Mims' NBA Eastern Conference Playoff Picks: Sixers vs Wizards, Nets vs Celtics, Knicks vs Hawks, Bucks vs Heat

Here are my NBA Playoff Series Breakdowns for the Eastern Conference. I will pick the winner of each series and the projected games I think each series will go.

Sixers over Wizards in 5. Series Price is Sixers -1250 & Wizards +730.

Players to watch: Joel Embiid and Russell Westbrook. Embiid is a nightmare to game plan against. He should average 28 points and 12 rebounds. Westbrook will have to play exceptional and make the games a track meet. Sixers will slow things down and not allow that. Bradley Beal will be the highest scoring player in the series. Beal still has an issue with his hamstring.

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Knicks over Hawks in 6. Series price is Knicks +100 & Hawks -121.

Players to watch: Julius Randle and Trae Young. Randle is my most improved player of the year. Everything the Knicks do goes thru him. Young must continue to trust his teammates to make this a competitive series. Also watch who plays better off the bench: Lou Williams or Derrick Rose.

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Nets over Celtics in 5. Series price is Nets -1430 & Celtics + 700.

Players to watch: James Harden and Jayson Tatum. Harden will set the table for the other members of the Big 3. He will also get the role players involved. Tatum must drop 35 each game for the C’s to make it a series. Also watch Kemba Walker against Kyrie Irving. Since Walker essentially replaced Kyrie with the Celtics, their match up will be personal.

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Bucks over Heat in 6. Series price is Bucks -305 & Heat +240.

Players to watch: Khris Middleton and Bam Adebayo. Middleton must score consistently to support Giannis Antekounmpo. Bam must flirt with a double double every game. The addition of Jrue Holiday will give the Bucks a measure of revenge for the Heat eliminating them last year. The Bucks have a better bench and will score at least 115 every game.

Enjoy the NBA Playoffs. Follow me on Twitter on and we can share halftime thoughts during every game on TNT, ESPN & ABC.