NBA Playoffs 2015: Postseason Schedule, Bracket Format and Odds
The NBA has moved into the proving grounds. The playoffs begin on April 18, and the 16 best teams vie for the NBA championship. If we're being honest, only about half of the field can legitimately call themselves contenders. The rest of the teams are just happy they made it to the playoffs on their journey up or down the annual power-rankings ladder.
We know you want to watch the games. Here's the entire first-round playoff schedule and viewing information.
| Date | Matchup | Time (ET) | TV |
| 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 |
| Date | Matchup | Time (ET) | TV |
| 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 |
| Date | Matchup | Time (ET) | TV |
| 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 |
| Date | Matchup | Time (ET) | TV |
| 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 |
| Date | Matchup | Time (ET) | TV |
| 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 |
| Date | Matchup | Time (ET) | TV |
| 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 |
| Date | Matchup | Time (ET) | TV |
| 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 |
| Date | Matchup | Time (ET) | TV |
| 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 |
You can see the entire schedule by clicking here.
With the matchups set, we also have the odds for each playoff team, per Odds Shark:
| Team | Odds |
| Cleveland Cavaliers | 9-4 |
| Golden State Warriors | 7-4 |
| San Antonio Spurs | 7-2 |
| Atlanta Hawks | 13-1 |
| Chicago Bulls | 14-1 |
| Houston Rockets | 20-1 |
| Los Angeles Clippers | 16-1 |
| Memphis Grizzlies | 25-1 |
| Dallas Mavericks | 50-1 |
| Portland Trail Blazers | 40-1 |
| Toronto Raptors | 66-1 |
| Washington Wizards | 80-1 |
| Boston Celtics | 200-1 |
| New Orleans Pelicans | 150-1 |
| Brooklyn Nets | 200-1 |
| Milwaukee Bucks | 200-1 |
Players With the Most to Prove
Derrick Rose
It seems it's been 10 years since Derrick Rose won the MVP in leading the Chicago Bulls to the NBA's best record and the Eastern Conference Finals in the 2010-11 season. Injuries have plagued his career since, and he's set to play his first playoff game since tearing his ACL in Game 1 of a first-round series against the Philadelphia 76ers in 2012.
Rose has shown flashes this season, but a torn meniscus sidelined him for six weeks. This has obviously only fueled critics and doubters who wonder if Rose will ever return to his MVP level.
Rose told Bleacher Report's Sean Highkin and other members of the media on Wednesday night: "I believe I'm one of the best players in the NBA."
The Chicago Bulls desperately need him to prove that in the postseason if they hope to advance to the NBA Finals and even win a championship. Perhaps he doesn't need to be that guy in the first round against the Milwaukee Bucks. That's a team the Bulls could probably beat even if Rose sat out.
However, you can bet they will need him in the second round if things unfold as most expect. The Cleveland Cavaliers are likely to be waiting, and that's money time. We'll soon find out if Rose and the Bulls are ready.
Stephen Curry
After an amazing 67-win campaign and a likely MVP season, what else does Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors have to prove? Plenty. He has now ascended above being considered just a good player.
On the strength of uncanny shooting, ball-handling, passing and leadership, Curry is now in the company of the greats. That means he has to produce in the postseason. He knows this, and that's why he believes it's championship or bust for the Warriors.
Per Marc J. Spears of Yahoo Sports, Curry said: "No one will be happy for anything less. If we don't win our last game this season it's going to be a disappointing feeling, one where we felt like we fell short."
For as beloved as Curry has become among NBA fans, the feel-good story will only last so long without rings. Fans and members of the media will be quicker to point out Curry and the Warriors' failures before they cite successes.
That's life for an NBA superstar, and Curry has made quite a splash.
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