NBA Eastern Conference Second Round 2024

Dude…

The playoffs. Where heroes rise, and others fall. Where one slip up could cause you to lose a game, that could lose you the series. Where only one… will raise the Larry O’Bryant trophy at the end of it all. 4 teams remain in the East. The Celtics beat the Heat in 5. The Cavs won in a 7 game thriller against a stingy Orlando Magic team. The Pacers upset the injured Bucks in 6. Finally, the NY Knicks defeated Philly in a 6 game series. Now, the Celtics face off against the Cavs, and the Knicks play the Pacers. Who will come out of this round to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals? The Dudes have their predictions… RIGHT NOW!!

#1 Boston Celtics vs. #4 Cleveland Cavaliers 

The Boston Celtics are probably the most complete and experienced team in the playoffs. Their lead guy hasn’t been Jason Tatum. The lackadaisical start by the All Star should have fans worried. However, it doesn’t. Why? It’s due to the rest of the team playing incredible. Jaylen Brown has looked like a #1 guy as the #2. Porzingis has been hurt for the majority of the series, but should be a huge threat once he’s back to being healthy. Derrick White went bald and is completely balling out. White has been the x factor for the Celtics and is averaging over 20 points per game. Jrue Holiday and Al Horford know their roles and do them to perfection. Payton Pritchard and Sam Houser come off the bench and provide immediate and efficient three point shooting. Boston has had the best record, but the Spida is on a mission. Donovan Mitchell has been awesome. He lead the Cavs over Paolo Banchero and the Magic, but he needs others to step up. Sure, Darius Garland has been good, but the rest of the team has been sub par. Evan Mobley is a threat defensively with his shot blocking capabilities, but what else can he do? No one has stepped up off the bench to excel either. The Celtics are just too good, and honestly, this may be the last series we see Spida in a Cleveland uniform. I have the Celtics winning in 5.

#2 NY Knicks vs. #6 Indiana Pacers

Now this is an interesting matchup. A slow, meticulous paced NY Knicks team, faces the run and gun Indiana Pacers. Jalen Brunson is trying to put another banner in the raftors, except this time it says NBA Champion. He has his old teammates in Donte Divincenzo and Josh Hart. OG Anunoby was a tradeline pickup that has been MASSIVE the second half of the season. They face THE MAN Tyrese Haliburton and the Indiana Pacers. Haliburton had struggled after the All Star Break, but has resurfaced as a top 10 guard in the league. Miles Turner has been a force in the paint. Another trade deadline acquisition in Pascal Siakam has been a huge benefit as well. Leading the Pacers in scoring, Siakam looks like the 2019 version of himself. Let’s see if the young talent around him can help push him back to the Eastern Conference Playoffs. This game should be back and forth, with the final game being played in the Garden. I think Jalen Brunson is continuing to prove why he is a top 5 guard in the nation. I got the Knicks in 7.