The 2020 NBA Playoffs begin on Monday, Aug. 17.
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MORE: Complete first round schedule
Find previews for each of the eight first round series below:
Eastern Conference | Western Conference
Eastern Conference
No. 1 Milwaukee Bucks vs. No. 8 Orlando Magic
It takes four series wins to win an NBA title, so for Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks, their first-round series against the Magic is like the first quarter. I'm fully expecting this team to try to set the tone early, similar to how they did last year in a dominant sweep of the Detroit Pistons.
Giannis will have it on his mind early and often to make a statement throughout the postseason, and it begins with the Magic.
Prediction: Bucks in 4
– Gilbert McGregor (@GMcGregor21)
No. 2 Toronto Raptors vs. No. 7 Brooklyn Nets
The Nets have been able to keep their head above water so far in the season restart, but they face a big test in the defending champion Raptors.
The Raptors enter the playoffs at full strength after dealing with their own injuries during the regular season and boast the league's second-best defence. They will be looking to slow down Caris LeVert, Joe Harris and Jarrett Allen, who have been the key to Brooklyn's success in the bubble.
Prediction: Raptors in 5
– Scott Rafferty (@crabdribbles)
No. 3 Boston Celtics vs. No. 6 Philadelphia 76ers
Joel Embiid will be guarded by either Enes Kanter or Daniel Theis, two matchups he should easily dominate, but expect the Celtics to send plenty of help and double teams in his direction to get the ball out of his hands and limit his rhythm.
In the bubble, the All-Star big man showed signs of improvement passing out of double teams to find shooters, while still being able to use his size and skill around the basket to put up big numbers, averaging 30.0 points, 13.5 rebounds and 3.3 assists in their first four seeding games.
Prediction: Celtics in 6
– Benyam Kidane (@benyamkidane)
No. 4 Miami Heat vs. No. 5 Indiana Pacers
What's interesting about the Pacers is that they've had key players in their rotation miss significant time during the season with injuries, Malcolm Brogdon, Myles Turner and Victor Oladipo being the most prominent.
Indiana's bench has had plenty of opportunities to step up, but how will its second unit hold up against a far healthier Heat squad? They'll need Aaron Holiday to continue his strong play from the seeding games and for Justin Holiday to regain his shooting touch.
Prediction: Heat in 6
– Yash Matange (@yashmatange2694)
Western Conference
No. 1 Los Angeles Lakers vs. Portland Trail Blazers
Make no mistake, the Lakers aren't the No. 1 seed in the West by accident. After going 52-19, behind Anthony Davis' monstrous interior presence and playmaking and scoring of LeBron James, the Blazers are going to have their work cut out for them.
"They're the No. 1 seed in the West for a reason," Lillard said after their win over Memphis. "They've got the best player in the world on their team. But at the same time, we didn't fight as hard as we thought in the bubble to just say, 'All right, we're the eighth seed' and just go out here and get beat up on.
– Benyam Kidane
Prediction: Lakers in 6
No. 2 LA Clippers vs. No. 7 Dallas Mavericks
Now we get to see what Luka Doncic is capable of in the playoffs.
Doncic will have his hands full against a Clippers team that has two of the best perimeter defenders in the league in Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, plus Patrick Beverley, who is one of the peskiest defenders at the point guard position. Doncic was still able to put up big numbers against the Clippers in the regular season, but the three of them helped LA make life difficult for him, holding him to 42.6 percent shooting from the field and 27.3 percent from 3-point range.
Prediction: Clippers in 6
– Scott Rafferty
No. 3 Denver Nuggets vs. No. 6 Utah Jazz
It's a battle of two of the best big men the league has to offer in Rudy Gobert and Nikola Jokic.
If Gobert can find a way to make life difficult for Jokic offensively and be active enough on the other end so that the Nuggets star can't rest defensively, the Jazz may be able to send the Nuggets back to Denver earlier than they expected.
Prediction: Nuggets in 6
– Carlan Gay (@TheCarlanGay)
No. 4 Houston Rockets vs. No. 5 Oklahoma City Thunder
The Rockets have pulled the trigger on one of the most unorthodox offensive schemes we've ever seen but the success of said scheme ride on the health of Russell Westbrook.
There's no turning back now, Houston is all in on micro ball. If they're able to get off to a quick start against the Thunder, it will certainly buy Westbrook more time to recover but if they fall down 2-0 early, there may be pressure to rush the former MVP back.
Prediction: Rockets in 7
– Carlan Gay
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