NBA Playoff Schedule 2014: Predictions and How to Watch Each Round 1 Series
Success in the NBA regular season means nothing if you cannot match it in the playoffs. The 16 remaining teams will try to build on their 2013-14 seasons by coming through with strong performances in the next few weeks.
While fans can usually snooze through the first round and wait for the better matchups later on, every single opening series features some intrigue this time around.
Although we might not necessarily see many upsets, you can be certain that all of the top teams will be challenged throughout the series.
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Here is a breakdown of each matchup with a full schedule for the entire first round.
Eastern Conference
| 1 | Sat, April 19 | Indiana | 7 p.m. | ESPN |
| 2 | Tue, April 22 | Indiana | 7 p.m. | TNT |
| 3 | Thu, April 24 | Atlanta | 7 p.m. | NBA TV |
| 4 | Sat, April 26 | Atlanta | 2 p.m. | TNT |
| 5 | Mon, April 28 | Indiana | 8 p.m. | NBA TV |
| 6 | Thu, May 1 | Atlanta | TBD | TBD |
| 7 | Sat, May 3 | Indiana | TBD | TNT |
The Indiana certainly have not ended the year as planned. While they have led the Eastern Conference for most of the season, they finished the year going 10-13 in the final 23 games.
The biggest problem was getting consistent scoring, as the squad finished the year 24th in the NBA in points per game.
However, the Hawks are not the type of team to make the pay. They can score, but the defense is poor enough to allow Indiana to get back on track.
Paul George has an athletic advantage over everyone on the floor, and he should be able to carry his squad to an easy win over the 38-44 opponent.
Prediction: win in four
| 1 | Sun, April 20 | Miami | 3:30 p.m. | ABC |
| 2 | Wed, April 23 | Miami | 7 p.m. | TNT |
| 3 | Sat, April 26 | Charlotte | 7 p.m. | ESPN |
| 4 | Mon, April 28 | Charlotte | 7 p.m. | TNT |
| 5 | Wed, April 30 | Miami | TBD | TBD |
| 6 | Fri, May 2 | Charlotte | TBD | TBD |
| 7 | Sun, May 4 | Miami | TBD | TBD |
The Charlotte Bobcats surprised almost everyone by earning a spot in the postseason. According to Steve Reed of The Associated Press (via CBS Charlotte), Al Jefferson believes his team is not done:
"They didn't give us a chance in November, if you remember. … It's not time to fold now. It's time to take it to another level. We reached our goal and regardless of what happens in the playoffs we are one of the teams that has stood out this year — and we're proud of that. But we want more.
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This confidence could be enough to surprise people with a win in one of the home games, but coming away with a series win appears to be out of the question.
Miami has struggled a bit lately, but the defending champs will turn on the intensity in the playoffs and should win this series easily.
Prediction: Heat win in five
| 1 | Sat, April 19 | Toronto | 12:30 p.m. | ESPN |
| 2 | Tue, April 22 | Toronto | 8 p.m. | NBA TV |
| 3 | Fri, April 25 | Brooklyn | 7 p.m. | ESPN2 |
| 4 | Sun, April 27 | Brooklyn | 7 p.m. | TNT |
| 5 | Wed, April 30 | Toronto | TBD | TBD |
| 6 | Fri, May 2 | Brooklyn | TBD | TBD |
| 7 | Sun, May 4 | Toronto | TBD | TBD |
This series became more heated when the Toronto Sun posted this headline mocking the Brooklyn Nets' age:
While the Raptors do have the advantage of youth and athleticism, this also means that the Nets earn the edge when it comes to experience.
This is especially true when it comes to playoff games, where guys such as Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett have made a living.
The Raptors are better than people think and will remain competitive in this series, but Brooklyn knows how to pull out games late and should pull the upset.
Prediction: Nets win in six
| 1 | Sun, April 20 | Chicago | 7 p.m. | TNT |
| 2 | Tue, April 22 | Chicago | 9:30 p.m. | TNT |
| 3 | Fri, April 25 | Washington | 8 p.m. | ESPN |
| 4 | Sun, April 27 | Washington | 1 p.m. | ABC |
| 5 | Tue, April 29 | Chicago | TBD | TBD |
| 6 | Thu, May 1 | Washington | TBD | TBD |
| 7 | Sat, May 3 | Chicago | TBD | TNT |
It is hard for most people to understand what made the Chicago Bulls so good this season. They lost Derrick Rose early in the year and followed that up by trading away Deng.
Head coach Tom did a great job of holding this team together, earning high praise from ESPN's Mike Greenberg:
Additionally, Noah has had his best season, which has been noticed by Washington Wizards center Marcin :
The Wizards have one of the best young in the league, and they will be able to earn a few wins, but the team atmosphere and elite defense of Chicago will be the difference.
Prediction: Bulls win in seven
Western Conference
| 1 | Sun, April 20 | San Antonio | 1 p.m. | TNT |
| 2 | Wed, April 23 | San Antonio | 8 p.m. | NBA TV |
| 3 | Sat, April 26 | Dallas | 4:30 p.m. | TNT |
| 4 | Mon, April 28 | Dallas | 9:30 p.m. | TNT |
| 5 | Wed, April 30 | San Antonio | TBD | TBD |
| 6 | Fri, May 2 | Dallas | TBD | TBD |
| 7 | Sun, May 4 | San Antonio | TBD | TBD |
Every time people count out the San Antonio Spurs because they are too old, they come through with an even better season.
Tony Parker continues to be a leader on offense, while Tim Duncan remains one of the best at his position. With young players such as Leonard and Patty Mills contributing even more this year, it is hard to imagine this squad slowing down.
While Dallas is one of the few teams that can match San Antonio when it comes to playoff experience, the Spurs have simply been playing too well to stop.
Prediction: Spurs win in four
| 1 | Sat, April 19 | Oklahoma City | 9:30 p.m. | ESPN |
| 2 | Mon, April 21 | Oklahoma City | 8 p.m. | TNT |
| 3 | Thu, April 24 | Memphis | 8 p.m. | TNT |
| 4 | Sat, April 26 | Memphis | 9:30 p.m. | ESPN |
| 5 | Tue, April 29 | Oklahoma City | TBD | TBD |
| 6 | Thu, May 1 | Memphis | TBD | TBD |
| 7 | Sat, May 3 | Oklahoma City | TBD | TNT |
This series is going to be much closer than your typical No. 2 against a No. 7. While the Memphis Grizzlies struggled for much of the year, they are playing extremely well at this point and have won five games in a row heading into the postseason.
With great team defense and an elite , the Grizzlies will push the Thunder to the edge.
However, Oklahoma City still has Kevin Durant, who knows how to step up his effort in the playoffs:
Durant and Russell Westbrook should be able to make the tough shots to pull out a narrow win in this series.
Prediction: Thunder win in seven
| 1 | Sat, April 19 | Los Angeles | 3:30 p.m. | ABC |
| 2 | Mon, April 21 | Los Angeles | 10:30 p.m. | TNT |
| 3 | Thu, April 24 | Golden State | 10:30 p.m. | TNT |
| 4 | Sun, April 27 | Golden State | 3:30 p.m. | ABC |
| 5 | Tue, April 29 | Los Angeles | TBD | TBD |
| 6 | Thu, May 1 | Golden State | TBD | TBD |
| 7 | Sat, May 3 | Los Angeles | TBD | TNT |
On paper, this series is about as exciting as they come. The Clippers led the NBA in scoring this season with high-flying players such as Blake Griffin and Jordan getting the ball from the always-efficient Chris Paul.
Meanwhile, the Golden State Warriors can also score in bunches thanks to the great outside shooting of Stephen Curry and Thompson. The addition of Andre also helped improve the defense.
Jimmy Spencer of Fox Sports is one of many who cannot wait to watch the series:
Although this will likely go the distance, the one thing that will give the Clippers the edge is the injury to Andrew . The Warriors center will miss the series with a broken rib, which takes away the team's best interior defender.
Los Angeles should be able to score easily in the paint to narrowly win the series.
Prediction: Clippers win in seven
| 1 | Sun, April 20 | Houston | 9:30 p.m. | TNT |
| 2 | Wed, April 23 | Houston | 9:30 p.m. | TNT |
| 3 | Fri, April 25 | Portland | 10:30 p.m. | ESPN |
| 4 | Sun, April 27 | Portland | 9:30 p.m. | TNT |
| 5 | Wed, April 30 | Houston | TBD | TBD |
| 6 | Fri, May 2 | Portland | TBD | TBD |
| 7 | Sun, May 4 | Houston | TBD | TBD |
These are two similar teams that love to run the floor and put up points in bunches. Analyst Reggie Miller (via John of The Oregonian) breaks down the difference in the series:
The Houston Rockets have struggled in this area all year, even after bringing in Dwight Howard in the offseason. Aldridge has a versatile game that will allow him to score inside, while the rest of the roster will succeed as well.
On the other hand, Portland has the quickness and athleticism on the perimeter to cover the three-point shots that Houston loves to take. This will help the Trail Blazers survive what should be an excellent series throughout.
Prediction: Trail Blazers win in seven
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