Second choice of NBA 2019 playoffs: Warriors, Raptors, Bucks, favorites, but some experts predict upheavals

We officially entered the second round of the 2019 NBA Playoffs, and all top seeds advanced in their respective first-round playoffs. This could change in the second round, however, because the Rockets, Trail Blazers, Celtics and 76ers all have vertigo.

The semifinals of the conference will be rich in intriguing clashes with elite players from each team. The results will be much more difficult to predict. But that did not stop our panel of CBS Sports NBA experts from examining their crystal balls. While most have confidence in the seeded Eastern Conference, two of our experts are predicting upheavals as the Celtics qualify for the finals of the conference. We were almost unanimous in choosing Toronto to pass Philly, but one author saw the Sixers leave.

As for the long-awaited Warriors-Rockets series, no one is opposed to the defending champions despite Houston's nearness last season for knocking Golden State out of the Western Conference final.

Here is an overview of all our experts for the second round of the NBA playoffs.

Eastern Conference

# 1 Milwaukee Bucks vs. # 4 Boston Celtics

The Bucks have been better in the world than the Celtics in the regular season, which suggests that some should be great favorites. I do not see it like that. Boston is good for basketball in the playoffs because of its versatility and ability to adapt throughout a series. The Milwaukee offensive seems sometimes unstoppable, but the challenge is launched: the Celtics, even without Marcus Smart, have the staff to make the difference here.

However, it is difficult to trust Boston to score against this team. The Celtics' Pacers sweep overshadowed their mediocre offensive in the first round. To beat the Bucks four times, they will have to be part of the elite on both sides. I can see a path there – it implies Al Horford dominating to the point that Milwaukee is forced to change his approach – but I can not predict that this will happen. Dollars are the safe choice. – James Herbert

Despite the way the regular season has unfolded for both teams, this series is a draw, and the Celtics are more than able to win. Kyrie Irving is in good health and ready to play again in the playoffs. have some meetings – Al Horford versus Brook Lopez, in particular – they can exploit on the offensive, Gordon Hayward finally looks to himself and all that he has much more experience in the playoffs. – Jack Maloney

Toronto Raptors No. 2 vs Philadelphia No. 3 76ers

Can the Philadelphia 76ers beat the Toronto Raptors in a seven-game series? Absolutely. But there is a very small margin of error for a Sixers team that does not have the depth or versatility that the Raptors do. And that is why Raptors should be considered as big favorites. Their defense has the highest cap of any NBA playoff team; since the break of the all-star game, they ranked third in the NBA for defensive efficiency. (In comparison, the Sixers – which Joel Embiid missed for part of that time – ranked 16th.) But what the Raptors have done this season is to reverse the storyline of their story franchise. This has always been a team that has excelled in the regular season only to flop in the playoffs. This team of Raptors is different. From the moment they traded for Kawhi Leonard, the past year has been a long intentional plan to prepare for that moment. While the Sixers had to adapt to the volley after adding Jimmy Butler, then Tobias Harris, the Raptors spent the season punctuating Kawhi and experimenting with different combinations of versatile ranges that they can create as needed. playoffs. Adding Marc Gasol to the Transaction Deadline – a bespoke initiative for a series against Embiid – is just the icing on the cake. There are some scenarios where the Sixers can beat the Raptors. They have the most talented from age five, after all. But there are many, many more scenarios in which the Raptors beat the Sixers. – Reid Forgrave

The series between the Sixers and the Raptors will be a battle, but the Sixers have the opportunity to come out victorious if they can play as they did in games 2 to 5 against the Brooklyn Nets in the first round. The Sixers have more talents and stars among the best than the Raptors. In the post-season, this becomes particularly important as the rotations shrink and the best players in the teams have a greater load. Toronto has a lot to do, but Sixers head coach Brett Brown has the opportunity to neutralize him to some extent with the good rotations, as he did in the first round using Jimmy Butler and Tobias Harris as second players.

In addition, the starting five of the Sixers have played well together under 20 games, and it is still possible that their chemistry continues to grow and that they can reach a level never before achieved. – Michael Kaskey-Blomain

CONFERENCE OF THE WEST

No. 1 Golden State Warriors vs. No. 4 Houston Rockets