The Baseline: Welcome to the NBA Conference Semifinals

With the first round of the NBA playoffs behind us it’s on to the next one. We break down the semifinals in each conference including:

Wizards vs Celtics (time stamp: 3:30)

• Can the Celtics contain John Wall and Bradley Beal all series. Will their shooting remain elite? How will the Wizards move forward if Markieef Morris is out multiple games? Will Al Horford continue to be play at a high enough level to take pressure off of Isaiah Thomas?

• Are the Raptors finally ready to take the step past the Cavs with Serge Ibaka and P.J. Tucker on the roster? Can Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan remain consistently elite to expose the Cavs’ suspect defense?

• The Rockets have the confidence but do they have the skill to compete with the Spurs? Will Ryan Anderson put pressure on LaMarcus Aldridge and how will the Rockets defend Kawhi Leonard?

• Utah faces the ultimate test against the Warriors. Can their veterans George Hill, Joe Johnson and Boris Diaw help them overcome an impossible task? Is this the series Klay Thompson gets on track and will the Jazz just be a tuneup for the conference finals?