G9.
Pistons GM
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NBA Playoffs Preview
Eastern Conference
2021
Round One
#1
vs. #8 
Team Stats
| Philadelphia 76ers | Miami Heat | |
|---|---|---|
| PPG | 106.2 | 97.4 |
| oPPG | 97.6 | 96.2 |
| FG% | .450 | .437 |
Regular Season Results
Game 1: Heat 95 @ 76ers 91
Game 2: Heat 81 @ 76ers 102
Game 3: 76ers 103 @ Heat 102
Game 4: 76ers 91 @ Heat 87
76ers 3 vs. Heat 1
Leading Scorer
76ers: Bradley Beal 26.5 PPG
Heat: Nikola Vucevic 24.4 PPG
Preview and Prediction
The 76ers enter the playoffs as one of the two hottest teams in the East, winning 7 of their last 10 and ultimately earning the first overall seed in the Conference. An early season trade to acquire All-League SG Bradley Beal has returned this Philadelphia team back to the top. After losing SF/SG Jimmy Butler in Free Agency last season, the 76ers appeared to take a major, irreplaceable hit. That didn't stop GM Foreman from shopping around his assets though, resulting in the package headlined by previous #1 overall pick PG Ja Morant netting the 76ers Bradley Beal. Expect the big 3 of Beal, Joel Embiid, and Tobias Harris to carry their regular season dominance into the playoffs as the Miami Heat drew the toughest matchup in the East. Joel Embiid should have few problems limiting the offense of the Heat's leading scorer, C Nikola Vucevic, and Vucevic's suspect defense leaves him wholly exposed to Embiid's ridiculous scoring arsenal. The 76ers leading scorer, Beal, also drew a favorable matchup. He'll line up against SF Justice Winslow, a player known for his limited growth defensively. Expect Embiid, Beal, and of course Tobias Harris to feast during this series. The Heat do stand a chance if they get absolutely stellar performances from their core of Vucevic, DeMarcus Cousins, and John Wall, but unfortunately I don't think they stack up against the first seed 76ers.
76ers 4 vs. Heat 0
#2
vs. #7 
Team Stats
Game 1: Heat 95 @ 76ers 91
Game 2: Heat 81 @ 76ers 102
Game 3: 76ers 103 @ Heat 102
Game 4: 76ers 91 @ Heat 87
76ers 3 vs. Heat 1
Leading Scorer
76ers: Bradley Beal 26.5 PPG
Heat: Nikola Vucevic 24.4 PPG
Preview and Prediction
The 76ers enter the playoffs as one of the two hottest teams in the East, winning 7 of their last 10 and ultimately earning the first overall seed in the Conference. An early season trade to acquire All-League SG Bradley Beal has returned this Philadelphia team back to the top. After losing SF/SG Jimmy Butler in Free Agency last season, the 76ers appeared to take a major, irreplaceable hit. That didn't stop GM Foreman from shopping around his assets though, resulting in the package headlined by previous #1 overall pick PG Ja Morant netting the 76ers Bradley Beal. Expect the big 3 of Beal, Joel Embiid, and Tobias Harris to carry their regular season dominance into the playoffs as the Miami Heat drew the toughest matchup in the East. Joel Embiid should have few problems limiting the offense of the Heat's leading scorer, C Nikola Vucevic, and Vucevic's suspect defense leaves him wholly exposed to Embiid's ridiculous scoring arsenal. The 76ers leading scorer, Beal, also drew a favorable matchup. He'll line up against SF Justice Winslow, a player known for his limited growth defensively. Expect Embiid, Beal, and of course Tobias Harris to feast during this series. The Heat do stand a chance if they get absolutely stellar performances from their core of Vucevic, DeMarcus Cousins, and John Wall, but unfortunately I don't think they stack up against the first seed 76ers.
76ers 4 vs. Heat 0
#2
vs. #7 Team Stats
| Indiana Pacers | Washington Wizards | |
|---|---|---|
| PPG | 107.2 | 103.6 |
| oPPG | 100.4 | 102.2 |
| FG% | .447 | .444 |
Regular Season Results
Game 1: Pacers 127 @ Wizards 120
Game 2: Wizards 97 @ Pacers 126
Game 3: Pacers 85 @ Wizards 104
Game 4: Wizards 109 @ Pacers 115
Pacers 3 vs. Wizards 1
Leading Scorer
Pacers: Stephen Curry 26.4 PPG
Wizards: Jayson Tatum 25.7
Preview and Prediction
Next season... The Wizards will likely be deadly. This season... not so much. After some absolutely unexpected moves, the Wizards dismantled a core that included recent FA signing SF Jimmy Butler. This move was the first of a few that signaled that the Wizards didn't think this year was their year. Now headlined by SF Jayson Tatum, PG Victor Oladipo, and PF Clint Capela, this Wizards team still earned a playoff seed in the relatively strong Eastern Conference. Unfortunately for them, I don't expect this trio to carry them far. Not this season anyways. With PG Victor Oladipo set to miss the first 10 days of the NBA Playoffs as he recovers from a broken jaw, the Wizards will likely lose control of this series early and I expect it to snowball pretty easily for Indiana. The infamous, historically unstoppable Splash Bros have reunited in Indy for one last stretch of runs and I expect this initial run to extend quite far. Expect Curry, Thompson, and Brogdon to shoot their way into a series sweep before Oladipo has a chance to even consider returning. Notice how I didn't even have to mention Domantas Sabonis or Myles Turner for you to be concerned for the Wizards? With that backcourt trio alone this Indiana Pacers is to be feared... add in Domantas and Myles to boot? Anything less than an Eastern Conference Finals appearance will be a disappointment in Indiana. The only teams they have to worry about are Philadelphia and Chicago, and with GM BeatsHaveADream's experience with shooters in his backcourt, I fully expect him to out-depth-chart his opponents this year.
Pacers 4 vs. Wizards 0
Game 1: Pacers 127 @ Wizards 120
Game 2: Wizards 97 @ Pacers 126
Game 3: Pacers 85 @ Wizards 104
Game 4: Wizards 109 @ Pacers 115
Pacers 3 vs. Wizards 1
Leading Scorer
Pacers: Stephen Curry 26.4 PPG
Wizards: Jayson Tatum 25.7
Preview and Prediction
Next season... The Wizards will likely be deadly. This season... not so much. After some absolutely unexpected moves, the Wizards dismantled a core that included recent FA signing SF Jimmy Butler. This move was the first of a few that signaled that the Wizards didn't think this year was their year. Now headlined by SF Jayson Tatum, PG Victor Oladipo, and PF Clint Capela, this Wizards team still earned a playoff seed in the relatively strong Eastern Conference. Unfortunately for them, I don't expect this trio to carry them far. Not this season anyways. With PG Victor Oladipo set to miss the first 10 days of the NBA Playoffs as he recovers from a broken jaw, the Wizards will likely lose control of this series early and I expect it to snowball pretty easily for Indiana. The infamous, historically unstoppable Splash Bros have reunited in Indy for one last stretch of runs and I expect this initial run to extend quite far. Expect Curry, Thompson, and Brogdon to shoot their way into a series sweep before Oladipo has a chance to even consider returning. Notice how I didn't even have to mention Domantas Sabonis or Myles Turner for you to be concerned for the Wizards? With that backcourt trio alone this Indiana Pacers is to be feared... add in Domantas and Myles to boot? Anything less than an Eastern Conference Finals appearance will be a disappointment in Indiana. The only teams they have to worry about are Philadelphia and Chicago, and with GM BeatsHaveADream's experience with shooters in his backcourt, I fully expect him to out-depth-chart his opponents this year.
Pacers 4 vs. Wizards 0
