The Boston Celtics and Toronto Raptors will meet in the postseason for the first time ever on Thursday night for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals. Both clubs are coming off first-round sweeps. The defending NBA champions breezed past the injury-riddled Brooklyn Nets, while the Celtics quickly bounced the rival Philadelphia 76ers.

Meeting four times in the regular season — as the Atlantic Division foes do annually — Boston won the regular-season series over Toronto, three games to one. One of the Celtics’ victories over the Raptors came in a seeding game in Orlando. The Celtics won in convincing fashion, as seven players reached double digits in scoring during the 122-100 win. This has been the only loss for the Raptors in the Orlando bubble.

Boston, the No. 3 seed, must defeat the second-seeded Raptors sans Gordon Hayward, who will miss the entire series after suffering a Grade 3 ankle sprain in Game 1 against Philadelphia. The 30-year-old forward averaged 17.5 points on 50.0% shooting to go along with 6.7 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game during the regular season. The Celtics will miss Hayward's playmaking and shooting.

However, the Celtics are used to playing at less than full strength. They have had their top six players — the starting lineup plus Marcus Smart — available for just 19 of 76 games (including playoffs) this season.

Kyle Lowry’s left ankle sprain is another injury to monitor. The All-Star guard exited Game 4 against Brooklyn during the first quarter. His status for Game 1 (and beyond) versus Boston is unknown, though the hope is he'll be ready to go.

The Raptors had the NBA’s best scoring defense and ranked No. 2 in defensive efficiency, in large part due to Lowry’s excellence on that side of the ball. Boston is also a juggernaut on defense, ranking second in points allowed and fourth in defensive efficiency. In fact, the Celtics are one of two teams (LA Clippers) to rank inside the top five in defensive and offensive efficiency.

Before the series tips off, let’s look at three reasons the Celtics can dethrone the champs.

1. Celtics have the best player in the series

Jayson Tatum played like a superstar throughout the Celtics’ sweep of the 76ers. In Game 1, he posted playoff career bests in points (32) and rebounds (13). By Game 2, he set a new playoff high for scoring with 33 points, draining 8-of-12 3-pointers in the process. The 22-year-old became the youngest player in NBA history to make at least eight 3-pointers in a playoff contest. By Game 4, Tatum set another postseason career high with 15 rebounds in the series-clinching victory.

His numbers were truly impressive:

Making his presence felt on defense, Tatum helped limit Sixers forward Tobias Harris to 38.3% shooting, including a dreadful 13.3% clip from 3-point territory. Tatum blocked nine shots (2.3 per game) in the sweep.

Declaring Tatum the best player of the series is not a slight at Raptors forward Pascal Siakam. The Raptors’ leading scorer (22.9 per game) with the club’s top-ranked player efficiency rating (PER), Siakam earned a starting nod for the Eastern Conference All-Star roster back in February. In fact, Siakam and Tatum logged very similar statistics this season:

However, Tatum has been on another level since the league’s restart. After dominating during the seeding games (excluding his dismal first contest in the bubble), Tatum took it up a notch once the playoffs officially began. FiveThirtyEight ranks Tatum as the No. 1 player of the 2020 NBA postseason thus far. According to the site’s metrics, Tatum also holds the best ranking for WAR (wins above replacement).

2. Kemba Walker's return to stardom

It seems like another lifetime ago, but Kemba Walker began his Celtics tenure on a tear — en route to starting the All-Star Game for the East. But a nagging right knee injury halted the star guard's momentum with his new club, forcing him to miss 16 games (a career high) out of a possible 72.

Walker spent the majority of the seeding games on a minutes restriction. By the time the playoffs arrived, the Celtics were ready to unleash Walker. The 30-year-old guard logged an impressive 24.3 points per contest. He dropped a game-high 32 points in the Game 4 clincher as he won his first playoff series of his nine-year career:

Taking care of the ball, Walker committed just four turnovers all series. This is a tremendous mark, given that he held a 26.9% usage rate. Tatum was the only other Celtics with a higher usage rate (27.5).

Walker shot 50.0% or better in three of the four contests. He nailed 57.7% of his pull-up 2-point jumpers and made 9-of-18 shots when guarded by Sixers star Joel Embiid. Walker connected on 9-of-12 on shots at the rim.

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Walker has elevated Boston's wing duo of Tatum and Jaylen Brown. Tatum and Brown, who Walker called “true superstars,” are already a powerful tandem and are expected to be the 1-2 punch for the Celtics for years to come. Brown is arguably a better player than Walker right now.

But Walker, a true selfless star, certainly deserves credit for Brown's (and Tatum's) ascension this season. Walker has deferred to the young duo on offense when appropriate, helping the youngsters make a major leap this season. But when needed, Walker has answered the call to take over a game, something he proved all series versus Philadelphia.

3. Jaylen Brown's defense against Pascal Siakam

Jaylen Brown is one of the most improved defenders in the league. A shifty and long defender, Brown guarded Siakam well in the regular season, limiting Toronto's forward to 10-of-24 shooting:

Siakam missed two of the four regular-season matchups this season. And yet, Brown finished sixth in total minutes guarding Siakam this year. The Celtics clearly plan on deploying Brown against Siakam.

Brown is capable of altering Siakam's shots in the post and on face-ups. Brown's length allows him to defend Siakam in just about any situation, whether the Toronto big man is in isolation or has his back to the basket.

This matchup could swing the series, which seems destined to go the distance. The Celtics will win in seven games and advance to the Eastern Conference Finals for the third time in the past four years.