Who plays in the NBA on Sunday May 1st?

We’ve got an NBA Playoff double header coming your way this Sunday, May 1st. Join us for a look at the two games and all you need to know as we begin the Conference semi-finals!

Milwaukee Bucks vs Boston Celtics

The Celtics have home court, rest, Tatum, Smart and a point to prove

All eyes will be on Boston this Sunday as the defending champions Milwaukee Bucks head there to start their Conference semi-final series against the Celtics. As mentioned Giannis and co. are the champs, but Boston is definitely better rested and of course will enjoy home court advantage. In terms of predictions, this one has got to be the hardest of all the match-ups to call. With both teams ending the season with an identical record of 51-31, as well as an even split in their four-game season series, it’s likely to be an intense affair. Interestingly, the Bucks rested their starters for the last game of the season which resulted in a loss to the Cavs and more importantly the loss of home court advantage.

“They have every right to do what they please,” Celtics guard Marcus Smart said of the scenario. “If that means that they thought by (resting starters), they didn’t need home-court against us or weren’t too worried about us, that’s fine. We’ll go out and we will play our game and let our game do the talking and see where it leads us.” That’s definitely something Boston’s game has done. After sweeping the highly favored Brooklyn Nets, it was clear that this was not a team to be taken lightly if that wasn’t clear before. That being said, star forward Jayson Tatum is well aware of the challenge they face. Tatum averaged 29.5 points, 7.3 assists and 4.5 rebounds per game in the first round, making him a key part of Boston’s offensive production. “They’re a bigger team, so it’s probably going to be a more physical match-up,” Tatum said. “They pose different challenges than Brooklyn does.”

Khris Middleton out, but then there’s Giannis

With the loss of Khris Middleton in Game 2 of their series the Bucks took a big blow to their offensive capacity, especially considering that he is not likely to play in the series at all. With that said the Bucks will of course be relying on their size advantage. There is 6′11′ Giannis Antetokounmpo, 7′ Brook Lopez and 6′10′ Bobby Portis. With the difference in size, Boston will have to find a way to make life uncomfortable for the Bucks and especially Giannis Antetokounmpo if they hope to advance. As the league’s second highest scorer with 29.9 ppg on the season, the Greek Freak will be more than a handfull. “We all know what Giannis is capable of, what he’s doing and what he’s going to try to do,” said Smart, the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year. “He makes it really tough because of how aggressive he is and how he can get in the lane to not only create for himself, but create for those other guys.”

As for the man himself, Giannis knows that the Celtics are going to be a true test for the Bucks. “We’ve got to win with defense,” Antetokounmpo said. “We don’t know how many points we’re going to score with Khris being out.” Those sentiments were reiterated by Bucks head coach Mike Budenholzer as he faced up to the reality of the challenge they are about to face. “Their bigs are all big and smart and have high defensive IQs,” Budenholzer said of the Celtics. “And obviously Marcus Smart has been recognized as the Defensive Player of the Year and a lot of respect for him and how he impacts the game, including keeping people out of the paint.”

The Bucks vs Celtics Game 1 tips off on Sunday May 1st at 1:00 p.m. ET at the TD Garden in Boston, MA.

Golden State Warriors vs Memphis Grizzlies

The Warriors bank on experience and Steph Curry

To believe the Warriors are not as dangerous as they have ever been would be a mistake. With fice consecutive NBA Finals appearances between 2015 and 2019 on their CV, this is a team that knows how to move in the post season. Golden State is fresh off of a 4-1 series win over the Denver Nuggets in the first round of the playoffs. As expected it came down to Stephen Curry who - it has to be said - is averaging 28.0 ppg in the playoffs. Indeed, Curry is shooting 50% (46 of 92) from the field and 40.4% (19 of 47) from beyond the arc. Those are some serious stats. In a team of sharp shooters Curry is king, but rest assured with Klay Thompson on 22.6 ppg in the post season and Jordan Poole 21.0, the Grizzlies will have to be on high alert.

“He’s a lot stronger,” said the Warrios’ Draymond Green when speaking of Curry. “When he’s driving to the hole, what teams used to do is bump him off his path. Can’t move him anymore. ...You have to overreact to the shot. If you’re not pressed up and overreacting to the shot, then he shoots, and good luck. But once he puts his head down and drives it, and he’s committed to getting to the hole, he’s strong enough to take those bumps and not get pushed off his path.”

The Grizzlies have youth, Ja Morant and a great coach

When the No. 2 seeded Grizzlies clash with the No. 3 seeded Warriors on Sunday it will be perhaps the definition of the battle between youth and experience. With this being Memphis’ first playoff series win in seven years one could argue that they are out of their depth against Golden State, but make no mistake this is a team that is as hungry and talented as they come. Having dismissed the Timberwolves in the first round 4-2, the Grizzlies were led largely by Desmond Bane who averaged 23.5 ppg on 49.5% shooting along with an impressive 48.2% from 3-point range. Then of course there was the Grizzlies talisman Ja Morant. The NBA’s Most Improved Player of the Year was actually not as effective in the initial games - though not below par - with an average of 21.5 points, 10.5 assists and 8.7 rebounds, but in the end he delivered when the team needed him most.

This brings us to the other aspect of the Grizzlies which is a sharing of the wealth. Indeed, Memphis boasted three other players who averaged double-digit scoring in the first round, including Dillon Brooks on 16.5 ppg, Brandon Clarke who put up 16.5 ppg and Jaren Jackson Jr. with 11.8 ppg. Jackson made clear, however, that the work continues. “It’s a good feeling, but (we’re) still not satisfied,” he said. “You’ve got to keep raising your level.” That’s a notion that Grizzlies coach and NBA Coach of the Year candidate Taylor Jenkins fully appreciates. “You definitely have got to celebrate moments like this,” Jenkins said after the first-round win. “You’ve got to cherish this. Winning a series, you don’t want to take for granted. ...We’ll appropriately celebrate, but we’re definitely going to appropriately prepare.”

The Warriors vs Grizzlies Game 1 tips off on Sunday May 1st at 3:30 p.m. ET at FedExForum, Memphis, TN