2018 Eastern Conference Playoff Prognostication


*Eastern Conference (As of April 11th, 2018)


* 1. Toronto Raptors
* 2. Boston Celtics
* 3. Philadelphia 76ers
* 4. Cleveland Cavaliers
* 5 Indiana Pacers
* 6. Milwaukee Bucks
* 7. Miami Heat
* 8 Washington Wizards




This season has been marked by major injuries league wide. Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward are out for the playoffs. Kevin love missed a lot of time for Cleveland as has John Wall for the Wizards. The season point differential between number 2 Boston and 8 Washington for the year is a 2.8 points per game gap. These teams are all pretty close and lot of these series could go either way.
[image:E86FC7AB-D758-48C4-A7A6-2AD8CA0E679A-3721-000027E9CAA153EC/1200px-Toronto_Raptors_logo.png]


*Toronto*. The Raptors are having a great season and it sort of felt like they finally waited out Cleveland to take that next step and reach the finals. Then the infamousl scored 79 at halftime and still lost to the Cavs game happened!


The team has made changes, they are shooting the three at a high rate this year, Demar Derozen has established himself as the clear number 1 option(no more Lowry ball), and they are playing a more egalitarian style of basketball. They may reach the Eastern conference finals but they won’t go any further beyond that.
[Toronto Can’t overcome Cleveland](http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/2...arry-drew-says)


---
[image:0FCDEA22-C681-4460-B385-26964B957BCB-3721-000028BBE6355FBF/Unknown.jpg]




*Boston*


If the Spurs do trade Kawhi Leonard, I hope they took a lesson from the Net’s and Sixers, do not trade with Danny Ainge.


Kyrie is out, Hayward is out. Everybody knows Brad Stevens will have his guys playing hard but they could be a first round knock out and most definitely a second round knock out. At the very least Jason Tatum and Jaylen Brown will get some seasoning in the playoffs which will prepare them for the 2019 Finals run.


Gordon Sleep.


[file6576996-2E95-4CF2-B269-A206EE7B255E-3721-000029051F1A5248/Gordon Hayward Scary İnjury Foot Broke Leg.mp4]


---


[image:E3205F14-D163-4DA7-88F3-2BF57A5B6F69-3721-0000296BA198408A/images embid.jpg]




*Sixers*


Embiid what is there to say? Sixers will go as far as his health allows them to go. The Sixers have a nice mix of veterans, role players and extremely talented youth. I don’t believe their quite ready for a deep run as they need to learn some playoff lessons. However, there will be times when Embiid and Simmons will be the best players on the floor and stars win big games. I have them making it to at least the second round, it would be shocking if they got knocked out in the first. That is unless this guy shows up….


[file:7AF81E68-4E56-49C4-84E3-4EF807168EC6-3721-000029D31A464D25/Markelle Fultzs shot still looks pretty broken Jalen & Jacoby ESPN.mp4]


I’m weak!!!!! Watching this video, makes me weaker than when I watch Paul Sr. and Jr. get into shouting matches on American chopper.


[file:8AC073E9-AEDC-4C4C-86B7-15472BD2CDB3-3721-00002A52C193D44C/American Chopper Teutul Teussul #3 Youve got an awfully nice house for what I did!.mp4]


---




[image:A5C12C0F-1F20-43A9-A228-3F30A35914CC-3721-00002A793F45FA36/zones.jpg]


*Cleveland (Lebron)*


The man is going for his 8th straight finals. He has faced Dirk, Durant, Harden, Westbrook, Leonard, Ginobili, Duncan, Parker, Curry, Thompson and Igoudala. Draymond’s omission not a mistake, all star really?. King James will return to the NBA finals. This video says it all.


[file:94056680-E5EA-4ED4-8B1C-A769487B5000-3721-00002AFDEC23C261/Game of Zones - S4E7 Feast of the East.mp4]


---


[image:BF09E7B6-8BC9-4187-9A30-F122409E7115-3721-00002B348C90A504/lance-stephenson.jpg]




*Indiana*


Lance Stephenson is a Pacer? Victor Oladipo will win the most improved player award. This really looks bad for Russell Westbrook, does anybody get better when playing with him? I can’t even blame the serpent for high tailing it to Golden State, na still can. These guys have had a great season but as it stands now they will play Cleveland in the first round and get bounced in 4.




---


[image:AB39DF36-F25B-4B1E-8FD9-BBF098FAA6FD-3721-00002B9AC9F10A74/new deer.jpg] [image:553EC670-CE7D-415E-8F3E-0A83542B599D-3721-00002B9DD6D654D7/nice deer.png]


*Milwaukee*


Which Bucks team is going to show up? Bambi or a real Buck They have been inconsistent all year. As it stands they face the Sixers in the opening round and that is a basketball junkies dream. Giannis and Simmons what a match up, two dudes over 6 “10” who can run the point. Both will be top 5 players for the next decade. This could be the first battle of many more to come. Sixers have Embiid who is up for defensive player of the year award and provides rim protection, Giannis will need to hit more jumpers than usual. Also it will be interesting to see if they Sixers put Simmons on him in crunch time as Simmons is already proving to be an elite defender. Sixers advance. Bucks go home.


---


[image:4F013C5C-500D-4375-8311-89B4A3ABC990-3721-00002C6678B105D8/Riley_Pat_mia_130331.jpeg]


*Miami*


These guys are well coached and always play hard. Miami has the best physical conditioning program in the league. Nobody likes to face them or the Celtics. This is my upset pick. Heat advance to the second round and the Celtics suffer and early exit. The Celtics don’t have anybody left who averages over 15 points per game and asking Tatum to carry the scoring load in the playoffs is too much to ask for 20 year old.


Here is a look at their culture and conditioning.


[Heat workouts ](http://hoopshype.com/2017/04/27/a-be...tense-culture/)


---


[image:7CC8C69A-1E83-464E-9C47-5CD947EEA339-3721-00002CD21BDF3A50/hawks-wizards-basketball-6cf6b81dcf3cc847.jpg]




*Washington*


John Wall is back and playing well. It is quite unfair that the Raptors need to face this team in the first round. This is not an 8th seed team. I think the Wizards will push them to 7 but the Raptors will advance. If they don’t advance they need to break up that team.


---
*Summary*


* Toronto Philadelphia Cleveland and Miami advance to the /Second round/


* Toronto beats Miami to go to the /Eastern/ /Conference Finals/

* Cleveland beats Philadelphia to go to the /Eastern/ /Conference Finals/

* Cleveland Defeats Toronto to go to the /NBA Finals/