"NBA Playoffs: Eastern Conference Preview"

Welcome to the NBA playoffs; if your team made it to April, 
congratulations. We've played 82 games, in-season tournament and 
play-in games. One team is fighting for their spot as the 8th seed as we 
speak. Who's going to dethrone the defending champions Boston 
Celtics? Let's cut the small talk and toss it up for your 2025 NBA Playoff 
preview!

1. Cleveland Cavaliers vs 8. Miami Heat/Atlanta Hawks 

Cleveland returns to the postseason in back to back seasons; this time 
under new head coach Kenny Atkinson. One of the best teams in 2025, 
Cavs fans have every reason to believe they'll be en-route for a NBA 
Finals berth. Superstar point guard Donavan Mitchell has played out of 
his mind and fully healthy unlike 2024 when he battled lingering injuries. 
This team can score and beat you anyway possible. 
Cleveland has one of the premiere power forwards in Evan Mobley and 
Jarrett Allen. Shooting guard Darius Garland has been elite and will 
need to be Robin for Cleveland to reach their destination. This feels 
more like the 2009 Cavs team with former superstar LeBron James, but 
with a better roster who can play with anyone. They'll have home court 
throughout the postseason. Each series will present new challenges 
and they'll have to adjust accordingly. 

Miami is the biggest story of this crazy season; a turbulent exit of former 
Heat player Jimmy Butler, who was traded at the deadline. A team 
whose identity was questioned and trying to weather the storm in 
making the play-in tournament. Head coach Erik Spolestra has done 
everything remotely possible to get this team ready to play. All-star Tyler 

Herro has become the guy to lead the way and play in big games. It's a 
testament to what "Heat Culture" is about. 

Even with the departure of Butler, a roster capable of winning a couple 
playoffs games will bring their best and collective efforts in Cleveland. 
Making it worthwhile giving the Cavs a test early on and keeping it 
interesting in round one. 

Atlanta has been the rollercoaster of a bad eastern conference.
Superstar Trae Young has been solid, but disappointing at times due to
his late game lapses in judgement. Rather it's hitting someone below
the belt or toying around with officials, they'll need all hands on deck to
sneak in as the 8th seed for a trip to Cleveland Sunday afternoon. Head
coach Quinn Snyder is an old school minded coach and will press all
the buttons to get his players ready. With a win or go home game,
Miami versus Atlanta will likely be fireworks early on and whoever can
prevail, there's no time to rest.

2. Boston Celtics vs 7. Orlando Magic

Boston begins their quest for a repeat in what's been
good/mediocre/bad basketball in some cases. For a team who's shown
signs of "boredom," can't be in this spot trying to play half-hearted
basketball in April. Superstar forward Jaylen Brown's lingering knee
injury is going to be the tall tale of Boston's quest winning back to back
championships. Pain injections can only do so much but not a long-term
solution.

Superstar shooting guard Jayson Tatum has been the subject of
criticism since Team USA basketball last summer. Is he capable of
putting his ego aside and play his best brand of basketball in helping
Boston achieve a repeat? Has his status as a top ten player been

misunderstood based on regular season stats? Yes, they have Brown,
Holiday, White, and Porzingis; but can this team avoid mental relapses
in repeating? We've seen them play elite; while some games just
sleepwalk in close games. This is the playoffs and when I hear fans say
"they're bored," I beg to differ. Did we ever hear great players utter the
word "bored" in chasing championships? Not to my knowledge by any
means.

Orlando makes back to back playoff appearances under Jamahl Mosley.
Leading a young core of talent featuring Paola Banchero, Jalen Suggs,
Franz Wagner. Even with injuries to Banchero, Orlando weathered the
storm in staying afloat and winning their play-in game versus Atlanta.
The Magic have built this team back up in a short amount of time. Not
going to blow you away, but can take you to the wire on any given night.
Keep it close and let Banchero carry the mantle in finishing games.

3. New York Knicks vs 6. Detroit Pistons

The Mecca of Basketball in New York did enough to host a playoff
series at Madison Square Garden. Giving fans hope and aggressive
trades in competing for championships. Trading for Karl Anthony-Towns
and Mikal Bridges have been both good and solid. Building a team
around superstar Jalen Brunson has been the mission for this front
office. Injuries, attrition and exhaustion will determine how far the Knicks
can go. After losing to Indiana last postseason, New York will look to put
the Pistons away early. If they were to have an early exit say in round
one, head coach Tom Thibodeau may be ousted this offseason.

One of the biggest surprises of 2025, Detroit has finally made it back to
postseason play since 2016. Years of bad contracts, draft picks, head
coaching failures, the Pistons have found the right formula in reviving
Motown's basketball team. First year head coach coach Bernie

Bickerstaff has implemented his stamp of approval with this young
team. Old school brand of basketball which players don't mind playing.
All-star Cade Cunningham will make his postseason debut and pull off
an upset in New York. Guards Malik Beasley, Tim Hardaway Jr can light
up any given moment from outside. Forward Isaiah Stewart isn't afraid
of being the aggressor and Ausar Thompson will have to be Robin to
Cade's Batman. It's the one series I'm most intrigued by in part of who'll
outlast one another in what can be an upset.

4. Indiana Pacers vs 5. Milwaukee Bucks

The hottest team in "pace" find themselves hosting a home playoff
series. Indiana was an under the radar team midway through the
season nobody talked about. Considering all the hype around
Cleveland, Boston and New York, Indiana stayed the course. Superstar
point guard Tyrese Haliburton has been a driving force in making
Indiana relevant. With Myles Turner and Obi Toppin, look for Indiana to
run the fastest race and pace against Milwaukee in making this a quick
series.

Milwaukee has one of the weirdest seasons and head coaches in
sports. Superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo is going to give you
everything he has and then some. Even with triple doubles, his
greatness is under appreciated. Doc Rivers' schemes and coverages
look outdated but it's who he is. Doesn't make adjustments and relies
too much on his own way of thinking. You'd think for an experienced
head coach, he'd have more than one championship. His playoff failures
are an indictment of how much his one title is a mere mirage.

An aging roster and superstar point guard Damian Lillard is
questionable with blood-clots, this feels more like a series in which
Giannis' stats won't have much of an impact if Milwaukee does win a

game or two. A rematch without the Bucks' star in Lillard, it's going to be
series of chess versus checkers.