light is a necessity.
Orlando can win if Vucevic fouls everyone out.
Toronto can win if its movement continues in the face of what ain’t the regular season anymore.
Philadelphia vs. Brooklyn
Three versus six, season series tied 2-2.
SAT, MON, THU, SAT, TUE, THU, SAT
Sixers in seven.
STUFF THAT MADE SENSE AT THE TIME
“The Nets were gonna win this game — and by three — no matter who you put in front of them.
“Brooklyn played desperate basketball, the team rolled into Philly off two impressive wins and Kenny Atkinson had the club engaged, the spin couldn’t stop now.” — Dec. 13.
76ERS ROTATION
C: Joel Embiid — dominated the Nets this season, ran all over them, any good health could push Philly toward a sweep.
PF: Tobias Harris — needs to ensure zero instances of dead air in the broadcast.
SF: Jimmy Butler — Brett Brown now happily warms to Jimmy’s late-game whims.
SG: J.J. Redick — It’s now or never for this Tar Heel legend.
PG: Ben Simmons — doesn’t watch much college basketball either, and has to earn free throws alongside Embiid. Don’t care how it looks, don’t care how he shoots it. The fouls have to pile up.
Amir Johnson and Greg Monroe actually played a bit in April, sometimes they played alongside each other, it sure was something … James Ennis has a badly bruised thigh from repeatedly bouncing the ball off it and may not be available for this series … Boban Marjanovic already delivered one classic against the Nets this spring … T.J. McConnell cannot sympathy sneeze up the ball around Brooklyn … Mike Scott is here to not rebound and make 41 percent of his three-pointers … We have to include him because Furkan Korkmaz had his best game of the year against the Nets back in December … Zhaire Smith hit 6-16 threes as a recent rated rookie but he’s so tiny.
NETS ROTATION
C: Jarrett Allen — remarkable ascension for this shot-swatting 20-year old.
PF: Rodions Kurucs — Nets are 10-7 since he entered the starting lineup for good.
SF: DeMarre Carroll — all he does is guard everyone and sneak in annoying scores.
SG: Joe Harris — real kickass basketball player.
PG: D’Angelo Russell — will still take D’Angelo Russell Shots, but you won’t lose him for an entire game.
Caris LeVert is getting to the line more often, he shot nearly 42 percent from deep in April and made half his shots overall. It’s not all the way back, but this is as close as you’ll get in 2018-19 … The Nets are nearly as reliant on Spencer Dinwiddie as they used to be, but he can still turn a third quarter for you … Rondae Hollis-Jefferson goofs and can’t shoot, Nets like to find him on the break … Ed Davis did exceptional work off the bench this season for Brooklyn … Kenny Atkinson gave Shabazz Napier a peek or two late in the regular run, it would be nice to see him skirt ahead in the rotation … Traveon Graham played OK down the stretch, nothing exceptional, he could see time against Jimmy Butler … Jared Dudley still plays and plays well, Brooklyn would stick one of Dudley in every corner if it could.
Brooklyn can win if it hangs onto the ball. Nothing’s more important.
Philadelphia can win if Ben Simmons follows on Joel Embiid’s lead, rendering himself unguardable at whatever the hell position it is that Ben plays.
Boston vs. Indiana
Four versus five, Celtics took season series 3-1
SUN, WED, FRI, SUN, WED, FRI, SUN
Celtics in seven.
STUFF THAT MADE SENSE AT THE TIME
“The Celtics passed without thinking and executed without reflex, it was good to see the home team relax a bit before simply working out what was in front of them.” — Jan. 10.
“Irving ended his night with 30 but none of the counting stats felt relevant, we got a playoff game on Friday night but didn’t realize it until Indiana was asked to leave the building.
“Myles Turner approximated Horford’s mix of the sensible and potent, Myles is calmer on three-pointers these days and his defense remains out of this world.” — March 30.
CELTICS ROTATION
C: Aron Baynes — clarity will be key, he has to make himself more than a mound.
PF: Al Horford — won’t have long to wind up, Horford has to turn a star in April.
SF: Jaylen Brown — ran with the starters in practice, knows where to be.
SG: Jayson Tatum — too often makes life tougher on himself with those … shots.
PG: Kyrie Irving — understands the value of a first quarter flourish.
The idea that Playoff Terry Rozier could return in full and bountiful form, I tell ya, it ain’t bad. The Celtics need someone to take chances, Marcus Smart’s style remains inimitable yet Rozier has room to charm in Smart’s absence … Daniel Theis is German for “Danny Tartabull” … Brad Wanamaker’s already whipped up on the Pacers this month, he could see minutes as Boston circles the wagons … If Robert Williams plays, you will be pleased … Marcus Morris has to mind his shots in this series, he can’t be lulled into pulling-up just because he’s bored … Gordon Hayward can help find good looks for Morris, but he’ll have to settle himself at home.
PACERS ROTATION
C: Myles Turner — developing passion for taking plus nailing shots no one else wants.
PF: Thaddeus Young — world’s best NBA player set to face his toughest fortnight.
SF: Bojan Bogdanovic — tired late, but not before looking like an All-Star midseason.
SG: Wesley “Matthews — from Heaven,” I believe, is how the phrase goes.
PG: Darren Collison — back from a groin strain to get in Kyrie’s way.
It says here that Tyreke Evans shot 32.6 in his one and only playoff series, back in 2015, but I’m sure his fortunes from the field will change now that Tyreke’s a Pacer … Cory Joseph is around to sop up minutes, ire … Domantas Sabonis never starts and he often sits out the end of contests but this usually comes after the parts of the game where he walks all over the other team … T.J. Leaf might dunk … The Pacers run forward (with the breeze behind him) Doug McDermott at guard from time to time, it’s hilarious … Aaron Holiday can break down a defense and he hit 14-30 threes in March/April, this dude plays … Kyle O’Quinn has never played in the postseason, I hope this changes within days.
Boston can win if, and only if, through its existing knowledge of these Pacers the Celtics develop further understanding of themselves.
Indiana can win if it lives on the offensive glass and develops free throw opportunities that it shouldn’t ‘ave earned.
EVERY HOME SHOULD HAVE ONE
Richard Tee with the key, key hook.
The playoffs are here and I need gas money to Milwaukee.
Behind the Boxscores over and over, the Never Too Much podcast delivered within most episodes plus those increasing This Date In Playoff History callbacks. New round hits, new previews drop.
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