Gameplay X-Factor In Every East First Round Series

As we begin the first round of this year’s playoffs, each team is sizing up their opponents, looking for the smallest advantages to give themselves an edge. There is a difference, however, when looking at the East and the West. Where one conference seems to be a battle of the titans, the other seems to be an exercise in futility. However, anything can happen once the playoffs start and the stars take over. We took a look at each first round series and picked out one key gameplay wrinkle that will prove crucial in each first round series.

Celtics Vs. Heat/Bulls: Does Goliath Have a weakness to exploit?

The C’s have been a steamrolling engine all season long and are the overwhelming favorites to represent the East in the Finals. However, the star-laden squad isn’t perfect and have fallen victim to some bad offensive habits throughout the year. If their opponent can bait Boston into falling in love with the long-range jumper, the Celtics might be in for more than they should probably need to handle in the first round. In the end, most expect the Celtics’ talent to win out in the end, but if the right game plan is deployed, then the series could last longer than expected. Look for the first round opponent to throw every defense in the kitchen sink at Boston in hopes to find a chink in the armor.

Knicks vs. 76ers: How Will Embiid handle the battle down low?

As Stephen A. said earlier this week, the Knicks shouldn’t be worried heading into this series for one simple reason. Joel Embiid is not 100% and when he isn’t at the top of his game, the Sixers can be had quite easily. They needed a throwback game from Nicolas Batum to even get out of the play-in tournament and still barely won. The Knicks might be the worst mental matchup for Embiid to face in the first round, seeing as they hang their hats on the defensive end of the floor. That, combined with the fact that they have a plethora of different bodies and different looks to throw at Philadelphia makes them an extremely tough opponent, albeit the lesser of two evils when looking at the top seeds in the East.

Bucks Vs. Pacers: Can the bucks slow down the transition buzzsaw?

Yes, the health of Giannis Antetokounmpo is the main story of this series however you cut it. This series, though, represents a clash between old school and new school playstyles. The Pacers want to get out and run and score 140 points per game, while the extensive history of NBA playoff basketball shows that such a strategy doesn’t work. The Bucks are hoping that playing a slower game wins out, but without their top player, they could get sucked into playing the Pacer’s game in the first round. This comes across as the most likely first round upset, but at the end of the day, the Bucks have one of the best pressure players in the league in Damian Lillard, so they can’t be counted out.

Cavaliers Vs. Magic: Who Trusts their young stars more?

This series is the most intriguing of all eight first round matchups, not for the star power or potential consequences, but because people are genuinely curious as to how each team will approach the series. The stars of the series are evident; Donovan Mitchell for the Cavs and Paolo Banchero for the Magic. However, Evan Mobley looms large as a X-factor for Cleveland, just as Franz Wagner does for Orlando. How much J.B Bickerstaff and Jamahl Mosley choose to run their offense through these two could shift the balance of the series as a whole. In closer games, each team has their Batman and their closer, but should Banchero or Mitchell have an off game, their respective Robins could swoop in and save the day, tilting the series in their team’s favor.