I still refuse to believe the Celts will not, at the very least, get to the east finals this year.
The playoffs is different.
Last season the #1 seed Raptors couldn't even win one game against the #4 Cavs.
Raptors have lost 10 straight playoff games against LeBron's Cavs dating back to 2016. Let that sink in. They just aren't built for withstanding LeBron James in the postseason.
Just checked the remaining schedule for the east top 4 Raptors have the easiest remaining schedule they should finish first unless the bucks just sweep all their remaining west coast road trips.
If the Raptors finish first then I want the Celtics to finish 4th (on the condition that the 76ers finish 3rd and the Pacers 5th).
I prefer having a little tougher first round series, which we should win anyway, with the chance that the 76ers could knock-out the Bucks for us. I believe we are slight underdogs to the Raptors as well (especially without HCA), but I truly fear playing the Bucks.
Why would you want that? The Celtics are like 1-13 in Toronto we won't win a game in Scotiabank arena, we match up better against the Bucks and beat them last year without Kyrie.
The fact that the Bucks have never won a playoff series and like if we beat them game 1 I could see them mentally tapping out.
Toronto won't not with Kawhi and Danny Green those guys are proven Champions...
I'd rather take my chances against Kawhi than Giannis. Not only is Giannis by himself a force to be reckoned with, he has a great supporting cast that fits him perfectly and an outstanding coach in Budenholzer. Giannis has a chance these playoffs to prove that he has become the best basketball player in the world.
Who's the Bucks second best player? Khris Middleton? Kawhi will shut him down over 7 games... Let Giannis have his close out the rest of the Bucks... Defensively the Bucks legit load the paint they don't really play man to man and force you to shoot 3s.
It's all about game planning in my opinion the Bucks are easy to game plan against besides Giannis who else on that team will drop a 40 bomb?
Siakam dropped 44-10 his last game and has had multiple 30+ games this season... Danny Green is cold blooded killer in the playoffs from 3.
Toronto is harder to game plan against especially now that they got Gasol and he's going to create cutting lanes for Kawhi, Lowry, and Siakam.
Morris, Rozier, Brown, Tatum should be better then Brogdon, Snell, Lopez... I just don't trust a team that's never won a series playoffs is different everyone's record is 0-0 and I feel like Boston and Toronto just aren't playing to their level during the regular season because why should they? take a note from Lebron's book coast the regular season they turn the switch up in the playoffs.
Will the Bucks get better during the post season? I don't think so but Boston and Toronto will... I don't believe in Philly.