2018 NBA Playoffs: First-round schedule, initial thoughts on each series

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7 of 9

Boston Celtics (2) vs. Milwaukee Bucks (7)

Season Series: 2-2

Game 1: Sun. April 15 Milwaukee at Boston, 1 p.m., TNT
Game 2: Tue, April 17 Milwaukee at Boston, 8 p.m., TNT
Game 3: Fri. April 20 Boston at Milwaukee, 9:30 p.m., ESPN
Game 4: Sun. April 22 Boston at Milwaukee, 1 p.m., ABC
*Game 5: Tue. April 24 Milwaukee at Boston, TBD
*Game 6: Thu. April 26 Boston at Milwaukee, TBD
*Game 7: Sat. April 28 Milwaukee at Boston, TNT

The Boston Celtics may not have Marcus Smart, Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward suiting up for them when the playoffs start, but they’re still one of the more dangerous teams in the NBA playoff field.

So are the Milwaukee Bucks, who arguably have the second best player in the conference, Giannis Antetokounmpo, on their side.

Many might actually believe that this series will likely come down to Boston’s young guns (Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown) vs. Giannis. And they might be right. But I feel like Brad Stevens could be the ultimate series-changer. Oh, and he should be the NBA’s Coach of the Year.