NBA Playoff Schedule 2014: Complete TV Coverage and Updated Bracket Info
The 2014 NBA playoff schedule has already kicked off, and basketball fans across the world are excited about the best teams in the league going head-to-head for the right to claim the NBA Championship.
With perennial powerhouses like Miami and San Antonio beginning the road to another title and unheralded teams like Portland and Brooklyn trying to shock the sport, the NBA postseason is one of the most exciting in sports.
Here is the full schedule for the 2014 playoffs, the updated TV coverage for each game and a preview of the best first-round series. For an updated bracket, check out NBAPlayoffsBracket.com.
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| 4/20 | (8) Mavericks vs. (1) Spurs | 1 p.m. | San Antonio, 90-85 |
| 4/23 | (8) Mavericks vs. (1) Spurs | 8 p.m. | NBATV |
| 4/26 | (1) Spurs vs. (8) Mavericks | 4:30 p.m. | TNT |
| 4/28 | (1) Spurs vs. (8) Mavericks | 9:30 p.m. | TNT |
| 4/30 | (8) Mavericks vs. (1) Spurs | TBD | TBD |
| 5/2 | (1) Spurs vs. (8) Mavericks | TBD | TBD |
| 5/4 | (8) Mavericks vs. (1) Spurs | TBD | TBD |
| 4/19 | (7) Grizzlies vs. (2) Thunder | 9:30 p.m, | Oklahoma City, 100-86 |
| 4/21 | (7) Grizzlies vs. (2) Thunder | 8 p.m. | TNT |
| 4/24 | (2) Thunder vs. (7) Grizzlies | 8 p.m. | TNT |
| 4/26 | (2) Thunder vs. (7) Grizzlies | 9:30 p.m. | ESPN |
| 4/29 | (7) Grizzlies vs. (2) Thunder | TBD | TBD |
| 5/1 | (2) Thunder vs. (7) Grizzlies | TBD | TBD |
| 5/3 | (7) Grizzlies vs. (2) Thunder | TBD | TNT |
| 4/19 | (6) Warriors vs. (3) Clippers | 3:30 p.m. | Golden State, 109-105 |
| 4/21 | (6) Warriors vs. (3) Clippers | 10:30 p.m. | TNT |
| 4/24 | (3) Clippers vs. (6) Warriors | 10:30 p.m. | TNT |
| 4/27 | (3) Clippers vs. (6) Warriors | 3:30 p.m. | ABC |
| 4/29 | (6) Warriors vs. (3) Clippers | TBD | TBD |
| 5/1 | (3) Clippers vs. (6) Warriors | TBD | TBD |
| 5/3 | (6) Warriors vs. (3) Clippers | TBD | TNT |
| 4/20 | (5) Trail Blazers vs. (4) Rockets | 9:30 p.m. | Portland, 122-120 |
| 4/23 | (5) Trail Blazers vs. (4) Rockets | 9:30 p.m. | TNT |
| 4/25 | (4) Rockets vs. (5) Trail Blazers | 10:30 p.m. | ESPN |
| 4/27 | (4) Rockets vs. (5) Trail Blazers | 9:30 p.m. | TNT |
| 4/30 | (5) Trail Blazers vs. (4) Rockets | TBD | TBD |
| 5/2 | (4) Rockets vs. (5) Trail Blazers | TBD | TBD |
| 5/4 | (5) Trail Blazers vs. (4) Rockets | TBD | TBD |
| 4/19 | (8) Hawks vs. (1) Pacers | 7 p.m. | Atlanta, 101-93 |
| 4/22 | (8) Hawks vs. (1) Pacers | 7 p.m. | TNT |
| 4/24 | (1) Pacers vs. (8) Hawks | 7 p.m. | NBATV |
| 4/26 | (1) Pacers vs. (8) Hawks | 2 p.m. | TNT |
| 4/28 | (8) Hawks vs. (1) Pacers | 8 p.m. | NBATV |
| 5/1 | (1) Pacers vs. (8) Hawks | TBD | TBD |
| 5/3 | (8) Hawks vs. (1) Pacers | TBD | TNT |
| 4/20 | (7) Bobcats vs. (2) Heat | 3:30 p.m. | Miami, 99-88 |
| 4/23 | (7) Bobcats vs. (2) Heat | 7 p.m. | TNT |
| 4/26 | (2) Heat vs. (7) Bobcats | 7 p.m. | ESPN |
| 4/28 | (2) Heat vs. (7) Bobcats | 7 p.m. | TNT |
| 4/30 | (7) Bobcats vs. (2) Heat | TBD | TBD |
| 5/2 | (2) Heat vs. (7) Bobcats | TBD | TBD |
| 5/4 | (7) Bobcats vs. (2) Heat | TBD | ABC |
| 4/19 | (6) Nets vs. (3) Raptors | 12:30 p.m. | Brooklyn, 94-87 |
| 4/22 | (6) Nets vs. (3) Raptors | 7:30 p.m. | NBATV |
| 4/25 | (3) Raptors vs. (6) Nets | 7 p.m. | ESPN 2 |
| 4/27 | (3) Raptors vs. (6) Nets | 7 p.m. | TNT |
| 4/30 | (6) Nets vs. (3) Raptors | TBD | TBD |
| 5/2 | (3) Raptors vs. (6) Nets | TBD | TBD |
| 5/4 | (6) Nets vs. (3) Raptors | TBD | TBD |
| 4/20 | (5) Wizards vs. (4) Bulls | 7 p.m. | Washington, 102-93 |
| 4/22 | (5) Wizards vs. (4) Bulls | 9:30 p.m. | TNT |
| 4/25 | (4) Bulls vs. (5) Wizards | 8 p.m. | ESPN |
| 4/27 | (4) Bulls vs. (5) Wizards | 1 p.m. | ABC |
| 4/29 | (5) Wizards vs. (4) Bulls | TBD | TBD |
| 5/1 | (4) Bulls vs. (5) Wizards | TBD | TBD |
| 5/3 | (5) Wizards vs. (4) Bulls | TBD | TBD |
The Most Dangerous Team in the Playoffs: Miami Heat
While most basketball fans think of the Miami Heat as one of the most gifted offensive teams in the league, it is the Heat’s dedication to defense that makes them one of the favorites to win another NBA Championship.
The Charlotte Bobcats deserve immense credit for making the playoffs this season, but the franchise couldn’t have drawn a worse first-round matchup. Charlotte is talented, but Miami is a far better all-around team.
Miami started slow in the first game of the series but managed to regain its composure in time to pull away with a late win. As the official Twitter account of SportsCenter pointed out, it was on the strength of stars LeBron James and Dwyane Wade that the team was able to steal Game 1:
As Miami's voice of reason, head coach Erik Spoelstra told Michael Wallace of ESPN.com that the Heat will continue to roll with the punches, despite facing plenty of adversity this season:
"Nothing about the postseason is ideal. The only thing that's ideal is that you're in the postseason. Everything else, you have to deal with it. There will be so many things that happen, a lot of different adversities. You have to be able to manage that and find a way. We happen to be healthy now, as healthy as we've been in a long time, but that doesn't guarantee anything.
"
The Bobcats have a solid core of smart players—Charlotte boasts stars like Al Jefferson, Kemba Walker and Gary Neal—and proved in the series opener that they belong in the postseason competing against the best.
But as well as the Bobcats have played, they're no match for the Heat.
Led by the ever-powerful trio of James, Wade and Chris Bosh in the offensive zone, as well as the elite performances from one of the most dangerous benches in the NBA, Miami’s hunt for another title is on the right track.
As long as the Heat continue to play well and take down Charlotte, the momentum created in the first round will help catapult Miami toward a championship.
Series Prediction: Miami sweeps Charlotte 4-0
*Stats via NBA.com.
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