ESPN ECS predictions

[Moranis]

Experts' picks: Who will reach the East finals? https://es.pn/2W9fbJ5
via @ESPN App http://es.pn/app

5 picked the C's, only 1 person thinks it is less than 6 games (he picked the Bucks in 5).

Only 2 picked the Sixers over the Raptors. That is pretty surprising as I figured that would be more of a toss up.

[liam]

Jackie MacMullan picked against the Celtics? How sad.

[Moranis]

Jackie MacMullan picked against the Celtics? How sad.

not only that she picked 6 games which means she has Boston losing the series on their home floor.

[liam]

Jackie MacMullan picked against the Celtics? How sad.

not only that she picked 6 games which means she has Boston losing the series on their home floor.

I guess she's trying to not be a homer....

[Donoghus]

Nothing really surprising in those predictions.   Pretty expected.   MIL & TOR were the two best teams in the East all regular season and looked dominant at times.

[RMO]

Eight have the Bucks in seven which usually means they think it's a toss up but lean towards the team with home court advantage (which makes sense).

[bdm860]

Ramona Shelburne picking both the C's and Sixers in 6 

[Who]

Toronto in 4 or 5 over Philly. Short series.
Boston in 6 or 7 over Milwaukee. Long series.

[Androslav]

Toronto in 4 or 5 over Philly. Short series.
Boston in 6 or 7 over Milwaukee. Long series.

This is where I am at now too.
Toronto in 5/6, Boston in 6.

[bdm860]

Only 2 picked the Sixers over the Raptors. That is pretty surprising as I figured that would be more of a toss up.

Maybe it's the homer in me allowing some Philly hate to come through, but I definitely don't see TOR/PHI as a toss up, I think the series is clearly in TOR's favor.  Not saying Philly has no chance, but I'd be surprised if it ended up being a close 6-7 game series.  I'm expecting more of TOR in 5 in a not-so-close series.

TOR is 3-1 against Philly this year, and that 1 loss came when Kawhi, Ibaka, and Valanciunas were all out, while the 3 wins were all by double digits against a healthy Philly team (Simmons/Embiid were there for all, Redick missed one game, but to be fair 1 game was before the Butler trade, all were before the Tobias trade).

Match-up wise, Ben Simmons is averaging 8 turnovers per game against Kawhi, while Kawhi is averaging 30 with 11 fta against Philly.  Joel Embiid is averaging 14ppg on 34% from the field and 6% from 3 in 5 games against Marc Gasol (all vs Memphis, 4 games from 2018 calendar year, 1 way back from Nov '16).

And Philly's biggest star Embiid was dealing with knee issues against BRK.  I expect those problems to linger for the rest of the playoffs.

Philly has talent, so they'll always have a chance, but I just think it's a bad match-up for them.  Not expecting a toss up of a series.

[gpap]

Ramona Shelburne picking both the C's and Sixers in 6 

I like the sound of that.

I don't want to underestimate Philly by any means, but if we can get past Milwaukee, I would much rather face Philly than Toronto (and I know Philly will be no picnic, but feel we match up better with them. Toronto scares the hell out of me.)

[hwangjini_1]

Only 2 picked the Sixers over the Raptors. That is pretty surprising as I figured that would be more of a toss up.

Maybe it's the homer in me allowing some Philly hate to come through, but I definitely don't see TOR/PHI as a toss up, I think the series is clearly in TOR's favor.  Not saying Philly has no chance, but I'd be surprised if it ended up being a close 6-7 game series.  I'm expecting more of TOR in 5 in a not-so-close series.

TOR is 3-1 against Philly this year, and that 1 loss came when Kawhi, Ibaka, and Valanciunas were all out, while the 3 wins were all by double digits against a healthy Philly team (Simmons/Embiid were there for all, Redick missed one game, but to be fair 1 game was before the Butler trade, all were before the Tobias trade).

Match-up wise, Ben Simmons is averaging 8 turnovers per game against Kawhi, while Kawhi is averaging 30 with 11 fta against Philly.  Joel Embiid is averaging 14ppg on 34% from the field and 6% from 3 in 5 games against Marc Gasol (all vs Memphis, 4 games from 2018 calendar year, 1 way back from Nov '16).

And Philly's biggest star Embiid was dealing with knee issues against BRK.  I expect those problems to linger for the rest of the playoffs.

Philly has talent, so they'll always have a chance, but I just think it's a bad match-up for them.  Not expecting a toss up of a series.

nice analysis. thanks and a tp.

[angryguy77]

This team has been erratic all season and is playing a team that has the best player in the series to go along with HCA. MKE is not a crazy pick for this series.

Just better hope the team makes it given the garbage weather hitting WI tomorrow.

[footey]

I’m surprised we got 5 votes.

[Moranis]

Only 2 picked the Sixers over the Raptors. That is pretty surprising as I figured that would be more of a toss up.

Maybe it's the homer in me allowing some Philly hate to come through, but I definitely don't see TOR/PHI as a toss up, I think the series is clearly in TOR's favor.  Not saying Philly has no chance, but I'd be surprised if it ended up being a close 6-7 game series.  I'm expecting more of TOR in 5 in a not-so-close series.

TOR is 3-1 against Philly this year, and that 1 loss came when Kawhi, Ibaka, and Valanciunas were all out, while the 3 wins were all by double digits against a healthy Philly team (Simmons/Embiid were there for all, Redick missed one game, but to be fair 1 game was before the Butler trade, all were before the Tobias trade).

Match-up wise, Ben Simmons is averaging 8 turnovers per game against Kawhi, while Kawhi is averaging 30 with 11 fta against Philly.  Joel Embiid is averaging 14ppg on 34% from the field and 6% from 3 in 5 games against Marc Gasol (all vs Memphis, 4 games from 2018 calendar year, 1 way back from Nov '16).

And Philly's biggest star Embiid was dealing with knee issues against BRK.  I expect those problems to linger for the rest of the playoffs.

Philly has talent, so they'll always have a chance, but I just think it's a bad match-up for them.  Not expecting a toss up of a series.

all of the games were before Harris was even on the team and one was before Butler was.  I have a very hard time putting any stock into those games given that.  Philly is a different team since the trades.