NBA Playoffs 2015: Round 1 Dates, Predictions, TV and Live Stream Coverage Guide
The eight first-round NBA playoff series could be divided into two categories: competitive and non-competitive. Many of the teams—especially in the Eastern Conference—are simply happy to have made it this far.
Generously speaking, of the 16 playoff teams, only nine of the fanbases should be seriously hoping to reach the NBA Finals. Take a look at the matchups, predictions and TV info for the first round.
| 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 |
| Prediction: Hawks in five | |||
| 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 |
| Prediction: Cavs in four | |||
| 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 |
| Prediction: Bulls in five | |||
| 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 |
| Prediction: Wizards in seven | |||
| 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 |
| Prediction: Warriors in five | |||
| 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 |
| Prediction: Rockets in five | |||
| 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 |
| Prediction: Spurs in six | |||
| 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 |
| Prediction: Grizzlies in six |
Per NBA.com (* if necessary)
Live streams will be available on ESPN, TNT and ABC at the corresponding links when games are broadcast on those networks.
Players Primed to Perform Well
This is the biggest postseason for the Chicago Bulls organization since the Michael Jordan era. There are lingering injuries to Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah to worry about, a head coach potentially at odds with management, as NBA.com's Shaun Powell explained, and contracts coming to an end over the next few seasons. The time is now for this group to get the most out of its talent.
That means Rose has to play well. As good as the Bulls have been during his absences since the 2012 playoffs, there's never been any secret that in order for the team to seriously contend, it needs its former MVP to play at a high level. Bleacher Report's Ethan Norof marvels at the veracity of his statement about Rose's postseason absence.
"Derrick Rose’s first postseason since 2011. That’s an incredible sentence. #Bulls
— Ethan Norof (@Mr_Norof) April 13, 2015"
Rose just returned from a torn meniscus that kept him out six weeks. In the small sample size since his latest return to the lineup, Rose has looked aggressive and willing to set up his teammates. That's something we didn't see earlier in the season.
Against the Milwaukee Bucks, I expect to see a more aggressive Rose attacking the basket and taking fewer jump shots from three-point range. He won't completely silence critics unless he can lead the Bulls past the Cleveland Cavaliers, but he'll muffle many of the doubters with a strong first-round performance.
It would be a shock if the Golden State Warriors' Stephen Curry doesn't win the league MVP. He's the best player for the best team in the NBA. That's usually the way these things go.
That said, James Harden deserves to be recognized for the season he's had for the Houston Rockets. He's carried his team to the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference. Dwight Howard missed 41 games this season. Harden not only kept the team afloat; he was the primary reason it flourished.
Feeling the snub, Harden will take out his frustrations on the Dallas Mavericks.
Dallas hasn't exactly been playing great defense of late. Eight of the Mavs' last nine opponents have eclipsed the 100-point mark. Couple that with the fact that Harden averaged 28.6 points and shot just under 43 percent from three-point range, and it seems The Beard is about to explode.
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