NBA Playoff Bracket 2015: Final Standings, Postseason Picture and Predictions
What a tangled web the NBA wove over the last few weeks. The Western Conference, in particular, was a crapshoot with the entire standings undergoing a massive facelift after the final night.
By virtue of its loss, the San Antonio Spurs dropped to the No. 6 seed to face the No. 3 Los Angeles Clippers. Meanwhile, the New Orleans Pelicans—after winning that matchup with San Antonio—clinched the No. 8 seed to face the big, bad Golden State Warriors.
The Eastern Conference had far less suspense with the Atlanta Hawks and Cleveland Cavaliers at the top. Seemingly on a collision course to face each other, both franchises still have a long road ahead before the East finals.
With the second season just over the horizon, here's a look at the final standings, postseason matchups and predictions for the NBA Finals.
Final Standings
| Atlanta Hawks | 60 | 22 | 0.732 |
| Cleveland Cavaliers | 53 | 29 | 0.646 |
| Chicago Bulls | 50 | 32 | 0.610 |
| Toronto Raptors | 49 | 33 | 0.598 |
| Washington Wizards | 46 | 36 | 0.561 |
| Milwaukee Bucks | 41 | 41 | 0.500 |
| Boston Celtics | 40 | 42 | 0.488 |
| Brooklyn Nets | 38 | 44 | 0.463 |
| Golden State Warriors | 67 | 15 | 0.817 |
| Houston Rockets | 56 | 26 | 0.683 |
| L.A. Clippers | 56 | 26 | 0.683 |
| Portland Trail Blazers | 51 | 31 | 0.622 |
| Memphis Grizzlies | 55 | 27 | 0.671 |
| San Antonio Spurs | 55 | 27 | 0.671 |
| Dallas Mavericks | 50 | 32 | 0.610 |
| New Orleans Pelicans | 45 | 37 | 0.549 |
Postseason Picture
Finals Prediction: Cavaliers vs. Warriors
No current NBA player on the planet has gone through more scrutiny than LeBron James. Now, in his first season back with the Cleveland Cavaliers, the expectation is for him to get back to the NBA Finals.
He's been there four straight years. How difficult can it be, right?
With an entirely different cast around him, James has looked like an MVP candidate yet again. The 30-year-old player averaged 25.3 points and 7.4 assists as the team's point forward. James also has more experience by himself in the playoffs than the entire Boston Celtics roster:
Sure, Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving have never played in the postseason, but they have a proven leader taking the reins. Don't expect James to slow down until his eventual matchup with the Golden State Warriors.
Facing the Warriors is a stiff test for any franchise. Not only can they shoot the lights out on any given night with Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson, but they are also a defensive juggernaut. Andrew Bogut leads the team with 1.7 blocks per game, but it's Draymond Green that has been brilliant on both ends.
Golden State's first-year coach Steve Kerr alluded to that fact earlier this season, per John Schuhmann of NBA.com:
"Draymond [Green], to me, is the key to our defense. He's the key figure, because as the power forward, he's frequently involved in screen-and-rolls. And because he's quick enough and active enough to switch out onto a point guard, we're able to stifle a lot of the first options out of the opponent's attacks. And when that happens and the shot clock starts to wind down, we're able to stay in front of people and force a tough shot.
"
Given the amount of two-way players that the Warriors have on the roster, expect them to swarm the Cavaliers in the NBA Finals. Curry has the ability to create possessions and finish when he gets the ball, making him a threat to the King's throne.
Golden State will be hoisting the Larry O'Brien Trophy in June despite James' best efforts—thus beginning a fun rivalry worth watching over the next several years between some of the biggest superstars in the sport.
NBA Champion: Golden State Warriors
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