NBA playoffs: How the Eastern Conference bracket stacks up

In bracket order

Toronto (1) vs. Washington (8)

Cleveland (4) vs. Indiana (5)

Sixers (3) vs. Miami (6)

Boston (2) vs. Milwaukee (7)

Series format: 2-2-1-1-1

LeBron James, Cavaliers: His average, 27.5 points, is his highest in eight years. The 33-year-old played 82 games for the first time in his career.

Sixers: Haven't lost since the night the NCAA tournament started. The play-in games, that is. The 16-game winning streak includes 10 in a row at home.

Toronto: Went 34-7 at home, 17-3 in the last 20. Someone's going to have to win at least once at Air Canada Center to knock off the Raptors.

Myles Turner, Pacers: Shooting just 27.3 percent from the field over the last five games and has posted -13, -22 and -27 in three of them.

Washington: The Wiz are 7-14 since Feb. 27.

Boston: What's next on the injury front? The leprechaun developing emphysema from all of those years of Red Auerbach cigars.

Source: Westgate Superbook, Las Vegas

Check this out: The Sixers opened the season 20-1 to win the conference, 100-1 to win the title.

Check this out: During their 16-game winning streak, the Sixers are averaging 118.3 points. The average margin of victory has been 14.1.

Check this out: The Sixers lead the NBA in opponents' field goal percentage (43.4). Miami, their first-round opponent, is seventh.

Check this out: Ben Simmons (8.6 per game) is third in assists among players on Eastern Conference playoff teams. Only John Wall (9.6) and LeBron James (9.1) average more. Russell Westbrook (10.3) led the NBA.

[David Murphy: The best player on the court in the playoffs probably will be Ben Simmons]

The top 10 regular-season scorers expected to play in the Eastern Conference playoffs. Joel Embiid is included. Kyrie Irving is not.

Check this out: Seven of the top 10 scorers for playoff teams play in the West (James Harden, 30.4; Anthony Davis, 28.1; Damian Lillard, 26.9; Steph Curry, 26.4; Kevin Durant, 26.4; Russell Westbrook, 25.4; LaMarcus Aldridge, 23.1).

[LeBron James on Sixers' fans: It's always been rowdy here]

Among East playoff teams

Check this out: The Sixers lost at Portland on Dec. 28 to fall to 15-19, the last time they were four games under .500.

"Toronto's having a heck of a year, Boston and everything they're doing with a lot of injuries themselves. And I think some of the teams in the middle of the pack are interesting. But until somebody beats whatever team LeBron's playing for, it always feels like the team that he's playing for is the team to beat in the East."

— Atlanta coach Mike Budenholzer