At long last, we’ve made it to the NBA Playoffs after months of breathtaking hoops action. The level of intensity also doesn’t figure to go down now that we’re left with the eight best teams from each conference.
The East has a handful of championship contenders in Chicago, Cleveland and Atlanta. Meanwhile, the West is always a wild ride with more than a handful of teams worthy of the championship. Which one of the remaining 16 NBA teams finds their way to the top? Read on as we give you a complete overview of the 2015 NBA Playoffs.
Don’t get left in the dark. Check out our complete previews for the top seeds of each conference with the East’s Nets vs. Hawks and the West’s Pelicans vs. Warriors.
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NBA Playoffs Preview and Predictions
Eastern Conference
Atlanta Hawks vs. Brooklyn Nets
[sc:NBA240banner ]There’s no easier matchup for Atlanta in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs than the Brooklyn Nets. The East’s top seed swept Brooklyn in the regular season with an averaging scoring margin of 17.3 points.
But the Nets could realistically do some damage with the stellar play of Brook Lopez of late. Lopez has averaged at least 20 points and nine rebounds since March to spearhead Brooklyn’s postseason bid. He’s averaging 18.8 points over four games against Atlanta this season.
Prediction: Atlanta sweeps the Nets.
Prediction for the Hawks: Reach the NBA Finals.
Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Boston Celtics
The Cleveland Cavaliers had the No. 2 seed locked up toward the end of the regular season. They cared very little about the last few games of the regular season, favoring to rest their star trio of LeBron James, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love. That would explain the back-to-back losses to Boston at the tail end of the season.
But the Cavs won their first two meetings against Boston, one of which was a 110-79 blowout on March 3. King James starred in those games putting up a total of 68 points, while Irving also added 45 points in the two games. But Boston remains one of the hottest teams approaching the playoffs, winning their last six games. Isaiah Thomas led the Celtics in that run, averaging 21.2 points per game.
Prediction: Cleveland wins the series 4-1.
Prediction for the Cavaliers: Lose to the Hawks in the conference finals.
Chicago Bulls vs. Milwaukee Bucks
Chicago grabbed the third seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs after beating the East’s top team, Atlanta, in the season finale. The Bulls now get a favorable matchup against the Milwaukee Bucks. Chicago is 3-1 SU/ATS against the Bucks this season. Star point guard Derrick Rose missed two of those games due to injury, but his presence might not give the Bulls much of a scoring punch.
Rose has scored a total of just 21 points on 5-of-23 shooting against the Bucks. He did do his best to direct the offense with a combined 15 assists. Rose has plenty of support around him. Jimmy Butler has been an excellent running mate for him, averaging 20 points per game, while Pau Gasol is a dominant inside presence.
The loaded Chicago frontcourt should be the key in this series due to Milwaukee having no dominant big man. Zaza Pachulia (8.4 points, 6.9 rebounds) and Ersan Ilyasova (11.4 points, 4.8 rebounds) can’t compare to the Chicago frontcourt duo of Joakim Noah (7.2 points, 9.6 rebounds) and the aforementioned Gasol (18.5 points, 11.8 rebounds).
Prediction: Chicago sweeps the series.
Prediction for the Bulls: Lose to the Cavs in the conference semifinals.
Toronto Raptors vs. Washington Wizards
Perhaps the closest matchup in the Eastern Conference Playoffs, the Toronto Raptors and Washington Wizards promise some fireworks in the postseason. The Raptors closed off the regular season winning four of their last five games. The Wizards have also recovered from a late-season malaise to win five of their last eight.
Washington’s backcourt duo of John Wall and Bradley Beal has been amazing against Toronto this season. Beal scored 26 points on 9-of-17 shooting, including 5-of-10 from beyond the arc in his lone game against the Raptors this season. He missed the two other games due to injury. Wall has scored a total of 49 points and dished out 20 assists over his last two games against the Raptors.
Toronto should be pretty confident after sweeping the Wizards in three games in the regular season series. But the Raptors are heading into the playoffs with star point guard Kyle Lowry possibly being far from tip-top shape. He averaged just 12.8 points over the last four games of the regular season.
What could steal this series is the Wizards’ ability to rebound. Washington ranks eighth in the league in rebounds (44.6 per game), while Toronto ranks 26th (41.7 per game). A few extra possessions should aid Washington especially with Toronto middling in the league in field goal percentage (45.5 percent, 12th) this season.
Prediction: Washington wins in six games.
Prediction for the Wizards: Lose to Atlanta in the conference semifinals.
Western Conference
Golden State Warriors vs. New Orleans Pelicans
The New Orleans Pelicans beat the red-hot Spurs in the final game of the regular season. Their reward—a potential seven-game date with NBA-best Golden State. But the Pelicans appear to be a tough matchup for the Warriors if we are to go by their final matchup of the regular season.
Anthony Davis scored 29 points, Quincy Pondexter chipped in 20, and Tyreke Evans narrowly missed a double-double with 12 points and nine assists in a 103-100 win against the Warriors. The Pelicans also had some success against league-leading Golden State without Anthony Davis in an overtime loss in December.
But make no mistake. The Warriors are the best team in the league for a reason. Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson can each go for three or more three-pointers per game to stretch out leads or erase deficits. Curry also has the deft hands (two steals per game, fourth in the league) that could hound New Orleans primary ball-handler Evans, who commits 3.2 turnovers per game.
Prediction: Golden State wins in six games.
Prediction for the Warriors: Reach the NBA Finals.
Houston Rockets vs. Dallas Mavericks
The Houston Rockets just know how to win. Even with premier center Dwight Howard sidelined for lengthy stretches, the Rockets still clinched the second seed in the highly-competitive West. They did it through the heroics of MVP contender James Harden.
Harden has been pretty impressive against Dallas this season, averaging 24.8 points per game against the Mavericks. But Dallas is entering the playoffs with two of their stars in Chandler Parsons and Rajon Rondo well-rested and healthy. Parsons has the outside shooting capable of negating Houston’s three-point-happy attack, while Rondo (6.5 assists per game) can help spread out Dallas’ offense.
Prediction: Houston wins in seven games.
Prediction for the Rockets: Lose to the Clippers in the conference semifinals.
Los Angeles Clippers vs. San Antonio Spurs
Los Angeles is red-hot entering the playoffs. The Clippers have won their last seven games of the regular season to clinch the third seed in the West. But standing in their way is defending champion, San Antonio.
The Clippers split their four-game regular season series against San Antonio. Chris Paul is averaging 19.8 points and 10 assists in four games against the Spurs. Blake Griffin has scored 25.3 points per game in three appearances against San Antonio. But the Spurs are playing their best basketball right now. They had won 11 straight games before falling in their regular season finale against New Orleans.
The Spurs swept their last playoff appearance against the Clippers in 2012.
Prediction: Los Angeles wins in seven games.
Prediction for the Clippers: Make the conference finals.
Portland Trail Blazers vs. Memphis Grizzlies
Despite being the fifth seed, the Memphis Grizzlies must be smiling right now. They face the fourth-seeded Portland Trail Blazers whom they swept in the regular season 4-0. They’re also starting this series at Memphis, where they’re an excellent 31-10 in the regular season.
The Grizzlies’ leading scorer, Marc Gasol cannot be any hotter. He finished the regular season with 33 points and 13 rebounds against Indiana on Wednesday. He’s been a reliable scorer against Portland averaging 18.8 points over their four regular season meetings. But Memphis might continue to miss Mike Conley due to an injured foot.
Without Conley’s defensive prowess, Portland’s Damian Lillard may be given free rein to continue his high-scoring ways. Lillard has done an amazing job in running point against Memphis, averaging 22 points and 7.3 assists in their four-game regular season set.
Prediction: Memphis wins in five games.
Prediction for the Grizzlies: Lose to Golden State in the conference semifinals.
Writer’s Prediction
The Hawks continue their Cinderella-esque season. Atlanta beats Golden State in seven games to win the 2015 NBA Championship.
