Philadelphia - Boston
OK, I know I picked Boston to win the East this season. But that was based on the assumption Hayward and Irving would be playing. Last night, without these two and Jaylen Brown, the Celtics made the red hot 76ers look really bad. The NBA is now a 3-pt FG shooting contest. In Game 1 it was Celtics 17-35 (48%) and 76ers 5-26 (19%). Ball Game. Can Boston sustain this 3-pt excellence and will Philly be this bad again? Doubtful. Going into this series my thinking was Philly is going to the Finals. One game does not a series make, but that was such a bad shooting night you have to think Boston's D had something to do with it. Still, I'm going to guess Philly plays much, much better in Game 2 and wins the series. But I am very skeptical after Game 1.
As an aside, Ainge & Stephens have to be considered the best GM/Coach combo in the NBA. Can you imagine this team WITH Hayward and Irving now? Pretty clearly obvious the 76ers and Celtics are poised to rule the East for many years to come. If I'm LeBron, I'm going to Philly as a free agent.
Cleveland - Toronto
Whoever wins between Toronto and Cleveland is playing for 2nd place in the East. Neither has a snowball's chance in hell of knocking off Boston or Philly, IMO. Might as well be Toronto. They get the moral victory of getting to the conference finals, but I don't trust them AT ALL. Don't even care enough about this series to make a pick.
New Orleans - Golden State
It was going to be tough for Pelicans without Curry. No chance with him. The W's are playing great defense in the playoffs, and they are better offensively. No more than 5 game series, IMO.
Utah - Houston
Was going to be tough for Utah with Rubio. Without him, not seeing it happen. Donovan Mitchell might be able to carry Jazz to one win, but no more than 5 game series here either.
OK, I know I picked Boston to win the East this season. But that was based on the assumption Hayward and Irving would be playing. Last night, without these two and Jaylen Brown, the Celtics made the red hot 76ers look really bad. The NBA is now a 3-pt FG shooting contest. In Game 1 it was Celtics 17-35 (48%) and 76ers 5-26 (19%). Ball Game. Can Boston sustain this 3-pt excellence and will Philly be this bad again? Doubtful. Going into this series my thinking was Philly is going to the Finals. One game does not a series make, but that was such a bad shooting night you have to think Boston's D had something to do with it. Still, I'm going to guess Philly plays much, much better in Game 2 and wins the series. But I am very skeptical after Game 1.
As an aside, Ainge & Stephens have to be considered the best GM/Coach combo in the NBA. Can you imagine this team WITH Hayward and Irving now? Pretty clearly obvious the 76ers and Celtics are poised to rule the East for many years to come. If I'm LeBron, I'm going to Philly as a free agent.
Cleveland - Toronto
Whoever wins between Toronto and Cleveland is playing for 2nd place in the East. Neither has a snowball's chance in hell of knocking off Boston or Philly, IMO. Might as well be Toronto. They get the moral victory of getting to the conference finals, but I don't trust them AT ALL. Don't even care enough about this series to make a pick.
New Orleans - Golden State
It was going to be tough for Pelicans without Curry. No chance with him. The W's are playing great defense in the playoffs, and they are better offensively. No more than 5 game series, IMO.
Utah - Houston
Was going to be tough for Utah with Rubio. Without him, not seeing it happen. Donovan Mitchell might be able to carry Jazz to one win, but no more than 5 game series here either.
