After just over two weeks of bubble games, the NBA playoffs begin Monday with their classic seven-game series format. As we know the four Eastern Conference matchups, the Portland Trail Blazers and Memphis Grizzlies have the opportunity to claim the eighth seed in the Western Conference.
If the blazers, eighth seeds, win a game, they will advance to the first circular for a game opposite to the Los Angeles Lakers. The grizzlies, the ninth seed, want two wins to claim the last spot in the playoffs.
Based on what is already written in stone, the clashes will feature stars in front of their former groups and individual battles that will entertain spectators.
As players go into postseason mode, we review the first-round games with predictions for the series, adding the entry tournament between the Blazers and the Grizzlies.
First, take a look at the championship odds for the 17 vying for the 2019-20 NBA title, courtesy of Caesars Casino and Sportsbook.
NBA title probabilities
Los Angeles Lakers: $200 (bet $100 to win $200)
Milwaukee Bucks: $300
Los Angeles Clippers: $300
Boston Celtics: $1,100
Toronto Raptors: $1,100
Houston Rockets: $1,200
Denver Nuggets: $2000
Portland Trail Blazers: $3000
Miami Heat: $3500
Oklahoma City Thunder: $3500
Dallas Mavericks: $4000
Philadelphia 76ers: $5,000
Utah Jazz: $7,500
Indiana Pacers: $15,000
Orlando Magic: $50,000
Brooklyn networks: 100,000 euros
Memphis Grizzlies: $100,000
Eastern Conference
No. 1 Milwaukee Bucks vs. No. Orlando Magic
Giannis Antetokounmpo made a one-game suspension and missed Thursday’s game against the Grizzlies, and will have compatibility for the first game.
The Milwaukee Bucks fought in the bubble, with a 3-5 range, winning The No. 1 seed with a 130-116 victory over the Miami Heat a week ago. This club had nothing to play yet boost as the playoffs approached. Now, with the intensity increased, we will see the team that performed to maximum functionality earlier in the year.
The Orlando Magic wants a healthy list to make this turmoil a success. Aaron Gordon (hamstring), Evan Fournier (not COVID) and Michael Carter-Williams (foot) missed the last games. Terrence Ross had to be quarantined when he returned to the bubble, according to Yahoo Sports’ Chris Haynes.
Even if all four players are suitable for this series, Orlando won’t fit with the Bucks. Antetokounmpo will return from a rejuvenated suspension and able to ride the Magic as his team did in the normal season (4-0).
The Bucks have the league defensive score (102.9). They will close a team that does not have a player who averages at least 20 consistent problems with the game. This series ends with a one-sided sweep.
Prediction: Bucks at 4
No. 2 Toronto Raptors vs. No. No. 7 Brooklyn Nets
Brooklyn Nets acting head coach Jacque Vaughn deserves some credit for the team’s functionality without its two most sensitive scorers. Under his leadership, the club has a 7-3 record and has nearly sent the Blazers’ home for the off-season.
Kyrie Irving (shoulder) and Kevin Durant (Achilles) did not arrive with the Nets at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando. In late June, Spencer Dinwiddie tested positive for COVID-19 and the team’s doctors decided to keep it out of action, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium.
The Nets did their thing with Caris LeVert as the top scorer for the bubble, with an average of 25 consistent game-consistent issues. In a 119-116 win over the Bucks, senior veteran Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot scored 26 points.
The Brooklyn bubble will end with a four-game sweep. The Toronto Raptors have the second-best defensive score (104.9). Debug champions have several layers of intensity and healthy star players, Pascal Siakam and Kyle Lowry.
The Nets will race for battle, but the Raptors will win the series by losing.
Prediction: Raptors in 4
No Boston Celtics vs. No 6 Philadelphia 76ers
The Philadelphia 76ers may not have Ben Simmons, who underwent surgery to remove a loose frame in his knee, through Kyle Neubeck of Philly Voice.
Still, the Boston Celtics face the Sixers’ most sensible scorer, Joel Embiid, who was a little scared by a hand injury on Wednesday. X-rays came back negative. He scored 14 problems in 23 minutes against Friday’s Houston Rockets.
Philadelphia won the season series against Boston (3-1) with Simmons averaging 18.3 points in those competitions. Striker Al Horford has returned to the starting line-up in 4 of the last five exits. As a talented pin capable of scoring in the advantage zone, it can emulate some of Simmons’ abilities, the 34-year-old has a lot of wear and tear in his thirteenth year.
The Celtics have two 24-year-old emerging players, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, along with four-time All-Star Kemba Walker. Gordon Hayward scored effectively, converting 50% of his shooting attempts this season.
Without the duration and defense of Simmons, Tatum, Brown and Hayward will be the sidelines. Matisse Thybulle can provide defensive energy. On the other hand, she is a rookie who is not used to the playoffs and has played only 19.8 minutes consistent with this year’s departure.
Embiid will put the Sixers on his back for a few games, but may not defeat Tatum, Brown, Hayward and Walker. Aside from Tobias Harris, Philadelphia doesn’t have the consistent scorers to stay with Boston. Starting 43% of the ground, Josh Richardson didn’t turn out to be an effective detail of the attack.
Philadelphia took Boston to six games, the Celtics winning a winning winning streak of games.
Prediction: Celtics in 6
Four Indiana Pacers vs. Five Miami Heat
In four of the six rating games, The Indiana Pacers ahead of T.J. Warren scored at least 32 points. He entered the series fighting plantar fasciitis, through J. Michael of the Indianapolis Star.
Heat and Pacers have faced each other in two of their last three regular-season games. Warren arrived here for the first start and switched in just five of 14 shooting attempts in a 114-92 loss.
Victor Oladipo only shoots 40% of the field. After surgery on his quadriceps, the Double All-Star still doesn’t have the elevator in his wake. He also fired 39% of his career from the court during the normal season.
During the 2018-19 campaign, Malcolm Brogdon switched to approximately 51% of his cash purpose attempts. Get 44% off the ground this season.
Domantas Sabonis has come out of the bubble and is being for plantar fasciitis.
Meanwhile, the Heat has several players who can contribute to their offensive bursts. Tyler Herro and Duncan Robinson have led the way since the NBA reboot, a who averaged 17.3 and 17 exit-consistent issues, respectively, before the end of the season. They also knocked down 5.9 combined triples consistent with the game.
With those two on the perimeter, Bam Adebayo and Jimmy Butler attacked the painting. He has averaged 7.5 free kicks (tied for seventh place) since the season resumed on July 30.
Myles Turner’s modest average of 12.1 problems consistent with the game is enough to beat the Heat with Warren potentially inconsistent due to a less effective foot injury than last year and no Sabonis for a constant indeterminate period.
Prediction: Heat at 6
Western Conference
No. 1 for Los Angeles Lakers vs. No. No. Portland Trail Blazers
The Portland Trail Blazers secured the eighth seed with a win over the Brooklyn Nets on Thursday. They will face the Memphis Grizzlies in an entry tournament for last place in the Western playoffs.
On Thursday, the Grizzlies beat the Bucks, who did not count on Antetokounmpo due to a Suspension from the Washington Wizards ahead of Moritz Wagner. Still, Memphis would probably not have the firepower to win back-to-back games against Damian Lillard, who has averaged 51.3 problems in his last three outings. Jaren Jackson Jr. broke his meniscus, a blow to the Grizzlies’ offense.
Looking ahead, Lillard’s burst of annotations can challenge the Los Angeles Lakers in stages. Gary Trent Jr. had an impact, converting 42% of his shots from three-point territory. At age 35, Carmelo Anthony showed that he can still contribute, a.d. 15.4 points and 6.3 rebounds in the season.
On the other hand, the Blazers would probably not have CJ McCollum to the fullest of their power. He’s been playing with his back fractured since August 6. In the last three games, the seventh-year goalkeeper has shot only 35% off the field.
Despite Trent’s contributions and the rebirth of Anthony’s career in Portland, Lillard cannot beat the Lakers with McCollum’s injury and the effect it has on his game. Second, the Blazers are tied for 27th defensively (114.8). They probably wouldn’t have an answer for LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
Prediction: Lakers at 4
No. 2 Los Angeles Clippers vs. No. 7 Dallas Mavericks
This series deserves to bring a lot of spark. The Los Angeles Clippers have established stars such as Kawhi Leonard and Paul George. The Dallas Mavericks’ offense features 2018-19 rookie Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis, known as the Unicorn for his combination of 7’3″ scorer and defender skills.
Despite the Mavericks’ intriguing young talent, they scored 3-5 in the standings, one for the Clippers 126-111. Los Angeles finished a sweep of the season series 3-0.
Clippers can simply enter this game at full power. Montrezl Harrell is expected to transparent the quarantine protocol for Monday’s game, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and Ohm Youngmisuk. According to Jovan Buha of The Athletic, head coach Doc Rivers remains “optimistic” that escorts Patrick Beverley and Landry Shamet will play in the first game.
We will see two groups that rank among the five most sensitive for scores to compete in a handful of contests. The result of the series will reflect the closed battles in individual games, but Clippers vs. Mavericks will entertain the spectators.
Prediction: Clippers at 5
Denver Nuggets vs. Denver No. 6 Utah Jazz
There is some uncertainty in this adjustment that deserves to be mentioned.
The eaves Will Barton (knee) and guard Gary Harris (hip) had no compatibility for the Denver Nuggets in the bubble. Even if they were available for the first round, head coach Mike Malone would bring them back to the rotation, according to Mike Singer of the Denver Post.
“If and when they are allowed to play, we will slowly reinstate them, however, it is clear that we are very involved in this Orlando bubble. Three scrums tonight will be our seventh qualifying game and the playoffs will start on Monday. Allowed to play, we will review to bring them back there and check for them to return to rotation.”
Nuggets rookie Michael Porter Jr.is factor X. In the eight-game standings he averaged 22 points, 8.6 rebounds and 2.7 triples in the most sensible of the team. The 22-year-old will have his production highlight if Barton and Harris don’t get back in action.
Utah’s defense can potentially slow down the Nuggets if Malone can’t be positioned to stretch the ground. Rudy Gobert, a two-time defensive player of the year, will challenge Denver in the painting.
The Jazz went 3-5 in the standings, and its back area useless offensively. Guards Mike Conley and Donovan Mitchell fired 43.2 and 39.3% of the field, respectively, into the bubble. The first changed 41% of his attempts for the season.
Utah’s defense will keep the scores tight, but that’s not enough for the Jazz to win the series. Porter grows before our eyes as something different, whether Harris and Barton play or not.
Prediction: Nuggets at 7
Four Houston Rockets vs. No. Five Oklahoma City Thunder
We probably won’t see Russell Westbrook in this series.
According to Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle, the Rockets expect Westbrook to waste time with a quadriceps bloating.
“While the Rockets have only set a calendar when comparing Russell Westbrook’s tense quadriceps next time, he’s expected to be out for next week’s first playoff games and maybe more, said someone familiar with the team. Thursday, ” wrote Feigen.
Without Westbrook, Robert Covington and Eric Gordon, who returned from a sprained ankle on Wednesday, are expected to replace the offensive side. Still, this series comes down to James Harden and Chris Paul. Which star player leads his team to victory?
In fact, Harden can handle volume accumulation without Westbrook. He scored forty-five tracks opposed to the Pacers on Wednesday as an individual showcase, but could not lose. Gordon has his legs under him for this series.
Houston wants everything they want in front of an unexpected Thunder team that has some intensity with rookie Darius Bazley contributing from the bench. After exiting the bubble, Dennis Schroder can simply clear his quarantine to play and tap the unit for now as well.
Harden will do a show. Assuming the league’s top scorer (34.3 game-consistent issues) continues to bring his game A, Houston escapes in a seven-game series with a slight that Westbrook will play in some games.
Prediction: rockets in 7
Advanced statistics through NBA.com and basketball-reference.com.
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