NBA East playoff preview capsules: Celtics-Magic, Knicks-Pistons, Pacers-Bucks
Capsules on the Eastern Conference first-round series No Boston Celtics - vs No Orlando Magic - Season series Magic - Story line For starters there s the obvious clash of styles The Celtics made more -pointers and attempted more -pointers this season than any squad in NBA history The Magic led the league in terms of fewest -pointers made and -pointers allowed this season Do not expect a series filled with - shootouts the Magic gave up the fewest points in the NBA the Celtics gave up the second-fewest The season series was odd Orlando won a close contest Dec and enjoyed a blowout win in the final week of the regular season when Boston was sitting everyone Key matchup Jayson Tatum vs Paolo Banchero The former Duke forwards are good friends that won t matter for the next week or two Tatum insists and it s easy to see particular similarities in the way they play If Banchero is making s Orlando is much tougher to beat Tatum only is ninth among working players in playoff scoring Prediction Celtics in No New York Knicks - vs No Detroit Pistons - Season series Pistons - Story line The Pistons reward for one of the best turnarounds from one season to the next in NBA history is a trip to Madison Square Garden to begin a their first playoff series since Detroit improved by wins after going - in - Now they have a chance to end the longest losing streak in postseason history as the Pistons dropped straight games since their last preeminence in the Eastern Conference finals The Knicks meanwhile will reach the second round for the third straight season if they win this series Key matchup Jalen Brunson vs Cade Cunningham The All-Star point guards are both masters at playing at their own pace The difference is the Knicks boast the one who is a proven postseason performer as last year Brunson became the first athlete since Michael Jordan to have four straight -point games in the postseason Prediction Knicks in No Indiana Pacers - vs No Milwaukee Bucks - Season series Bucks - Story line A rematch of a first-round series from a year ago when the Pacers knocked off a No -seeded Bucks association that was hobbled to begin their run to the Eastern Conference finals Indiana followed that up by winning games for the first time since - also the last time the Pacers opened a playoff series in Indianapolis Still the Bucks feel good about where they re at after winning their final eight games of the regular season and clearing Damian Lillard for full basketball activity and a anticipated return during this series after he missed the last month with deep vein thrombosis in his right calf Key matchup Pascal Siakam vs Giannis Antetokounmpo Siakam was Indiana s most of effective participant against Milwaukee during the regular season averaging points on shooting Antetokounmpo averaged points rebounds and assists against the Pacers not far from his season averages of points rebounds and assists which all placed in the top of the league Prediction Bucks in AP NBA https apnews com NBA Source