The beasts of the East: NBA Eastern Conference first round preview

After a long-fought 82-game season, the stage is nearly set for the first round of the NBA Playoffs in the Eastern Conference.

With drama, excitement, and knockout basketball, the NBA Playoffs are the highlight of every basketball fan season.

Here is what to expect in the first-round matchups out of the East!

The fourth versus fifth seed in any first-round clash is an exciting one. Two even teams with near identical records always bode for a long-fought series, and that's the case for these teams.

New York native Donovan Mitchell was almost a Knick last off-season, but for some unknown reason, he ended up with the Cavs. Mitchell has been exceptional this season, averaging 28 points a game. The Cavs guard could be the catalyst for the series.

The Knicks snatched the regular season matchups 3-1, but with Starman Julius Randle questionable after an injury late in the regular season, The Knicks will need Jalen Brunson and RJ Barrett to step up if they have any chance of progressing.

A 76ers versus Nets matchup was much anticipated for most of the season, but Brooklyn has a new-look team, led by Mikel Bridges and without former stars Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving.

To take anything from the series, Nic Claxton will play a pivotal role in guarding MVP front-runner Joel Embiid. The 76ers took the regular season matchups 4-0, and without Durant and Irving, the Nets are 15-18 heading into the postseason.

Philadelphia is just the third 3^rd seed to rank in the top eight offensively and defensively in the last 2o years, and with the lack of star power in the Nets squad, The 76ers should progress into the next round.

The Atlanta Hawks saw off the Miami Heat in the NBA Play-in tournament to face off against last year's Eastern Conference champions, the Boston Celtics.

Statistically, The Celtics have been the best team in the NBA, ranking second in both offensive and defensive efficiency in the regular season. Boston has kept their core which got to the NBA Finals last year and has the defensive capability to shut down Atlanta's Trae Young.

The Hawks have been terrific under coach Quin Snyder, but The Celtics took the regular season games 3-0. Boston executes superbly on both ends of the floor, and with Jayson Tatum in top form, Atlanta will struggle to get the better of this matchup.

After finishing at the summit of the Eastern Conference, with 58 wins and 24 losses, it's hard to look past the Milwaukee Bucks as the serious contenders to come out of the East.

'The Greek Freak' Giannis Antetokounmpo has made history this season, becoming the first player to average 30 points and ten rebounds on 55% shooting. He and Brook Lopez will be a tough matchup in size for either the Chicago Bulls or Miami Heat if they win their play-in game.

The two teams facing off for the final spot in the playoffs have identical form, going into the game with six wins in the last ten and averaging 113 points a game each.

The Heats' top performers of Bam Adebayo (20ppg) and Jimmy Butler (18ppg) matchup, identically with Chicago's top players Nikola Vucevic (18ppg) and Zach Lavine (22ppg), making for an enthralling encounter on Friday night.