NBA Playoff Picture 2015: Bracket, Early Odds and Predictions for Final Teams
After a wild closing act, the dust has settled. Sixteen squads, some more deserving than others, are now set to begin one of the toughest gauntlets in all of sports—the NBA playoffs.
With a win over the Orlando Magic, the Brooklyn Nets slipped past the surging Indiana Pacers, who lost to the Memphis Grizzlies, for eighth place at the 11th hour.
Similarly, the New Orleans Pelicans’ victory over the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday night punched Anthony Davis’ first postseason ticket.
Last season’s opening round was so much fun, wasn’t it? This year might not pack that same all-time great wallop due to some definite beatdowns, but it’ll still be a good time.
Below are the official playoff bracket and odds for each team to win it all, according to OddsShark.
Playoff Bracket
| (1) Atlanta Hawks vs. (8) Brooklyn Nets | 4/19, 5:30 p.m. EST |
| (4) Toronto Raptors vs. (5) Washington Wizards | 4/18, 12:30 p.m. EST |
| (3) Chicago Bulls vs. (6) Milwaukee Bucks | 4/18, 7 p.m. EST |
| (2) Cleveland Cavaliers vs. (7) Boston Celtics | 4/19, 3 p.m. EST |
| (1) Golden State Warriors vs. (8) New Orleans Pelicans | 4/18, 3:30 p.m. EST |
| (4) Portland Trail Blazers vs. (5) Memphis Grizzlies | 4/19, 8 p.m. EST |
| (3) Los Angeles Clippers vs. (6) San Antonio Spurs | 4/19, 10:30 p.m. EST |
| (2) Houston Rockets vs. (7) Dallas Mavericks | 4/18, 9:30 p.m. EST |
Playoff Odds
| Cleveland Cavaliers | 2/1 |
| Golden State Warriors | 12/5 |
| San Antonio Spurs | 6/1 |
| Atlanta Hawks | 10/1 |
| Houston Rockets | 12/1 |
| Memphis Grizzlies | 14/1 |
| Chicago Bulls | 16/1 |
| Los Angeles Clippers | 18/1 |
| Portland Trail Blazers | 33/1 |
| Dallas Mavericks | 40/1 |
| Toronto Raptors | 50/1 |
| Miami Heat | 100/1 |
| Washington Wizards | 100/1 |
| Boston Celtics | 200/1 |
| Indiana Pacers | 200/1 |
| Milwaukee Bucks | 200/1 |
| New Orleans Pelicans | 300/1 |
| Brooklyn Nets | 500/1 |
East Champion
Cleveland Cavaliers
Let’s be honest—no team is going to touch the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Ethan Skolnick, an NBA Senior Writer at Bleacher Report, tweeted that fans of other East teams realize this:
"Hearing from Raptor & Bulls fans who want 4 seed instead of 3 to get out of Cavs bracket. So maybe neither team will push hard vs Heat
— Ethan J. Skolnick (@EthanJSkolnick) April 9, 2015"
LeBron James’ gang will stomp all over the Boston Celtics in Round 1 and move on to face their only real in-conference competition in Round 2: the winner of the Chicago Bulls-Milwaukee Bucks series.
Chi-town’s Joakim Noah said the Bulls “would be very happy as a team to be able to” play Cleveland, per Nick Friedell of ESPN.com.
So the Bulls must be taking a group vacation in early May.
Not only is Noah misguided, but he's making a crucial misstep in overlooking his team’s first opponent. And as bold as it may sound, this writer doesn’t see Cleveland playing the Bulls…at all.
Fear the Deer.
Chicago always seems to limp into the finish line like a damaged car rolls into a pit stop. Kirk Hinrich and Joakim Noah are hurt, and Derrick Rose and Jimmy Butler have been hurt. Pau Gasol is 34 years old with a ton of miles on him. It’s tough to put a whole lot of faith in the perennially damaged Bulls.
And like a rock in a pillowcase, the Bucks are not to be slept on.
This team is similar to the Washington Wizards of a year ago, who ran over Chicago like a treadmill in Round 1. This could be the moment Jason Kidd’s team lets the entire NBA know what revived Milwaukee hoops is all about.
Giannis Antetokounmpo, Michael Carter-Williams, Khris Middleton and other young Bucks have been waiting for this. And assuming they get past the Bulls, these guys could push Cleveland.
They won’t beat the Cavaliers, but they’ll make LeBron sweat a little bit with their youth, athleticism and freaky length. But LBJ’s crew is likely to weather the small storm and stay the course.
The Atlanta Hawks are the other potential threat to dethrone the Cavs, but they lack star pedigree, which matters big-time once the playoff lights are their brightest and the pressure its strongest.
Forget what LeBron told Sports Illustrated’s Lee Jenkins over the summer: “Of course, I want to win next year, but I’m realistic. It will be a long process, much longer than it was in 2010. My patience will get tested. I know that.”
This is a championship team. These Cavaliers are certainly young and predominantly new to playoff basketball, but there is no reason they should not emerge as the champion of the East.
Western Champions
Houston Rockets
To all those clamoring for a Cavs-Golden State Warriors or Cavs-San Antonio Spurs Finals, I present to you one question:
Where were you on March 1?
Seriously. Think about where you were that day, what you were doing and how on this earth you could watch a thrilling overtime win for the Houston Rockets over the Cavs, 105-103, and not want to see a seven-game series.
It was by far the best game of the year. And the best part? These teams seemed to genuinely hate one another.
Would seeing the Warriors or San Antonio in the Finals be fun? Sure. But seeing the Rockets would be legendary.
Devin Kharpertian of The Brooklyn Game, and many other wise fans, would be down for it:
"A Rockets-Cavs Finals would be fun now. RT @HoustonRockets: Long live the new King. pic.twitter.com/YgxpQGxnuu
— devin kharpertian (@uuords) March 2, 2015"
It won’t be easy for Houston to get there, as James Harden and Co. will have to go through the Dallas Mavericks, Los Angeles Clippers/Spurs and then (probably) Golden State to reach the Finals.
But the Beard is—in Stephen A. Smith’s words—“a baaaaaad man!”
Harden, one of six genuinely deserving MVP candidates, has gone from a third option on the Oklahoma City Thunder to one of the game’s deadliest players in just a few seasons.
For all their magic, even the mighty Warriors won’t be able to stop Harden once he gets a head of steam. This is his season.
If he’s going to become NBA royalty, though, he’ll have to dethrone the King.
All stats are accurate as of April 15 courtesy of Basketball-Reference.com.
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