NBA Playoffs: 4 individual East matchups to watch in the first round

T.J. Warren vs. Jimmy Butler

The first, and most obvious, pick is going to be the highly anticipated matchup between T.J. Warren and Jimmy Butler in the Heat vs. Pacers series. The beef between the two started earlier this season before the stoppage of play began.

The two went back-and-forth in a matchup on January 8, which led to a few verbal exchanges causing Warren to be ejected from the game. After Butler blew Warren a kiss, and T.J. made an obscene gesture towards Butler, the rivalry began. Butler continued to say after the game that Warren is not nearly in the same league as him.

Well, January T.J. Warren and August T.J. Warren are two completely different players, as he’s made a transcendent leap while playing in the bubble these past two weeks. Warren is averaging 31 points per game, as well as 6.3 rebounds and 2 assists, including a 53-point performance against the Sixers.

He’s going to be looking for revenge all series long against Butler and this matchup is by far the one I’m most excited for.