NBA Playoffs 2015: Postseason Schedule, 1st-Round Series to Watch
No more tanking. No more lackadaisical efforts on the back end of a long road trip. No more games involving the New York Knicks, Los Angeles Lakers or Philadelphia 76ers.
The 2015 NBA playoffs are here, and that means raucous arenas, thrilling buzzer-beaters and career-defining moments for many of the league’s top players. There are plenty of narratives in both conferences, and fans won’t have to wait long for must-watch games considering there are a number of enticing series in the first round.
Here is a look at the entire schedule for the first round as well as a few top early series to watch.
| Sunday, April 19 | (8) Brooklyn Nets at (1) Atlanta Hawks | 5:30 p.m. | TNT |
| Wednesday, April 22 | (8) Brooklyn Nets at (1) Atlanta Hawks | 7 p.m. | NBA TV |
| Saturday, April 25 | (1) Atlanta Hawks at (8) Brooklyn Nets | 3 p.m. | TNT |
| Monday, April 27 | (1) Atlanta Hawks at (8) Brooklyn Nets | TBD | TBD |
| Wednesday, April 29* | (8) Brooklyn Nets at (1) Atlanta Hawks | TBD | TBD |
| Friday, May 1* | (1) Atlanta Hawks at (8) Brooklyn Nets | TBD | TBD |
| Sunday, May 3* | (8) Brooklyn Nets at (1) Atlanta Hawks | TBD | TBD |
| Sunday, April 19 | (7) Boston Celtics at (2) Cleveland Cavaliers | 3 p.m. | ABC |
| Tuesday, April 21 | (7) Boston Celtics at (2) Cleveland Cavaliers | 7 p.m. | TNT |
| Thursday, April 23 | (2) Cleveland Cavaliers at (7) Boston Celtics | 7 p.m. | TNT |
| Sunday, April 26 | (2) Cleveland Cavaliers at (7) Boston Celtics | 1 p.m. | ABC |
| Tuesday, April 28 * | (7) Boston Celtics at (2) Cleveland Cavaliers | TBD | TBD |
| Thursday, April 30 * | (2) Cleveland Cavaliers at (7) Boston Celtics | TBD | TBD |
| Saturday, May 2 * | (7) Boston Celtics at (2) Cleveland Cavaliers | TBD | TNT |
| Saturday, April 18 | (6) Milwaukee Bucks at (3) Chicago Bulls | 7 p.m. | ESPN |
| Monday, April 20 | (6) Milwaukee Bucks at (3) Chicago Bulls | 8 p.m. | TNT |
| Thursday, April 23 | (3) Chicago Bulls at (6) Milwaukee Bucks | 8 p.m. | NBA TV |
| Saturday, April 25 | (3) Chicago Bulls at (6) Milwaukee Bucks | 5:30 p.m. | TNT |
| Monday, April 27* | (6) Milwaukee Bucks at (3) Chicago Bulls | TBD | TBD |
| Thursday, April 30* | (3) Chicago Bulls at (6) Milwaukee Bucks | TBD | TBD |
| Saturday, May 2* | (6) Milwaukee Bucks at (3) Chicago Bulls | TBD | TNT |
| Saturday, April 18 | (5) Washington Wizards at (4) Toronto Raptors | 12:30 p.m. | ESPN |
| Tuesday, April 21 | (5) Washington Wizards at (4) Toronto Raptors | 8 p.m. | NBA TV |
| Friday, April 24 | (4) Toronto Raptors at (5) Washington Wizards | 8 p.m. | ESPN 2 |
| Sunday, April 26 | (4) Toronto Raptors at (5) Washington Wizards | 7 p.m. | TNT |
| Wednesday, April 29* | (5) Washington Wizards at (4) Toronto Raptors | TBD | TBD |
| Friday, May 1* | (4) Toronto Raptors at (5) Washington Wizards | TBD | TBD |
| Sunday, May 3* | (5) Washington Wizards at (4) Toronto Raptors | TBD | TBD |
| Saturday, April 18 | (8) New Orleans Pelicans at (1) Golden State Warriors | 3:30 p.m. | ABC |
| Monday, April 20 | (8) New Orleans Pelicans at (1) Golden State Warriors | 10:30 p.m. | TNT |
| Thursday, April 23 | (1) Golden State Warriors at (8) New Orleans Pelicans | 9:30 p.m. | TNT |
| Saturday, April 25 | (1) Golden State Warriors at (8) New Orleans Pelicans | 8 p.m. | ESPN |
| Tuesday, April 28* | (8) New Orleans Pelicans at (1) Golden State Warriors | TBD | TBD |
| Friday, May 1* | (1) Golden State Warriors at (8) New Orleans Pelicans | TBD | TBD |
| Sunday, May 3* | (8) New Orleans Pelicans at (1) Golden State Warriors | TBD | TBD |
| Saturday, April 18 | (7) Dallas Mavericks at (2) Houston Rockets | 9:30 p.m. | ESPN |
| Tuesday, April 21 | (7) Dallas Mavericks at (2) Houston Rockets | 9:30 p.m. | TNT |
| Friday, April 24 | (2) Houston Rockets at (7) Dallas Mavericks | 7 p.m. | ESPN |
| Sunday, April 26 | (2) Houston Rockets at (7) Dallas Mavericks | 9:30 p.m. | TNT |
| Tuesday, April 28* | (7) Dallas Mavericks at (2) Houston Rockets | TBD | TBD |
| Thursday, April 30* | (2) Houston Rockets at (7) Dallas Mavericks | TBD | TBD |
| Saturday, May 2* | (7) Dallas Mavericks at (2) Houston Rockets | TBD | TNT |
| Sunday, April 19 | (6) San Antonio Spurs at (3) Los Angeles Clippers | 10:30 p.m. | TNT |
| Wednesday, April 22 | (6) San Antonio Spurs at (3) Los Angeles Clippers | 10:30 p.m. | TNT |
| Friday, April 24 | (3) Los Angeles Clippers at (6) San Antonio Spurs | 9:30 p.m. | ESPN |
| Sunday, April 26 | (3) Los Angeles Clippers at (6) San Antonio Spurs | 3:30 p.m. | ABC |
| Tuesday, April 28* | (6) San Antonio Spurs at (3) Los Angeles Clippers | TBD | TBD |
| Thursday, April 30* | (3) Los Angeles Clippers at (6) San Antonio Spurs | TBD | TBD |
| Saturday, May 2* | (6) San Antonio Spurs at (3) Los Angeles Clippers | TBD | TNT |
| Sunday, April 19 | (4) Portland Trail Blazers at (5) Memphis Grizzlies | 8 p.m. | TNT |
| Wednesday, April 22 | (4) Portland Trail Blazers at (5) Memphis Grizzlies | 8 p.m. | TNT |
| Saturday, April 25 | (5) Memphis Grizzlies at (4) Portland Trail Blazers | 10:30 p.m. | ESPN |
| Monday, April 27 | (5) Memphis Grizzlies at (4) Portland Trail Blazers | 10:30 p.m. | TNT |
| Wednesday, April 29* | (4) Portland Trail Blazers at (5) Memphis Grizzlies | TBD | TBD |
| Friday, May 1* | (5) Memphis Grizzlies at (4) Portland Trail Blazers | TBD | TBD |
| Sunday, May 3* | (4) Portland Trail Blazers at (5) Memphis Grizzlies | TBD | TBD |
First-Round Series to Watch
Western Conference: (1) Golden State Warriors vs. (8) New Orleans Pelicans
The Golden State Warriors have been the elite team during the 2014-15 season and finished with the best record in a loaded Western Conference. They dominated at home, put on three-point shooting barrages on a nightly basis and can match any style of play with smaller and bigger lineups.
That won’t mean anything if they fail to show up in the postseason.
That is what makes this first-round series against the New Orleans Pelicans so fascinating. Nobody expects the Warriors to actually lose to the No. 8 seed, but it will be interesting to see if they are as dominant in the postseason as they were in the regular season. Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green and company will also have stiffer tests in later rounds, so a quick victory will get them some important rest.
Then there is the Anthony Davis factor for the Pelicans.
Per Pro Basketball Reference, the 22-year-old led the league in total blocks, blocks per game and player efficiency rating and finished in the top five in points per game, the top 10 in field-goal percentage, the top 10 in rebounds per game and the top five in win shares.
Grantland’s Bill Simmons was impressed by the way Davis performed in the must-win game against the San Antonio Spurs during the regular season’s final contest:
Davis may not have NBA postseason experience, but he won a national title in college. He has performed under pressure before and won’t be intimidated by the moment against Golden State.
With two of the league’s brightest stars in Davis and Curry squaring off against each other and an early opportunity for the Warriors to make a statement to the rest of the league, this first-round matchup will be appointment viewing.
Eastern Conference: (2) Cleveland Cavaliers vs. (7) Boston Celtics
It is the Cleveland Cavaliers against the field for the Eastern Conference playoffs, but they have to get past the underdog Boston Celtics before they worry about a potential trip to the NBA Finals.
This opening series will represent the first-ever playoff games for Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love as well. It’s a good thing the Cavaliers some guy named LeBron James, who went to the past four Finals with the Miami Heat, to lead the way.
Cleveland will not necessarily be challenged by the Celtics, but winning in convincing fashion will be important moving forward for confidence purposes. Cleveland has potential showdowns with the veteran-laden Chicago Bulls and top-seeded Atlanta Hawks on the horizon, so (much like the Warriors) a quick victory would serve it well.
The Celtics are red hot, though, and won eight of their last nine just to get into the playoffs. They also have a playmaker in Isaiah Thomas whom they can turn to when the game is on the line, even if he does come off the bench.
This will be Thomas’ first postseason experience as well, and he discussed that fact with Zack Cox of NESN.com: “It’s the next step in my career. I think that’s where all the great players make their name—the playoffs. I’m excited about it. Just being a part of this team, and being able to turn this season around and be a factor. People really know who we are. We’re ready for that stage.”
The Cavaliers are clearly the more talented team in this series, but the Celtics are playing impressive basketball and could steal a game or two if Thomas gets hot in a fourth quarter.
Western Conference: (2) Houston Rockets vs. (7) Dallas Mavericks
Any time two Texas teams square off in the playoffs, it is must-see basketball. The eventual champion Spurs needed seven games just to get past the eighth-seeded Dallas Mavericks last year, which was ultimately their biggest challenge of the entire playoffs.
This year, the Mavericks will attempt to play spoiler to the second-seeded Houston Rockets.
It would be easy to look at this series and assume the Rockets will win based on records, seeds and the presence of MVP candidate James Harden, but Houston is dealing with a number of injuries.
Patrick Beverley, Dwight Howard and Donatas Motiejunas all missed significant time down the stretch of the regular season, and Motiejunas will not return in the playoffs. Howard and Beverley are still major question marks in terms of effectiveness and overall health.
While Harden has done a tremendous job of keeping his team near the top of the Western Conference standings in the face of so much attrition, he will need some help in the playoffs.
The Mavericks are an intriguing opponent because many of their players have been in the pressure-cooker that is the NBA playoffs before. Dirk Nowitzki and Tyson Chandler were major cogs in the 2011 championship team, Rajon Rondo led a number of Boston Celtics squads deep into the playoffs and won a ring and many of the role players have extensive postseason experience.
Dallas put a major scare in the favored Spurs last year. Don’t be surprised if it does the same thing to the Rockets this season.
