My NBA 2019-20 Conference Quarter-Finals Preview and Predictions

      Here are My NBA 2019-20 Conference Quarter-Finals Preview and Predictions 

       Eastern Conference Quarter-Finals in Orlando, FL       Best 4 out of 7 

       [8] Orlando Magic vs [1] Milwaukee Bucks  

       Thoughts: This is only the 2nd ever playoff meeting between these two teams. The Bucks swept the Regular Season series 4-0 and won by an average of 16 ppg. They have averaged 113.7 ppg against the Magic this season. The Magic come in short-handed without Evan Fournier, Aaron Gordon and Jonathan Issac. They struggled down the stretch going 1-5 in the final 6 games. The Bucks are 3-5 in the restart, but they have the better team and the Regular Season showed that. As a Magic fan I don't see a win in this series. 

        Series Prediction: Bucks sweep Magic 4-0 

        [5] Miami Heat vs [4] Indiana Pacers 

        Thoughts: This is the 4th playoff meeting in the last 9 years and 5th overall between these two teams. The Heat went 3-5 in the restart while the Pacers went 6-2. Both teams split the season series at 2-2. The Pacers always play teams tough in the playoffs even without their best player in Victor Oladipo. The Heat have Jimmy Butler and Goran Dragic in this series. That will make the difference as I see this series going 7 games. 

          Series Prediction: Heat win series 4-3  

          [6] Philadelphia 76ers vs [3] Boston Celtics 

          Thoughts: This is the 14th all-time playoff meeting between these two teams which is the most in the playoffs this year. The Celtics are a team that can make the NBA Finals despite being a No.3 seed. They went 5-3 in the restart while the 76ers lost 3 out their last 4 games to end the season. Kemba Walker and Jayson Tatum will make the difference in this series. The 76ers have problems shooting the ball and that can hurt you in the playoffs.

           Series Prediction: Celtics win series 4-1  

           [7] Brooklyn Nets vs [2] Toronto Raptors 

           Thoughts: This is the 3rd ever playoff meeting between these two teams. The Nets are without a lot of their key players including Kyrie Irving and that will hurt them in this series. The Raptors have a merging star in Pascal Siakam and that will make a big difference. This will be another sweep in the 1st-Round in the Eastern Conference. I would had like to see what the Nets would had done if they had their key players in this series. 

            Series Prediction: Raptors sweep Nets 4-0 

            Western Conference Quarter-Finals in Orlando, FL     Best 4 out of 7 

            [8] Portland Trail Blazers vs [1] Los Angeles Lakers 

            Thoughts: This is the 8th all-time playoff meeting between these two teams which is tied for the most in the Western Conference Quarter-Finals. A Lebron James lead team have never lost a 1st-Round series as he is 13-0 in 1st-Round series and the Lakers are a Lebron James led team. Damian Lillard will be good enough to steal a game, but the Lakers have LeBron James and Anthony Davis which will make the difference. 

             Series Prediction: Lakers win series 4-1 

             [5] Houston Rockets vs [4] Oklahoma City Thunder 

             Thoughts: This is the 8th all-time playoff meeting between these two teams. The Rockets small ball approach will hurt them in the playoffs as the Thunder have Steven Adams who is one of the better re-bounders in the NBA. The Thunder won the Regular Season series 2-1. I don't trust James Harden and Russell Westbrook  in the playoffs. The Thunder are a team people will sleep on in this series. 

             Series Prediction: Thunder win series 4-1 

             [6] Utah Jazz vs [3] Denver Nuggets 

             Thoughts: This is the 5th all-time playoff meeting between these Rocky Mountain Rivals. This will be the best series in the Western Conference. The Jazz have Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell while the Nuggets have Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray. The Nuggets swept the Regular Season series, but the playoffs will be different.  

             Series Prediction: Nuggets win series 4-3 

             Overview: The Jazz-Nuggets and Heat-Pacers series will go 7 whiles the Bucks-Magic and Raptors-Nets will end in sweeps. The Bucks are the favorites in the East while the Lakers are the favorites in the West. The Celtics can make the Finals despite being the No.3 seed. The Clippers are the one team that can be the Lakers in the West. The NBA Playoffs will be fun to watch this year as we need to escape from what's happening in the World.