LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - AUGUST 18: Jimmy Butler #22 of the Miami Heat looks to pass against pressure from Myles Turner #33 and T.J. Warren #1 of the Indiana Pacers during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at AdventHealth Arena at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on August 18, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ashley Landis-Pool/Getty Images)
NBA Playoffs: One intriguing matchup from each Eastern Conference series
NBA playoffs (Photo by Kim Klement-Pool/Getty Images)
With intensity at an all-time high, the Eastern Conference first-round features matchups that will determine the course of the 2020 NBA Playoffs.
In a season like no other, the picture for the 2020 NBA Playoffs is set up for a ton of action. The intensity is greater than ever before with home-court advantages and strenuous travel eliminated from the equation. Historically, it’s been said that the Eastern Conference is weaker than the Western Conference. Maybe the depth of talent is greater in the West, but there are serious contenders that shouldn’t be taken lightly in the East this year.
Even a depleted Orlando Magic squad missing multiple key players came out and snagged the first game against the Milwaukee Bucks. Every team has their X-Factors and certain players who need to step up. Luckily, there haven’t been a ton of injuries inside the Orlando bubble, but certain crucial players are sidelined for the most important part of the season — the postseason.
Star players come and go but in a team sport, you need others to step up to be the best of their ability. The reigning champion Toronto Raptors leaned heavily on Kawhi Leonard in their 2019 title run but epitomized team effort over individual output. No contender’s situation is perfect, but just about every team has a chance to advance past the first round. The conference is up for grabs for any team so long as they play their cards right and leave it all on the court.
These eight players need to manage their matchups for their team to hit their stride.
<span class="call_to_action">Related Story:</span> 25 best players to play for the Milwaukee Bucks </a> </div>
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<p>There are a lot of similarities between the playstyles of Fultz and Bledsoe. They’re each physical a point guard who asserts themselves using stocky frames to draw contact. Neither is a particularly great shooter, but they can each create separation for mid-range jumpers or floaters. The major difference between them is that Bledsoe is an All-Defensive candidate while Fultz is a more creative facilitator.</p>
<p>Simply put, Bledsoe needs to be better for this Milwaukee team to have any chance at making the NBA Finals. His playoff woes have been a major talking point up through this stage of his career and a nice series against Orlando could help him gain the confidence he needs to contest actual contenders. It won’t be so simple with Fultz trying to make a name for himself, but it’s certainly possible.</p>
<p>Each of these point guards needs to use the stage of the playoffs to prove themselves. While they’re at very different stages of their respective careers, both Bledsoe and Fultz can use this first-round matchup as a proving ground.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2020/08/19/nba-playoffs-matchups-first-round-east/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> No. 2 Toronto Raptors vs. No. 7 Brooklyn Nets </a>
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<img class="size-full wp-image-408079" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2020/08/19/nba-playoffs-matchups-first-round-east/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1096,w_1600/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1266849843.jpeg" alt="NBA Playoffs" width="1600" height="1096" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1266849843.jpeg 1600w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1266849843-768x526.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1600px;">NBA playoffs (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)</p>
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<h2>OG Anunoby, Toronto Raptors vs. Timothé Luwawu-Cabarrot, Brooklyn Nets.</h2>
<p>Maybe he’ll never be the highest usage player and his offensive game still needs to be polished, but Toronto Raptors forward <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2020/08/19/nba-playoffs-matchups-first-round-east/"https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/a/anunoog01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22 ref="nofollow">OG Anunoby</a> is one of the most influential defenders in the sport. His length, strength and sheer instinct allow him to defend multiple positions in any defensive set.</p>
<p>With the upstart Brooklyn Nets, Anunoby needs to ready himself for a matchup that no one thought he’d be concerned with before the Bubble: <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2020/08/19/nba-playoffs-matchups-first-round-east/"https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/l/luwawti01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22 ref="nofollow">Timothé Luwawu-Cabarrot</a>.</p>
<p>Since the regular-season restart, Luwawu-Cabarrot has been one of the most efficient scorers in the league with 14.8 points on 50.6 percent from the field and 45.1 percent on 6.4 3-point attempts per game. His three-level scoring threat surged the Nets’ second unit as they clawed back against the Raptors in Game One of the series backed by his 26 points and seven rebounds.</p>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">😤 Grabbed the offensive rebound<br>🌀 Smooth spin move around the defender<br>💥 SLAM DUNK</p>
<p>Ladies & Gentlemen.. OG Anunoby 👏 <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2020/08/19/nba-playoffs-matchups-first-round-east/"https://t.co/oVakqHGLD9">pic.twitter.com/oVakqHGLD9
<p>— NBA UK (@NBAUK) <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2020/08/19/nba-playoffs-matchups-first-round-east/"https://twitter.com/NBAUK/status/1295646624509648896?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>August 18, 2020</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src=https://hoopshabit.com/2020/08/19/nba-playoffs-matchups-first-round-east/"https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></div>
<p>Most of Toronto’s attention needs to be focused on Caris LeVert, but this emergence is the key factor that may help the Nets regain some traction after winning five of eight seeding games.</p>
<p>Maybe next season, there’ll be more hope for this team to make a splash in the playoffs with a healthy Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant at the helm, but this is Brooklyn’s B-Squad. The likelihood of pulling an upset is slim-to-none and now, OG needs to warm up for more important assignments down the road. Potential future matchups for Anunoby include Giannis, Tatum and Butler — three legitimate stars. Pulling the assignment of a red-hot Luwawu-Cabarrot is a nice way for OG to warm up for more pressing tasks soon.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2020/08/19/nba-playoffs-matchups-first-round-east/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> No. 3 Boston Celtics vs. No. 6 Philadelphia 76ers </a>
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<img class="size-full wp-image-408078" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2020/08/19/nba-playoffs-matchups-first-round-east/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1067,w_1600/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1228086590.jpeg" alt="Boston Celtics, Philadelphia 76ers" width="1600" height="1067" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1228086590.jpeg 1600w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1228086590-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1600px;">NBA playoffs (Photo by Ashley Landis – Pool/Getty Images)</p>
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<h2>Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics vs. Tobias Harris, Philadelphia 76ers.</h2>
<p>There’s no denying that <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2020/08/19/nba-playoffs-matchups-first-round-east/"https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/t/tatumja01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22 ref="nofollow">Jayson Tatum</a> is a rising star in this league. As the season progressed, he grew more comfortable as the No. 1 option and driving force for a legitimate contender. Head coach Brad Stevens caters his gameplan to the 22-year-old’s strengths with full confidence, but there’s only so much he can do. Now, it’s up to Tatum to execute.</p>
<p>Taking hold of this first-round series against the Philadelphia 76ers would be huge for the first-time All-Star’s confidence. Tatum finished at a game-high +19 with 32 points, 13 rebounds, three blocks and two triples in 41 minutes. So far, so good, but he must be wary of his matchup with forward <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2020/08/19/nba-playoffs-matchups-first-round-east/"https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/h/harrito02.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22 ref="nofollow">Tobias Harris</a>.</p>
<p>Game one was rough for Harris, who finished 6-for-15 with just 15 points. Philly gave him a max extension this past offseason for being an exemplary team-player with a strong leadership presence. No team would dole out that kind of cash unless they believe this player can be an All-Star and now, it’s time for Harris to play like one.</p>
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<p>Now that Ben Simmons is sidelined and Harris is the Sixers’ unquestioned No. 2 option, he needs to pick up his scoring output and prove that he’s worth his contract. Harris asserted himself in different ways in game one, tallying eight boards, eight assists and a steal. Still, it’s not going to be enough against one of the deepest and deadliest squads in this league.</p>
<p>More so than anything, Harris needs to step up on defense. While Brett Brown’s team is getting forced into switches to survive the Celtics’ perimeter onslaught, Harris is going to take the coverage against Tatum quite a few times in this series. Maybe his rookie teammate, Matisse Thybulle is better suited to be the defensive stopper, but Thybulle won’t get the assignment all that often.</p>
<p>Harris may not have reached All-Star status just yet, but he needs to play like one for Philly to have a chance at moving on.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2020/08/19/nba-playoffs-matchups-first-round-east/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> No. 4 Indiana Pacers vs. No. 5 Miami Heat </a>
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<img class="size-full wp-image-408077" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2020/08/19/nba-playoffs-matchups-first-round-east/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2133,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1228097687.jpeg" alt="Miami Heat, Indiana Pacers" width="3200" height="2133" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1228097687.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1228097687-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">NBA playoffs (Photo by Ashley Landis-Pool/Getty Images)</p>
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<h2>Myles Turner, Indiana Pacers vs. Bam Adebayo, Miami Heat.</h2>
<p>Transforming <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2020/08/19/nba-playoffs-matchups-first-round-east/"https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/a/adebaba01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22 ref="nofollow">Bam Adebayo</a> into a center has made the possibilities endless for the Miami Heat. It allows head coach Erik Spoelstra to deploy his lineup of sharpshooters to complement the two non-shooters that represented his team in the 2020 All-Star game. Having Adebayo as the team’s primary rim defender bodes well for Miami’s hopes of sweeping the series.</p>
<p>It also forces Bam to adapt as he matches up against another modern center —<a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2020/08/19/nba-playoffs-matchups-first-round-east/"https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/t/turnemy01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22 ref="nofollow"> Myles Turner</a> of the Indiana Pacers. While Turner isn’t a high-usage scorer or an All-Star caliber player at this point, his skill set is invaluable to a Pacers squad making up for the injury to Domantas Sabonis. One of the game’s best shot blockers, Turner is going to do everything in his power to stop the Heat from capitalizing on their shots in the paint during the series.</p>
<p>Turner’s floor-spacing from the five-spot puts Bam in an interesting situation. There are few players at Adebayo’s position that I’d rather have defending on the perimeter, but it draws him away from the basket. That should open up lanes for cutters and jump shooters for an Indiana team that ranked eighth in points in the paint and second in mid-range points per game in the regular season.</p>
<p>Adebayo took care of business in the first game, tallying 17 points, 10 rebounds, six assists and three blocks. Turner finished with nine points on 11 shots with a team-worst +/-.</p>
<p>If Indiana is going to turn this series around after going down early in the NBA playoffs, Turner needs to turn it up.</p>
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