NBA Playoffs 2015: Most Intriguing Potential 1st-Round Matchups
At long last, the NBA playoffs are in sight.
However, just because the postseason is bearing down doesn't mean clarity is in hand. With three days remaining in the regular season, three playoff spots are still up for grabs—two in the Eastern Conference and one in the West—while seeding looks like it will come down to the wire.
So with postseason permutations galore, it's time to sift through complex scenarios and pinpoint which first-round matchups could provide the most thrilling theater in the weeks ahead.
In this case, intriguing clashes were formulated based on star power, the level of emerging talent that can be showcased, histories of bad blood and upset potential.
Additionally, each outlined showdown comes complete with a five-point heat index that ranges from cool to scalding—with tepid, warm and boiling in between—as a way to gauge the intensity of prospective meetings.
And yes, the West has more compelling prospects than the East.
Honorable Mention: Golden State Warriors vs. New Orleans Pelicans
1 of 5
Season Series: Warriors won 3-1
Prospective Seeds: Golden State (No. 1) vs. New Orleans (No. 8)
Heat Index: Warming Up
The Golden State Warriors project to romp their first-round opponent regardless of whether it's the New Orleans Pelicans or Oklahoma City Thunder.
But for the sake of inviting a new wave of superstardom to partake in the postseason party, let's take a moment to consider the prospect of Stephen Curry and Anthony Davis trading figurative blows for a minimum of four games.
While Davis appeared in only two of the Pelicans' games with the Warriors this season, he blew up the box score on both occasions—including New Orleans' 103-100 win on April 7.
Over the course of those appearances, Davis averaged 29.5 points, 12.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists while shooting 60 percent from the field. Not too shabby for a 22-year-old up against one of the league's most intimidating and versatile front lines.
Now that Davis has a healthy Jrue Holiday (leg) and Ryan Anderson (knee) by his side to help keep pace with Curry, Klay Thompson and friends, New Orleans can show a national audience what it's capable of at full strength.
And then there's the Pelicans' displeasure with Golden State.
Following the April 7 victory, Davis explained why his team felt the need to play with some extra pep in its step.
"They came out and said this was going to be a scrimmage game," Davis told Fox Sports New Orleans (h/t The Times-Picayune's Christopher Dabe). "We kind of took that personally."
With tension building and the chance for New Orleans to make the playoffs for the first time since 2011, this star-studded matchup is made for prime time.
Portland Trail Blazers vs. Memphis Grizzlies
2 of 5
Season Series: Memphis won 4-0
Prospective Seeds: Portland (No. 4) vs. Memphis (No. 5 with home-court advantage)
Heat Index: Warm
If the Portland Trail Blazers and Memphis Grizzlies meet in the first round, something will have to give.
Both teams are banged up, and both are experiencing regression at the wrong time. However, a first-round showdown would offer the chance for one of those squads to achieve redemption for late-season struggles.
On Portland's side, Damian Lillard has been tasked with trying to shoulder the load as LaMarcus Aldridge (foot), Arron Afflalo (shoulder strain), Dorell Wright (broken hand) and Nicolas Batum (back) combat nasty ailments. And that's not counting Wesley Matthews, who was ruled out for the remainder of the season in March with an Achilles tear.
But Memphis isn't without its fair share of bumps and bruises. Mike Conley has missed the last two games with a foot sprain, Marc Gasol sprained his ankle in Saturday's 94-86 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers and Tony Allen hasn't suited up since March 27 while nursing a hamstring injury.
There's also the matter of statistical question marks for both clubs.
Memphis owns the West's second-worst offense since the All-Star break, mustering 99.7 points per 100 possessions.
As Bleacher Report's Dylan Murphy explained, inconsistent outside shooting has been the bane of Memphis' existence:
"Shooting is that elephant in the room for Memphis.
In any one regular-season game, the Grizzlies can get hot from the outside and punish defenses for sliding off their perimeter players. Over the course of a seven-game series, however, a pack-the-paint mentality is much more likely to neutralize the inside threats Memphis does have while the perimeter scorers struggle to shoot consistently from deep.
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Portland knows similar pain—but on defense.
Since Matthews' season-ending injury, the Blazers have allowed 107.1 points per game, putting them among the league's worst defensive teams.
Portland will also need to overcome not having home-court advantage.
Although they took home the Northwest Division title, the Blazers have officially lost their chance to host a postseason series now that the Grizzlies, Los Angeles Clippers and San Antonio Spurs are all assured to finish with superior records.
Los Angeles Clippers vs. Houston Rockets
3 of 5
Season Series: Split 2-2
Prospective Seeds: Los Angeles (No. 3) vs. Houston (No. 6)
Heat Index: Boiling
Should the Los Angeles Clippers and Houston Rockets throw down in a three-six Western Conference tilt, there will be fireworks galore.
How could there not be with Chris Paul, James Harden, Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan pushing the pace?
But in order for the NBA's top-ranked offense to make a date with Houston's seventh-ranked defense, one of several scenarios will need to play out over the final three days of the regular season.
Thanks to diligent work by CBS Sports' Matt Moore, we know the Clippers and Rockets can meet in a three-six alignment if either of the following scenarios happens:
- Memphis, Houston and San Antonio all win out.
- Clippers and San Antonio win out, and the Rockets and Grizzlies each lose one more game.
Another compelling element of this prospective matchup would be a lack of depth. Not only is Houston leaning on James Harden with Patrick Beverley (wrist) and Donatas Motiejunas (back) out, but it doesn't have terribly compelling shot-creators flanking the MVP candidate.
Sorry, Josh Smith.
As for the Clippers, productivity starts and ends with their starting five.
The five-man lineup of Paul-J.J. Redick-Matt Barnes-Griffin-Jordan has outscored opponents by 17.9 points per 100 possessions, good for No. 3 overall among lineups that have played at least 400 minutes together.
However, Doc Rivers' bench is where consistency goes to die.
L.A.'s bench ranks 22nd in scoring—which is actually two spots up on the Rockets—as Spencer Hawes, Glen Davis, Hedo Turkoglu and Austin Rivers have failed to comprise an intimidating second unit.
If these two meet, expect the rotations to remain short and the points to flow at a steady pace.
Chicago Bulls vs. Washington Wizards
4 of 5
Season Series: Split 2-2
Prospective Seeds: Chicago (No. 4) vs. Washington (No. 5)
Heat Index: Scalding
The first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs doesn't figure to provide much in the way of great drama, but the Chicago Bulls and Washington Wizards can buck that trend with a second straight showdown.
Except this time around, Chicago will roll into the nation's capital at close to full strength. With Derrick Rose displaying a bit of vintage burst following a meniscus tear, Joakim Noah still protecting the interior and Pau Gasol established as the league's double-double king, there's plenty to like about Chicago's shot at redemption.
And not only does Rose's return provide the Bulls with more backcourt firepower, but it gives the team a mental boost.
"It’s great, man," Noah said, according to Bleacher Report's Sean Highkin. "It definitely gives us positive energy. This team needs it. Just to see him out there playing like that, moving like that, it feels great."
A Wizards-Bulls first-round clash would also offer the opportunity for some bad blood to boil over...again.
In Washington's 4-1 first-round series victory over the banged up Bulls, Nene and Jimmy Butler exchanged physical pleasantries, which resulted in the Brazilian big getting slapped with a one-game suspension.
Toss in John Wall's continued ascension into the NBA's elite tier of point guards, Paul Pierce's clutch veteran stylings and bruising big men on both sides, and we could have a back-and-forth filled with haymakers.
San Antonio Spurs vs. Dallas Mavericks
5 of 5
Season Series: Split 2-2
Prospective Seeds: San Antonio (No. 2) vs. Dallas (No. 7)
Heat Index: Scalding
Only one of the San Antonio Spurs' four 2014 postseason foes pushed them to a decisive seventh game, and it was the Dallas Mavericks.
So who's up for a rematch?
To make that dream a reality, San Antonio will need to have one of three scenarios occur since the Mavericks have already put a bow on the No. 7 spot, according to CBS Sports' Matt Moore:
- San Antonio, Memphis, Los Angeles Clippers and Houston all win out.
- Memphis, Houston and San Antonio win out, but Los Angeles Clippers lose one remaining game.
- Los Angeles Clippers, Houston and San Antonio win out, but Memphis loses one remaining game.
If we're fortunate enough to see the Southwest Division rivals meet, don't expect the Spurs to win in a rout. Although the defending champions are scalding hot, having won 19 of their last 22 games, Dallas has played them tight all season.
Not only did the Mavericks salvage a split of the season series, but the average margin of victory in the teams' four meetings was eight points. Exclude San Antonio's 18-point romp on March 27, and that margin ticks down to 4.7 points.
The Spurs will need a little help to squeak into the No. 2 seed, but if their current pace is any indication, that's not as far-fetched as it once seemed.
All statistics and playoff scenarios are current as of April 12 and courtesy of NBA.com and Basketball-Reference.com unless noted otherwise.
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