NBA Eastern Conference Semifinals Tips & Predictions

<p>The dust has all but settled in the East after a frenetic first round of playoffs action.</p> <p>There were upsets, individual masterclasses and certified shellackings.</p> <p>The eight in the East have now become four, but who moves on from here?</p> <p>As the cream rises to the top, each round of the playoffs gets harder and harder to predict.</p> <p>Luckily for all you Sportsbet punters out there, we’re back with more expert NBA playoffs tips and predictions.</p> <p>So, without further ado, here are our NBA Conference semifinals tips and predictions for the East.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>New York Knicks (No.5 seed) vs Miami Heat (No.8 Seed)</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>One of the 1990s best rivalries is set to be reignited when the New York Knicks take on the Miami Heat.</p> <p>Both of these sides won their first-round series in five, but neither of them were favourites to progress to round two of the playoffs.</p> <p>It certainly wasn’t beyond the realms of possibility for the Knicks to move on, but no one had the Heat moving on against the No.1 seeded Bucks, let alone in five.</p> <p>Miami’s triumph over Milwaukee will go down as one of the biggest upsets ever in the playoffs.</p> <p>An injury to Bucks big man and star player Giannis Antentokoumpo early in the series slightly opened the door for the Heat before Jimmy Butler single-handedly kicked it down.</p> <p>The man known as “Jimmy Buckets” dropped one of the greatest individual performances in playoff history to send the Bucks packing.</p> <p>Butler painted his masterpiece in game four of the series, scoring 56 points (the fourth most ever in an NBA playoff game), helping the Heat to overturn a 14-point deficit in the fourth quarter.</p> <p>While most of the buzz has been around the Heat, and rightly so, the favourites to advance from this matchup are actually the Knicks.</p> <p>The New York-based franchise managed to shut down superstar Donovan Mitchell with alarming ease to dispatch the Cleveland Cavaliers in five.</p> <p>They now hold a home-court advantage over the Heat in this series due to their superior seed and, on paper, are a deeper team than their eastern rivals.</p> <p>It will take another legacy-defining performance from Butler to keep the Heat’s fairytale alive, with the Knicks expected to advance in six or seven.</p>

<h2>Boston Celtics (No.2 seed) vs Philadelphia 76ers (No.3 seed)</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>It’s No.2 vs No.3 in the other Eastern Conference semifinal, as the Philadelphia 76ers and Boston Celtics both advanced from round one.</p> <p>After sweeping the Nets in four, the 76ers stormed into the Eastern Conference semifinals.</p> <p>On the other hand, the Celtics had to work a little harder for their semifinals berth, overcoming a spirited Atlanta outfit in six.</p> <p>Both teams have what it takes to progress to the Eastern final and potentially go all the way and win the championship.</p> <p>MVP-elect Joel Embiid’s health is the biggest point of concern for the 76ers after the star centre sustained a knee sprain in game three.</p> <p>Word is he could be right in time for game one against the Celtics, and if he does recover in time, he will have Atlanta’s Trae Young to thank.&nbsp;</p> <p>Young drained a clutch three-pointer with 1.8 seconds left on the clock in game five that, forced Boston to play an extra match and, as a result, has given Embiid more time to recover.</p> <p>Boston now has home-court advantage for as long as they remain in the playoffs, thanks to the No.1 seeded Bucks’ demise.</p> <p>In terms of who comes out on top of this one, it’s hard to say. With home-court advantage and Embiid under an injury cloud, the Celtics appear to have the upper hand.&nbsp;</p> <p>Don’t forget, though, Embiid isn’t Philly’s only drawcard, with a certain bearded baller ready to step up.</p> <p>James Harden and Co. will not want to go quietly, so we’re tipping Boston to get through in seven.&nbsp;</p>