With the Eastern Conference semifinal series looking like toss ups after the opening games, there's a lot more at stake for the Bucks, Raptors, 76ers and Celtics than just a spot in the conference finals.
All four teams, along with the No. 5 seed in the East, the Indiana Pacers, have a number of key players headed to free agency in July, and those decisions could significantly alter the balance of power in the conference.
Let's start with the top seeded Bucks, who will have three starters (Khris Middleton, Brook Lopez and Malcolm Brogdon) hitting the open market (Brogdon is restricted), along with former Bulls' forward Niko Mirotic and potentially backup point guard George Hill, who has a non-guaranteed $18 million dollar contract for next season.