Perspective: After years as the NBA playoffs’ JV bracket, the sun is rising in the East
By Jerry Brewer Jerry Brewer Sports columnist Email Bio Follow Columnist April 27 The Eastern Conference, for so long at the mercy of both LeBron James and criticism about its junior varsity status in a West-leaning NBA, has the floor now. It doesn’t get to take over center stage because of the Golden State-Houston rematch, but as the playoffs advance to the conference semifinals, the East features four intriguing championship contenders and has an important opportunity to erase a stigma.
The Celtics have dealt all season with rumors that Kyrie Irving might break his verbal commitment to Boston. The Raptors took a calculated risk in trading DeMar DeRozan to San Antonio for Kawhi Leonard, a higher-tier star, without receiving a guarantee that the mercurial Leonard would re-sign in Toronto this summer.
“It’s going to be something,” Simmons said back then. “There’s a chance for a real dogfight, and we’re excited about the competition.”After the Sixers discarded the Brooklyn Nets, Embiid set the agenda for his team.Embiid went there despite the daily concerns about his aching knee. Philadelphia endured a rather tough five-game series against the Nets, and it’s trying to win a championship on the fly, with so many new pieces and so much uncertainty.
The semifinal series against Toronto might turn into a referendum on Simmons. We know he’s a star. We know his combination of height, speed and leaping ability makes him one of the most tantalizing under-25 players in the league.
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