#1 Atlanta Hawks Vs. #8 Brooklyn Nets
The Hawks won a franchise record 60 games this year, fueled by a run of good health. Overall the team lost 91 games to injury, second best amongst Eastern Conference playoff teams. However they enter the postseason without the services of Thabo Selfolosha as he recovers from a fractured fibula sustained in the now infamous circumstances surrounding the stabbing of Indiana’s Chris Copeland. The off-the-court injury is a big blow for the Hawks who struggled during Sefolosha’s previous extended absence recovering from a calf strain. On the year, Atlanta was 17-13 (.556) without Sefolosha in the lineup and 43-9 (.827) when he played. It may not affect them against Brooklyn but his defensive presence will hurt the deeper into the playoffs they go. Paul Millsap’s sprained shoulder is also a concern despite his return to the lineup. Millsap is still experiencing soreness in the area and looked limited in the regular season finale, scoring five points on 2-of-9 shooting.
The Nets enter the matchup short-handed as well. Both Sergey Karasev (knee dislocation and MCL sprain) and Mirza Teletovic (pulmonary embolus) will not initially suit up, though Teletovic has been cleared to return to basketball activities and could make an appearance if Brooklyn can extend the series. The team’s depth will be further tested if Alan Anderson’s sprained left ankle limits his productivity. Anderson missed the team’s final seven regular season games but is expected to play in Game 1. Still the Nets’ starting five enters the matchup healthy and will be the center of a potential upset.
#2 Cleveland Cavaliers Vs. #7 Boston Celtics
LeBron James gets a chance to extend his personal rivalry with one of the NBA’s storied franchises. James has played like a MVP candidate after taking an eight-game break to rest an ailing back and knee, but concerns about the health of his two All-Star teammates remain. Kyrie Irving did not play in two of Cleveland’s final four games due to lingering soreness in his right hip while Kevin Love has battled a nagging back injury for a majority of the season. If either player is limited by their current ailment, the Cavaliers may not run over Boston quite as easily as some are predicting. Cleveland center Anderson Varejao remains out after tearing his Achilles in December.
The plucky Celtics lost 127 games to injury this season, three more than their first-round opponent. However nearly half of those games are attributed to players no longer on their roster including Vitor Faverani, Marcus Thornton, Rajon Rondo, and Shavlik Randolph. A surprisingly difficult back contusion slowed Isaiah Thomas’s impressive run in March though he appears to have moved past the injury. The team also got a nice late season boost from the return of Jared Sullinger. Sullinger was sidelined 24 games with a stress fracture in his fourth metatarsal but was back in action for the final seven games of the regular season. Jae Crowder’s right ankle will be worth monitoring as his versatility on defense should be a key component of any scheme coach Brad Stevens opts to utilize against the Cavaliers.
#3 Chicago Bulls Vs. #6 Milwaukee Bucks
The Bulls and Bucks face off as the two Eastern Conference playoffs teams most decimated by injury during the regular season. The Bulls missed nearly 150 games throughout the season as Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah, Taj Gibson, and Jimmy Butler all missed extended time with an assortment of injuries. Chicago will get little sympathy from Milwaukee who dealt with multiple significant injuries throughout the season, including a season-ending ACL tear for rookie Jabari Parker. In the end, the Bucks lost 258 games to injury or illness.
Both teams have issues entering the series with injuries to key reserves lingering. The Bulls remain unsure if veteran guard Kirk Hinrich will be available for Game 1 as he continues to battle problems with a hyperextended left knee. His absence could force he team to overextend Rose, who still is working his way back from a meniscectomy. Problems in the front court exist as well with forward Taj Gibson needing a cortisone injection in his ailing shoulder to make it through the regular season finale. Joakim Noah’s left hamstring and remain a serious concern as well. The Bucks know Parker won’t be suiting up but they are optimistic veterans Jared Dudley (lower back) and Jerryd Bayless (neck) will be available after resting their injuries in the regular season finale. The Bulls remain the favorite but the series could shift the Bucks’ way if one of the multiple issues Chicago is facing goes poorly.
#4 Toronto Raptors Vs. #5 Washington Wizards
Both teams literally and metaphorically limp into the first round of the postseason. After starting the year off well, the Raptors and Wizards have each struggled down the stretch. The Wizards finished 18-23 in the second half of the season, including a 0-6 stretch while Bradley Beal missed time with the third stress reaction in his fibula of his career. John Wall has been slowed by a persistent right ankle issue and veteran center Nene is once again battling plantar fasciitis in his right foot. Second year forward Otto Porter Jr. sprained his ankle in the final game of the regular season but is likely to be available for Game 1. Porter’s availability will be key as the Wizards will be without the services of Garrett Temple, who aggravated his hamstring strain and is expected to miss the first round of the playoffs.
Toronto missed the fewest number games to injury of any team in the postseason with 61 games lost. However healthy remains an x-factor as All-Star guard Kyle Lowry missed nine of the team’s final 14 regular season contests recovering from a back contusion and the resulting spasms. He looked rusty in his first four games back but was impressive in his last start, scoring 26 points on 8-of-15 shooting, including six made three-pointers. Defensive catalyst Amir Johnson has also been limited by an injury though his recently sprained ankle isn’t expected to keep him off the court. The Raptors appear to have a slight edge health-wise though Lowry’s back is a looming threat. If he is it all limited in mobility, Lowry could find himself struggling to stay in front of Washington’s Wall.