NBA Playoff Bracket 2019: Round-by-Round Guide to the Postseason

Playoff time is winning time for the Golden State Warriors, who have won three of the last four NBA titles.

But Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks finished with the best record in the regular season and will look to make their first Finals since Kareem Abdul-Jabbar ran the show in the early '70s.

The Toronto Raptors revamped their roster in the East, and the Denver Nuggets, Portland Trail Blazers and Houston Rockets look serious in the West.

Below is how the playoffs could shake out.

Eastern Conference

Milwaukee Bucks (1) vs. Detroit Pistons (8)

The Pistons limped into the postseason, and it doesn't seem like they will provide anything more than token opposition for the Bucks. Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton and Eric Bledsoe should dominate.

The Pistons need Blake Griffin back after he's dealt with left knee issues and was in and out of the lineup for weeks, and his status is uncertain. Andre Drummond is a load, but the Bucks will roll.

Prediction: Milwaukee 4, Detroit 1

Boston Celtics (4) vs. Indiana Pacers (5)

The Celtics will hope to find their stride after an inconsistent regular season, and the Pacers will of course be without All-Star Victor Oladipo.

Kyrie Irving, Al Horford, Jayson Tatum and Gordon Hayward should be enough to get the Celtics past the defensively stout Pacers, who allowed just 104.7 points per game (first in the league).

Prediction: Boston 4, Indiana 2

Toronto Raptors (2) vs. Orlando Magic (7)

This should not be your older brother's Raptors, who always stumbled in the playoffs thanks to their own unravelling and the presence of LeBron James in the East. Pascal Siakam has taken a huge step forward, and Kawhi Leonard and Marc Gasol weren't around last season.

While the Magic had an excellent late-season run to earn a spot in the playoffs, they don't have enough firepower to cause major problems for the Raptors.

Prediction: Toronto 4, Orlando 2

Philadelphia 76ers (3) vs. Brooklyn Nets (6)

The Sixers may not be at full strength at the start of the series because Joel Embiid has back and knee problems.

D'Angelo Russell, Caris LeVert, Spencer Dinwiddie, Jarrett Allen and Joe Harris will give the Nets a fighting chance, but Philadelphia should still have enough with Jimmy Butler, Ben Simmons, Tobias Harris and JJ Reddick. That said, the Sixers' depth could be an issue.

Prediction: Philadelphia 4, Brooklyn 2

Western Conference

Golden State Warriors (1) vs. Los Angeles Clippers (8)

The Clippers are feisty with an overachieving core of Lou Williams, Patrick Beverley, Danilo Gallinari, Montrezl Harrell, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Landry Shamet, but that won't be nearly enough to knock off the Warriors in a seven-game series.

Prediction: Golden State 4, Los Angeles 1

Houston Rockets (4) vs. Utah Jazz (5)

Houston appeared to be on track for the No. 2 seed, but the Rockets slipped to the No. 4 seed on the final day of the regular season.

That's bad news for Utah, which won't be able to match the potency of James Harden, Chris Paul and Co. despite being strong defensively behind Rudy Gobert.

Prediction: Houston 4, Utah 2

Denver Nuggets (2) vs. San Antonio Spurs (7)

The Spurs have made the playoffs 22 seasons in a row, and they will push the second-seeded Nuggets to the brink. In the end, the Big Two of DeMar DeRozan and LaMarcus Aldridge won't be quite enough to knock off the Nikola Jokic-led Nuggets.

Prediction: Denver 4, San Antonio 3

Portland Trail Blazers (3) vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (6)

This could be one of the most entertaining first-round series. Russell Westbrook/Paul George and Damian Lillard/CJ McCollum should cancel each other out, so look for an X-factor to emerge (like Enes Kanter or Dennis Schroder).

Even without Jusuf Nurkic, the Blazers should have enough...but barely.

Prediction: Portland 4, Oklahoma City 3

Second Round

Eastern Conference

Milwaukee over Boston in seven: Too much Giannis and not enough team play will ruin Boston's season. The Celtics' star power will still make this a highly competitive series.

Toronto over Philadelphia in six: The Sixers will battle, but if Embiid is not 100 percent, the Raptors will advance. Even if he's healthy, Toronto has better depth.

Western Conference

Golden State over Houston in seven: Harden will have his moments and help push this series to seven games for the second year in a row. This may be Golden State's biggest test in the postseason.

Portland over Denver in six: Denver is talented offensively but isn't quite ready to make the leap. After years of playoff disappointment, the Blazers will get it done.

Conference Finals

Toronto over Milwaukee in seven: It will be a battle of stars with Leonard and Antetokounmpo. It's a true toss-up, as both teams are loaded.

Golden State over Portland in five: The Blazers may steal a game early, but that's about all they'll muster versus this stacked roster.

NBA Finals

Golden State over Toronto in six: Just getting here is a huge accomplishment for the perennially underachieving Raptors, and they'll keep it close for the first few games. But in the end, it's too much shooting and playmaking for the Dubs.