First-round matchups
EASTERN CONFERENCE
The Celtics’ Isaiah Thomas led the NBA with 9.8 fourth-quarter points per game. The Bulls had the fourth-best rebounding percentage, while the Celtics had the fourth-worst.
The Celtics (53-29) feasted on teams like this, going 31-6 against the East’s Nos. 6-15 teams and 5-10 against Nos. 2-5. The Bulls (41-41) have a rebounding advantage on paper and thrived on second-chance points to beat the Celtics twice, but trading Taj Gibson lessened that hold. Seeking their first playoff series triumph since they had Bulls point guard Rajon Rondo in 2012, the Celtics will ride Thomas’ offense, improving defense and balance. They are better-equipped with Al Horford switching sides after last postseason’s sweep by the Hawks, in which Avery Bradley was hurt and Thomas shot 33 percent. The madly inconsistent Bulls have received superstar play from Jimmy Butler but will need vintage Dwyane Wade too.
Celtics in six.
The Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo became the first NBA player to finish in the league’s top 20 in points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks. The Raptors rank last in the NBA in assists (18.5 per game).
This series ranks low on the broadcast scale with three of the first five games slated for NBA TV, but Antetokounmpo’s playoff debut is enticing, albeit likely not enough to hang with the Raptors (51-31). They took the Cavaliers to six games in last year’s conference finals and now have the experience, and they added depth and toughness with trades for Serge Ibaka and P.J. Tucker. The Raptors closed the season well and have Kyle Lowry back from wrist surgery and DeMar DeRozan playing at a career-best level to handle the Bucks’ pressure defense. The Raptors have dominated recent series with the Bucks (42-40) and can throw DeMarre Carroll and Tucker at Antetokounmpo.
Raptors in five. | WESTERN CONFERENCE
The Warriors’ average point differential (plus-11.6) was fourth-best in NBA history. The Blazers had the NBA’s fourth-best net rating (plus-5.3) after the All-Star break.
This is an odd rematch of the 2016 conference semifinals, considering how different the Warriors (67-15) are with Kevin Durant and how the Blazers (41-41) had to win 17 of their last 23 to get here. The Warriors’ third consecutive .800-plus season gives them the winningest three-year run in NBA history, topping the 1996-98 Bulls. Stocked with two MVPs (Durant and Stephen Curry) and a Defensive Player of the Year frontrunner (Draymond Green), the Warriors beat the Blazers four times, but each was before the Blazers acquired Jusuf Nurkic, the tide-turning center who will return from a leg fracture this series. Damian Lillard teams with C.J. McCollum for a high-scoring guard matchup against Curry and Klay Thompson.
Warriors in four.
The Thunder’s Russell Westbrook had the first triple-double season average in 55 years, posting 31.6 points, 10.7 rebounds and 10.4 assists per game. The Rockets shattered their NBA record for 3-point attempts, averaging 40.3.
The MVP votes have been submitted, but this series will go a long way toward settling it in many minds. The free-firing Rockets (55-27) barely made the playoffs last season but finished with the NBA’s third-best record this season with Mike D’Antoni moving James Harden to point guard. He has more help than Westbrook, as the Rockets showed in head-to-head meetings in which Harden shot only 34.3 percent against Andre Roberson and company. Eric Gordon, Ryan Anderson, Trevor Ariza and Lou Williams provide scoring depth. The Thunder (47-35) have been the NBA’s best rebounding percentage team (55.0) since the All-Star break.
Rockets in six.