Why Celtics, Bucks could be pushed to brink in first round of playoffs

The NBA's Eastern Conference has been a cluster of a mess most of the season, separating teams two through eight by no more than a few games as we approach the finish line. While Boston and Milwaukee have been at or toward the top all year, their first-round matchups could end up being much less favorable than they’d hoped. 

Two of the four play-in teams could make the first round a much bigger challenge than expected for the Celtics and Bucks. The Philadelphia 76ers and Miami Heat occupy the seventh and eighth seeds in the East currently. With two games remaining in the regular season, the Sixers and Heat have an outside shot at overtaking the Indiana Pacers for sixth place, with Philly having the best shot sitting one game back.

Should the standings stay the way they are, we’d get an opening play-in tournament game between the Heat and Sixers. The winner of that game would win the prize of facing the Bucks as the No. 7 seed while Giannis Antetokounmpo deals with a strained calf. 

"A lot of guys, this is what they do for their love and enjoyment of life and when they can't do it, it affects them," Bucks head coach Doc Rivers said. "So, that's probably how he's doing." 

Miami beat Milwaukee last postseason in the first round under similar circumstances with Antetokounmpo being hampered by an injury. The Heat then went on their improbable run to the NBA Finals as the No. 8 seed. And it just so happens that Miami eliminated Boston in the Eastern Conference Finals last year to advance. The Heat shouldn’t fear either of the top two seeds.

While the Celtics have been the best team in the Association this season, they still have their flaws. As good as they’ve been, Boston struggles to close out teams. The Heat took advantage of the Celtics' lapses in execution knocking them out in seven games. And Game 7 wasn’t even close with Miami claiming victory, 103-84.

The 76ers were a top-three seed in the East until Joel Embiid’s knee injury sidelined him in February. With Embiid making his return recently and looking at least close to his MVP-candidate self, Philadelphia is on the radar as aplay-in teams that could pull off an upset.

If the Sixers snag the No. 7 seed, they match up extremely well with the Bucks considering Antetokounmpo’s injury status. If Milwaukee’s best player is dealing with a bum leg facing off with Embiid, it could be a long series.

Another potential first-round opponent for Philly is Boston. For the Sixers to wind up with the No. 8 seed means they would’ve lost their first play-in game and won the second. The 76ers went 1-3 against the Celtics this season with their sole win coming back in November. 

Although the regular season isn’t always indicative of postseason success, that matchup with the Bucks should be the one Embiid and the Sixers are aiming for.