10 Storylines for Every NBA Fan to Watch Heading into the 2015 NBA Playoffs
The 2015 NBA playoffs are shaping up to be the league's most fascinating postseason in recent memory.
Whereas a few title favorites tend to rise to the surface most years—such as the LeBron James-era Miami Heat or the late-2000s Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers—this season features no shortage of legitimate contenders. Just about every projected Western Conference playoff team could feasibly crash the NBA Finals, while the East's top three seeds all have realistic title aspirations, too.
Anyone attempting to prognosticate how the proceedings will unfold is asking for a March Madness-esque busted bracket. Instead, with the playoff field still whittling itself down and seedings up in the air, let's highlight some storylines every NBA fan should keep an eye on heading into the postseason.
These narratives won't be the only ones worth tracking, but each figures to play a large role in determining who walks out with the Larry O'Brien Trophy in June.
Has Atlanta Already Peaked?
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After steamrolling their way to a 17-0 record in January, the Atlanta Hawks looked like the Eastern Conference's clear favorite for the NBA Finals. Since that time, however, the Cleveland Cavaliers have caught fire, while Atlanta has sputtered.
Much of the Hawks' recent struggles can be attributed to head coach Mike Budenholzer, who hasn't hesitated to rest players with the Hawks cruising toward the East's No. 1 seed. Given that liberal resting policy, it's hard to put much stock into Atlanta's league-average marks on offense and defense since Feb. 1.
Still, recent double-digit blowouts at the hands of the Golden State Warriors and San Antonio Spurs likely won't inspire much confidence in Atlanta's chances of advancing deep into the postseason. Following the Spurs rout, Hawks sharpshooter Kyle Korver spoke with ESPN.com's Kevin Arnovitz about the team's mentality:
"We’re at a point in the season where we have a good lead in the standings. We know the playoffs are coming. We’ve had this long road trip. It’s easy to kind of relax just a little bit. But the good teams are able to keep their foot on the pedal.
So what did we learn from tonight? Bigger picture stuff, like, "This is who we want to be, and that’s how we want to play." Not necessarily the plays they run and their execution, but just their overall mindset.
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The Hawks shouldn't have much trouble in their first-round matchup, and with all due respect to the Toronto Raptors and Washington Wizards, they likely won't pose much of a threat either. Atlanta will need to regain its January mojo to topple the Cleveland Cavaliers or Chicago Bulls in the Eastern Conference Finals, though.
Can the Cavs Handle the Pressure?
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The Cleveland Cavaliers have been on a roll since acquiring Iman Shumpert, J.R. Smith and Timofey Mozgov in two separate trades during early January. Though they won't have home-court advantage throughout the Eastern Conference playoffs, the Cavs clearly have the talent to emerge from the bracket unscathed.
However, the playoffs are a far different beast from the regular season, which should give anyone penciling Cleveland into the NBA Finals some pause. Though LeBron James is well-versed in the pressure-packed postseason atmosphere, his two main sidekicks, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love, have yet to experience a playoff game.
In speaking with ESPN Insider Jeff Goodman, an NBA assistant coach raised that concern about Irving in particular:
"He's an unbelievable finisher and his 50-point performance shows he can score at an elite level. However, he hasn't played in a playoff game yet. Can he knock down big shots when people are loading up on LeBron and the stakes are high? Can he make big shots in the playoffs? That's the question.
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Love's lower back injury also qualifies as a potential concern—he left Sunday's game against the Philadelphia 76ers after taking an elbow, per ESPN.com's Dave McMenamin—but he has nearly a month to get himself ready for the playoffs. Until the Cavs battle back from a 2-1 series deficit, however, the question about playoff experience will loom large over this franchise.
Are the Bulls a Real Title Threat?
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As seems to be an annual tradition under head coach Tom Thibodeau, the Chicago Bulls have endured their fair share of crippling injuries to star players this season. From Derrick Rose's torn meniscus to Jimmy Butler's sprained left elbow, the Bulls have yet again persevered to record their fifth straight 45-win season.
Unlike the past few years, however, Chicago figures to have its full complement of players available for the playoffs. Given the standout performances Bulls reserves have posted in recent weeks—most notably from sharpshooting big man Nikola Mirotic and do-it-all wing Tony Snell—Thibodeau has some tough rotation decisions on his hands come the postseason.
On the year, the Bulls have the league's 10th-ranked offense and 12th-ranked defense, falling just on the periphery of recent title contenders. The question remains, however, whether Thibodeau will drive his players into the ground over the regular season's final few weeks, as ESPNChicago.com's Michael Wilbon wrote back in January:
"The Bulls should want to keep Thibs' signature toughness, but they cannot under any circumstances drag into the playoffs like dead men walking, which is what they did last season. Their toughness is a tangible asset, but their inability to keep players on the floor and the lack of energy that results is an absolute detriment.
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If Rose returns from his meniscus tear with no major setbacks and Thibs keeps his starters on somewhat of a minutes limit over these final few weeks, the Bulls have the talent to knock off the Cleveland Cavaliers and/or Atlanta Hawks. That's only true if they're not running on fumes, however.
Is Randy Wittman Coaching for His Job?
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Less than one year after leading his Washington Wizards to a first-round upset of the Chicago Bulls and signing a contract extension, Wizards head coach Randy Wittman finds himself back on the hot seat.
After getting off to a scorching 29-13 start, Washington has gone 12-19 over its past 31 games, plummeting to fifth in the Eastern Conference. Since the All-Star break, the Wizards have the league's fourth-worst offensive rating, leading to major questions about Wittman's overarching strategy.
Whereas the Washington head coach initially shot down concern about his team's offense, instead insisting his players' effort on defense was the major red flag, he changed his tune following a 99-91 loss to the Houston Rockets on March 29.
"We were running things that I've never seen before," Wittman told reporters. "We weren't focused on what we needed to do from an offensive standpoint. Coming out of timeouts, a guy doesn't even know he's supposed to catch the ball, and we turn it over."
The final year of Wittman's three-year extension isn't fully guaranteed, according to J. Michael of CSNWashington.com, which raises the question of whether he's coaching for his job in the playoffs. Can Wittman survive a first-round knockout, especially if it comes at the hands of the struggling Toronto Raptors?
How Well Will Dwight Howard and James Harden Coexist?
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After missing 26 games due to edema in his right knee, Dwight Howard made his long-awaited return to the Houston Rockets' lineup on March 25, notching four points and seven rebounds in a 95-93 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves.
With James Harden playing at an MVP-caliber level in Howard's absence, the big man's return could have thrown off the Rockets' chemistry at the worst possible time. However, as Howard told ESPN.com's Calvin Watkins, he isn't planning on disrupting the Beard's offensive rhythm by demanding touches in the post:
"I haven't played all season, the offense will come for me; that's not something I'm worried about. Watching this team play and the thing that stood out was the defense, just me being a presence on the defensive end. The offense will come, I told James just continue to fight, continue to play like he's been playing [and] don't worry about me.
I'm going to do what I have to do to put the ball in the basket. I'm going to make sure those guys hear my voice on the defensive end.
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Prior to making his return, Howard met with Harden to deliver that exact message, as he told Sports Illustrated's Ben Golliver. "I told him to destroy every opponent that's in front of him," Howard said. "I will do whatever I have to do to: score, rebound, whatever. I don't want him to change up anything. That was my message to him."
With point guard Patrick Beverley now out for the year, per Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle, Harden and Howard must shoulder the load for Houston heading into the playoffs. How well they coexist will go a long way toward determining how far the Rockets advance.
Will Damian Lillard Conjure More Playoff Magic?
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Damian Lillard cemented himself in Portland Trail Blazers postseason history last year by unexpectedly finishing off the Houston Rockets with a Game 6 buzzer-beater. Lillard was a killer in such situations during the 2013-14 regular season, shooting 47.3 percent and finishing with the league's fifth-most clutch points (148).
Since that playoff dagger, however, "Lillard Time" is a rare commodity. While he's currently eighth this year in clutch points scored (103), he's shooting just 33.7 percent in such situations, the ninth-lowest of the 35 players with at least 50 clutch shot attempts.
With Lillard's teammate, LaMarcus Aldridge, emerging as one of the league's most efficient clutch shooters this season, the Blazers should strive to find better balance between the two in late-game situations. Otherwise, as CBSSports.com's Zach Harper writes, it could come back to bite the team in the postseason:
"It's not that Lillard has all of a sudden become too unreliable, but you might get him better looks and opportunities if the defense thinks Aldridge is the main target. … The balance isn't there and it's much more predictable that Lillard will get his shot and everybody else will be left watching.
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Wesley Matthews' season-ending Achilles tear dealt a major blow to the Blazers' title hopes, leaving more pressure on the shoulders of Lillard and Aldridge. If the Portland floor general is able to recapture his clutch prowess, however, the Blazers could be a sneaky Western Conference playoff spoiler.
Can CP3 Get the Clippers over the Hump?
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In his first six trips to the playoffs, Chris Paul has yet to advance past the Western Conference semifinals. If he fails to push the Los Angeles Clippers over that hump in 2015, there's no telling when he might have the opportunity to do so again.
Clippers center DeAndre Jordan, whom head coach Doc Rivers believes should be this season's Defensive Player of the Year, is set to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1. Based on his recent comments to USA Today's Sam Amick, there's no guarantee he'll be re-signing with Los Angeles this summer:
"I mean I've obviously been here seven years, and the past two have been great. Doc has been my biggest supporter and the best coach I’ve ever had. The team is great. The guys are great. We have great camaraderie. But the free agency process is definitely going to be a fun one.
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Jordan may be the Clippers' defensive fulcrum, but CP3 still remains the head of the snake offensively. With the status of backup guard Jamal Crawford still uncertain—he's been sidelined since March 2 with a calf injury—and the Clippers bench a mess, Paul can't afford to have an off night once the playoffs commence.
As Bleacher Report's Ric Bucher told Adam Lefkoe, Steve Ballmer didn't spend $2 billion on the Clippers franchise expecting an early-postseason demise. It's on CP3 to shatter the narrative about his playoff shortcomings once and for all this spring.
What to Make of the Grizzlies?
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Despite cracking the 50-win threshold for the third straight season, it's tough to know which form of the Memphis Grizzlies we'll be seeing in the playoffs.
Prior to the All-Star break, Memphis had the league's sixth-ranked defense and fell just outside the top 10 in offensive rating. Since returning from the break, however, the Grizzlies have sputtered to an 11-10 record, touting the league's seventh-worst offense during that span.
Memphis' struggles can partially be attributed to some rotation juggling, as head coach Dave Joerger is working diligently to find the best way to use Jeff Green, according to The Commercial Appeal's Ronald Tillery. In speaking with ESPN.com's Michael Wallace prior to their March 27 blowout loss to the Golden State Warriors, Grizzlies point guard Mike Conley highlighted that:
"We're still experimenting. Overall, our focus never wavers. You have stretches where you can get a little relaxed. We went through a stretch when we played a lot of games in a short period of time. Mentally, it was draining—a lot of stress. We're fighting our way through it, fighting our way back. We played good basketball until [Wednesday] night.
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However, Conley also recently conceded to Geoff Calkins of The Commercial Appeal that it was "demoralizing" to be enduring such struggles at this late stage of the season. While it's possible the Grizzlies simply entered cruise control until the playoffs begin, they'll be one of the West's biggest wild cards due to their inconsistent play as of late.
Did the Spurs Play Possum?
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It happens every year like clockwork: The San Antonio Spurs lull the rest of the league into a false sense of security, making everyone think they've finally succumbed to Father Time. Then, seemingly out of nowhere, they begin surging, asserting themselves as one of the West's top teams heading into the postseason.
This year was no different. They sputtered to a 19-14 start, looking hardly like the defending champions, and came out of the All-Star break with four straight losses. Since then, however, they've strung together 13 wins in their past 16 games, rounding into championship form at the best possible time.
As SB Nation's Jesus Gomez wrote, whichever team draws them in the opening round should officially be on upset alert:
"No one has played as well as they have recently and were it not for a Kyrie Irving explosion and an unbelievable overtime loss to the Knicks, San Antonio would be 14-1 in the last 15. The Warriors are still the favorite and the West is so competitive that a bad night could cost a team a series, so it's impossible to know how far the Spurs can go.
Just don't be surprised if they somehow knock off someone seeded higher than them.
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With Tony Parker and Kawhi Leonard rounding into form, Tim Duncan continuing to defy the laws of aging and role players coming to life once more, count out the Spurs at your own peril. Despite their lack of home-court advantage, they could easily crash the Western Conference Finals for the fourth straight season.
Can Anyone Stop Golden State?
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Barring a catastrophic late-season injury, the Golden State Warriors should enter the playoffs as clear title favorites. They own the league's best defense, second-ranked offense—trailing the Los Angeles Clippers by a whopping 0.1 points per 100 possessions in that regard—and by far the best net rating.
With home-court advantage effectively sealed through the NBA Finals, the road to the Larry O'Brien Trophy will go through the Bay Area this spring. Given the eardrum-shattering levels of volume Oracle Arena frequently reaches—they don't call it "Roaracle" for nothing, after all—that's a terrifying prospect for all other challengers.
As CBSSports.com's Matt Moore writes, there's nothing left for Golden State to accomplish in the regular season. All eyes turn toward the playoffs now, where some uncertainty about the Warriors' title favoritism does remain:
"Golden State has done everything that a championship qualification committee would ask them to do. If this were the NCAA tournament, they'd be the No.1 overall seed and it wouldn't be close. They have answered every question they can answer.
The ones that remain aren't insults to how well they've played, they're a necessary function of that annoyingly true trope: "That's why they play the games."
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One pesky injury or one brutal matchup could cause the Warriors' dream season to end in a nightmare. Until then, however, NBA fans can only wonder whether a barrage of three-point bombs from the Splash Brothers and lockdown defense from Andrew Bogut and Draymond Green will be enough to propel Golden State to the promised land.
All statistics and records via NBA.com or Basketball-Reference.com, unless otherwise noted, and are current through Sunday, March 29.
