NBA Playoffs 2018: Power ranking the first round matchups

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BOSTON, MA – December 4: Giannis Antetokounmpo /

3. No. 2 Boston Celtics (55-27) vs. No. 7 Milwaukee Bucks (44-38)

As a 2-7 matchup, this should be lower, but Giannis Antetokounmpo makes everything incredible and Brad Stevens is a top-5 coach in the league.

Many, including myself, picked the Bucks to build on last season’s sixth-place finish. It made sense; another year for Giannis developing his freakdoms with a solid supporting cast should equal a step up on the ladder. Add in Eric Bledsoe and you assume they’d be a lock for a top-5 seed. But Milwaukee stalled out. They never totally jelled, went through coaching disruption, and Giannis, while amazing, still has another level to ascend to.

Boston went through a dream offseason, acquiring stars Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward, and drafting Jayson Tatum. Though their luck turned about five minutes on opening night when Hayward broke his ankle trying to catch a lob from Irving. The Celtics trudged ahead, hardly missing a beat along the way. The injury gave Tatum and Jaylen Brown the opportunity to showcase themselves and take on bigger roles than they would have gotten otherwise. The future is bright.

Now, Irving’s out for the next five months following knee surgery. Boston plugged away in his absence so far, but that’ll prove harder in the playoffs. Who’s gonna take the big shot when the chips are down? This all emanates a strong aroma of upset potential.

Prediction: Did you know the Celtics have the best defensive rating in the league this year? I didn’t either until just now. Celtics in six, but three of their wins come down to the final minute, manufactured by Stevens’ savant-level out-of-timeout plays.

Game 1 between the Celtics and Bucks will be at 1:00 p.m. ET on Sunday, April 15. TNT will have the national telecast from the TD Garden in Boston.

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