NBA playoff predictions: Forecasting both big matchups in the East

Which two teams will win the Eastern Conference semifinals, and how many games will each series go?[br /][br /]Our ESPN Forecast panel predicts Celtics-Bucks and 76ers-Raptors.[br /][Ads /][br /][i]Note: All predictions were made before Game 1 of each series. Forecast predictions represent percentage of total votes. BPI and FiveThirtyEight predictions represent likelihood to win.[/i][br /][br /][img SRC="https://secure.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/photo/2019/0205/r498140_1296x518_5-2.jpg" /][br /][br /](2) Raptors vs. (3) 76ers[/h2][br /][b]Likelihood of winning series[/b][br /][br /][ul][br /][li][b]ESPN Forecast:[/b] Raptors 65 percent | 76ers 35 percent[/li][br /][li][b]Basketball Power Index:[/b] Raptors (75 percent)[/li][br /][li][b]FiveThirtyEight:[/b]Raptors (81 percent)[/li][br /][/ul][br /][br /][b]More:[/b][br /][br /][ul][br /][li][url TARGET="_blank" HREF="https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/26604729/2019-nba-playoffs-expert-predictions-conference-semifinals" ]Experts' predictions for the conference semifinals[/url][/li][br /][li][url TARGET="_blank" HREF="https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/26589475/raptors-dominant-defense-full-display-series-clincher" ]Raptors' dominant defense on full display in series clincher[/url][/li][br /][/ul][br /][i][b]Game 1: [/b]Saturday | 7:30 p.m. ET, TNT[/i][br /][br /][img SRC="https://secure.espncdn.com/i/mlb/infographics/greyline.png" /][br /][br /][img SRC="https://secure.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/photo/2018/1221/r480431_1296x518_5-2.jpg" /][br /][br /](1) Bucks vs. (4) Celtics[/h2][br /][b]Likelihood of winning series[/b][br /][Ads /][br /][ul][br /][li][b]ESPN Forecast:[/b]Bucks 67 percent | Celtics 33 percent[/li][br /][li][b]Basketball Power Index:[/b] Bucks (76 percent)[/li][br /][li][b]FiveThirtyEight:[/b]Bucks (75 percent)[/li][br /][/ul][br /][br /][b]More:[/b][br /][br /][ul][br /][li][url TARGET="_blank" HREF="https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/page/zachlowe26613193/preview-boston-celtics-milwaukee-bucks-playoff-series" ]Lowe's prediction: Why Celtics-Bucks should be so close[/url][/li][br /][li][url TARGET="_blank" HREF="https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/26495696/a-star-built-giannis-best-basketball-player-alive" ]A star is built: Giannis is the best basketball player alive[/url][/li][br /][/ul][br /][i][b]Game 1: [/b]Sunday | 1 p.m. ET, ABC[/i][br /][br /][img SRC="https://secure.espncdn.com/i/mlb/infographics/greyline.png" /][br /][br /][img SRC="https://secure.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/photo/2019/0225/r499195_2_1296x518_5-2.jpg" /][br /][br /]Which East team will make the NBA Finals?[/h2][br /][b]ESPN Forecast(percentage of votes)[/b][br /][br /][ul][br /][li][b]Bucks: [/b]67percent[/li][br /][li][b]Raptors:[/b]19 percent[/li][br /][Ads /][br /][li][b]Celtics:[/b]14 percent[/li][br /][li][b]76ers:[/b]0 percent[/li][br /][/ul][br /][b]Basketball Power Index (projections)[/b][br /][br /][ul][br /][li][b]Bucks:[/b]55.5 percent[/li][br /][li][b]Raptors:[/b] 29.3 percent[/li][br /][li][b]Celtics:[/b] 9.9 percent[/li][br /][li][b]76ers:[/b]5.3 percent[/li][br /][/ul][br /][b]FiveThirtyEight (projections)[/b][br /][br /][ul][br /][li][b]Raptors: [/b]54percent[/li][br /][li][b]Bucks:[/b]34 percent[/li][br /][li][b]76ers:[/b] 7 percent[/li][br /][li][b]Celtics:[/b]5 percent[/li][br /][/ul][br /][i]Image credits: David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images; Brian Babineau/NBAE/Getty Images; Rick Madonik/Toronto Star/Getty Images[/i][br/][br/][sectionHeader]Related Video[/sectionHeader][promoExternal HREF="http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=26595112&ex_cid=espnapi_affiliate_abcotv" IMAGE="https://a.espncdn.com/media/motion/2019/0424/dm_190424_nba_Kawhi_knocks_out_Magic_in_round_1_of_the_NBA_playoffs/dm_190424_nba_Kawhi_knocks_out_Magic_in_round_1_of_the_NBA_playoffs.jpg" TITLE="Kawhi's Round 1 mixtape vs. Magic" DESCRIPTION="Kawhi Leonard breaks out his usual bag of tricks to lead the Raptors to a 4-1 series win over the Magic, the first five-game series win in Toronto playoff history." ]