The second round is upon us and with the second round, we have the full schedule as well as the betting odds. The top four seeds advanced in the Eastern Conference and these were the series we have been waiting for all season. These next two rounds in the East should be absolute battles.
#1 Milwaukee Bucks vs. #4 Boston Celtics
The Bucks had the most impressive sweep of the first round as they easily dispatched of the Pistons. That said, the Pistons may have been the worst team in all of the playoffs so it’s hard to judge a lot from that. They did play very, very well though which is encouraging. The Celtics also swept the first round as they showed outstanding defense and the team is really gelling at the right now. This should be a fun one.
Giannis Antetokounmpo and Brook Lopez matching up with Al Horford is the big match-up here. Horford has had a way in the past of making them look bad and they’ll need to overcome that here. Khris Middleton and Eric Bledsoe against Gordon Hayward and Kyrie Irving should be a heck of a match-up as well. A big question for Milwaukee is Malcolm Brogdon who is expected back in this series, but is out for the first two games.
Boston Celtics (+240) | Milwaukee Bucks (-300) |
| Celtics 4-0 +3500 | Bucks 4-0 +850 |
| Celtics 4-1 +1900 | Bucks 4-1 +255 |
| Celtics 4-2 +530 | Bucks 4-2 +490 |
| Celtics 4-3 +950 | Bucks 4-3 +270 |
Schedule:
Game 1: Sunday, April 28
Game 2: Tuesday, April 30
Game 3: Friday, May 3
Game 4: Monday, May 6
Game 5:* Wednesday, May 8
Game 6:* Friday, May 10
Game 7*: Monday, May 13
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#2 Toronto Raptors vs. #3 Philadelphia 76ers
The Sixers head to Toronto for the first game of their series on Saturday. The first game in a series has always been tough for the Raptors and their last round series was the first time in franchise history that they finished a first round series in five games. While the Philadelphia 76ers dispatched of the Nets rather easily, this team is not without drama. The Embiid injury will hang over this team until their playoff run ends.
The Raps added Marc Gasol seemingly with the point of defending Joel Embiid while the Jimmy Butler/Kawhi Leonard match-up should be an absolute war. This one could come down to the point guards, Ben Simmons and Kyle Lowry, both known for underachieving on this stage. It’ll be their performances that could decide this series.
Philadephia 76ers (+240) | Toronto Raptors (-290) |
| 76ers 4-0 +2500 | Raptors 4-0 +900 |
| 76ers 4-1 +1200 | Raptors 4-1 +333 |
| 76ers 4-2 +500 | Raptors 4-2 +450 |
| 76ers 4-3 +700 | Raptors 4-3 +333 |
Schedule:
Game 1: Saturday, Apr. 27
Game 2: Monday, Apr. 29
Game 3: Thursday, May 2
Game 4: Sunday, May 5
Game 5*: Tuesday, May 7
Game 6*: Thursday, May 9
Game 7*: Sunday, May 12
[geocode id=4]