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2016 NBA Playoffs: The Deciding Factor In Each First Round Series

By Gerald Bourguet

May 27, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) dribbles the basketball against Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) during the fourth quarter in game five of the Western Conference Finals of the NBA Playoffs at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Rockets 104-90 to advance to the NBA Finals. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
May 27, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) dribbles the basketball against Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) during the fourth quarter in game five of the Western Conference Finals of the NBA Playoffs at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Rockets 104-90 to advance to the NBA Finals. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /
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NBA Playoffs
Nov 13, 2015; Boston, MA, USA; Atlanta Hawks forward Paul Millsap (4) drives to the hoop against Boston Celtics center Kelly Olynyk (41) during the second half at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports /

No. 4 Atlanta Hawks vs. No. 5 Boston Celtics

Can Anyone Stop Millsap?

This one’s pretty simple. Isaiah Thomas and a resurgent Jeff Teague should cancel each other out, given I.T.’s advantage on the offensive end and Teague being able to take advantage of his less than stellar defense on the other end. Avery Bradley and Kyle Korver are both excellent defenders and provide a perimeter threat that forces defenses to always be aware.

Jae Crowder has a definitive advantage over Kent Bazemore, but when it comes to the frontcourt, the Boston Celtics just might be outmatched. In four games against the Celts this season, Paul Millsap has averaged 22.5 points, 10.3 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.5 blocks and 1.3 steals per game on absurd .576/.429/.842 shooting splits.

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Meanwhile, Al Horford presents his own challenge as a perpetually underrated stretch-5 whose impact doesn’t always show up in the stats column. Suffice it to say that they will present major problems for a Brad Stevens-led team touting Amir Johnson, Jared Sullinger and Kelly Olynyk in the frontcourt.

Not that any of those guys are bad players, but the Atlanta Hawks have a major advantage in the frontcourt between Millsap and Horford, which may even force Crowder to log some time against Millsap as a small-ball 4.

There will be plenty of X-factors in this series between two more Eastern teams that finished the season with a 48-34 record, including Thomas going off, Korver’s perimeter shooting and matchups like Crowder vs. Bazemore. But at the end of the day, Boston’s chances of pulling off the upset fully rely on their ability to contain Millsap and Horford.

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Prediction: Atlanta Hawks in 7 games