The Milwaukee Bucks defeated the Chicago Bulls in a relatively stress-free five-game series to open the playoffs. The Bucks now advance to the next round, where they will face the Boston Celtics. The series will tip off Sunday in Boston for Game 1 in which the Celtics are five-point favorites.

We'll now take a look at 3 bold predictions for the Milwaukee Bucks' second-round series against the Boston Celtics.

Milwaukee Bucks 3 Bold Predictions for Eastern Conference Semifinals vs. Boston Celtics

3. Giannis Antetokounmpo averages 32-15-5

In the opening series against the Bulls, Giannis Antetokounmpo averaged 28.6 points, 13.4 rebounds, and 6.3 assists per game. Those numbers were well in line with his regular season numbers, including his 62.5% true-shooting percentage. Last season, Antetokounmpo's play picked up as the lights got brighter. In the NBA Finals, he averaged 35.2 points, 13.2 rebounds, and five assists in six games. That included a 50-point performance in the championship-clinching Game 6.

This season, that will remain the case. His numbers in the first round were still incredible, but he didn't have to put up those gaudy figures like last season's playoffs. That will change in the second round, as the Bulls face off against a formidable figure in the Celtics. The Celtics not only possess the best defense in basketball, but are likely the Bucks' biggest competitor to win the East. In three regular season meetings with the Celtics, Antetokounmpo averaged 28.3 points per game. With the absence of Khris Middleton and an uptick in minutes, the two-time MVP winner will put up 32 points, 12 rebounds, and five assists per contest in the series.

2. Grayson Allen averages around 20 PPG

It's been officially announced that Khris Middleton will miss the whole second round against the Celtics. It's a huge loss for the Bucks, and role players will have to step up. Perhaps the biggest benficiary of Middleton's absence is Grayson Allen. The Bucks virtually stole Allen from the Memphis Grizzlies last offseason. Somehow, they only gave up Sam Merrill (who?) and two future second-round picks. His acquisition was huge for their wing depth as well as their bench, and it's even bigger with Middleton's injury.

Allen combined for just three points across 39 total minutes in Games 1 and 2 of the Bulls series. In those games in Milwaukee, Khris Middleton was in the lineup. In the final three games of the series without Middleton, Allen stepped up in a big way. He averaged 20.7 points per game including a 27-point performance in Game 5 in Chicago. Allen was scorching hot, as he shot 23-for-34 (67.6%!) from the field and 14-for-20 (70%) from beyond the arc. The Duke product even added in five steals while giving up just two total turnovers. His efficiency likely won't continue at that insane rate, but he's a major factor against the Celtics. He's proven to be a more effective option than Pat Connaughton, and he could be used to help defend Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum on the perimeter. With that, an uptick in minutes is likely to come.

1. Bucks win in 6

This really shouldn't be a bold prediction in saying the Bucks win in six games. Now though, it seems that's just the case. The Celtics deserve upmost respect and praise for sweeping the Kevin Durant-led Nets. Their defense has become the best in the league, and it clearly bothered Durant and Kyrie Irving all series. That physical defense will need to continue in order to slow down the likes of Giannis Antetokounmpo.

While the Celtics come in with home-court advantage, the Bucks remain the better team. To start, it's never too bold to bet on the team with the best player in the series. This is particularly true for guys in the ranks of Antetokounmpo or say, LeBron James in years past. I get it, the Celtics just defeated the Nets who had the best player in that series. The Bucks roster around the “Greek Freak” is far better than the Nets though, not to mention their coaching led by Mike Budenholzer. Headlined by Allen and lockdown defender Jrue Holiday, the Bucks have the team to take down the scorching hot Boston Celtics in six games. Winning Game 6 would be crucial, as a potential Game 7 would be back in Boston.