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10 Matchups We Want To See In The 2017 NBA Playoffs

By Gerald Bourguet

Mar 1, 2017; Boston, MA, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) is guarded by Boston Celtics point guard Marcus Smart (36) during the first quarter at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 1, 2017; Boston, MA, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) is guarded by Boston Celtics point guard Marcus Smart (36) during the first quarter at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports /
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2017 NBA Playoffs
Dec 5, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Kyrie Irving (2) dribbles the ball past Toronto Raptors guard DeMar DeRozan (10) in the first half at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports /

4. Eastern Conference semifinals: No. 1 Cleveland Cavaliers vs. No. 4 Toronto Raptors

If we get both Celtics-Wizards and a 1-4 matchup between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Toronto Raptors, the 2017 Eastern Conference playoffs will be 10 times more lit than they were in 2016.

While the competitiveness of this series would largely depend on Kyle Lowry making a full recovery and quickly shaking off the rust from a wrist injury, if everyone’s healthy enough to play, this is an enticing matchup that could seriously challenge LeBron James and company.

Though the Raptors are ranked 10th in defensive rating for the season, they’ve been the NBA’s fifth-ranked defense since the All-Star Break, when they added stretch-4 Serge Ibaka and iron man P.J. Tucker.

Those moves didn’t land the Raptors another superstar to pair with Lowry and DeMar DeRozan, but they provided gritty, defensive-minded players specifically meant to challenge Cleveland. No one can “stop” LeBron James, but Tucker makes him work as hard as anyone and his penchant for clutch rebounding could come in handy in a tight playoff game.

Ibaka spreads the floor to three-point range on one end and bolsters the team’s interior defense on the other, helping to cover for Jonas Valanciunas‘ flaws on defense and allowing the Raptors to play small with Ibaka at the 5.

The Cavs have won all three meetings with Toronto this season, but none of them featured Ibaka and Tucker. Cleveland should still be the favorite in this potential series, but as we mentioned before, we just want to see more competitive playoff basketball in the East this year. Luckily for us, “We The North” could be ready to provide it as early as the second round.