NBA Playoffs 2015: Updated Postseason Standings, Matchups to Watch
Want a sign of things to come?
The first 2015 NBA playoff game went to overtime after one of the most entertaining regular seasons in recent memory. The following contests didn’t disappoint either, as the Golden State Warriors received a late challenge from the New Orleans Pelicans, Derrick Rose looked like his old self and the Houston Rockets put on an offensive display.
These playoffs promise to thrill from the opening round to the NBA Finals. Here is a look at the updated standings in the early going as well as the various opening-round matchups.
| Chicago Bulls | 1-0 |
| Washington Wizards | 1-0 |
| Golden State Warriors | 1-0 |
| Houston Rockets | 1-0 |
| Cleveland Cavaliers | 1-0 |
| Atlanta Hawks | 0-0 |
| Brooklyn Nets | 0-0 |
| Portland Trail Blazers | 0-0 |
| Memphis Grizzlies | 0-0 |
| San Antonio Spurs | 0-0 |
| Los Angeles Clippers | 0-0 |
| Dallas Mavericks | 0-1 |
| New Orleans Pelicans | 0-1 |
| Toronto Raptors | 0-1 |
| Milwaukee Bucks | 0-1 |
| Boston Celtics | 0-1 |
| Eastern Conference | |
| (1) Atlanta Hawks vs. (8) Brooklyn Nets | 0-0 |
| (2) Cleveland Cavaliers vs. (7) Boston Celtics | 1-0, Cleveland |
| (3) Chicago Bulls vs. (6) Milwaukee Bucks | 1-0, Chicago |
| (4) Toronto Raptors vs. (5) Washington Wizards | 1-0, Washington |
| Western Conference | |
| (1) Golden State Warriors vs. (8) New Orleans Pelicans | 1-0, Golden State |
| (2) Houston Rockets vs. (7) Dallas Mavericks | 1-0, Houston |
| (3) Los Angeles Clippers vs. (6) San Antonio Spurs | 0-0 |
| (4) Portland Trail Blazers vs. (5) Memphis Grizzlies | 0-0 |
Matchups to Watch
Eastern Conference: Chicago Bulls vs. Milwaukee Bucks
The showdown between the Chicago Bulls and Milwaukee Bucks may not be the most exciting series or even the closest one, but there is a reason this is the first-round matchup to watch in the Eastern Conference. With all due respect to the Bucks, that reason is the Bulls and what a fully healthy roster means for the rest of the Eastern Conference.
Rose finished Game 1 with 23 points and seven assists, but it was more about the way he played than the actual numbers. He attacked the basket with the speed and tenacity that we saw before he suffered so many injuries, drilled three shots from three-point range and even motioned to the crowd to make some noise.
It was the version of Rose NBA fans have not seen in years, and the crowd responded with MVP chants.
Start stoking the flames for a second-round showdown between the Bulls and LeBron James’ Cavaliers now.
Between Rose’s performance, the 25 points from Jimmy Butler, a double-double from Pau Gasol and double figures in the rebounding department from Joakim Noah and Taj Gibson, it was not that difficult to envision this Bulls team challenging the big, bad Cavs. After all, Chicago’s starting lineup only played 21 games together during the season and finished 16-5.
Jeremy Woo of Sports Illustrated pointed out that Rose isn’t even expected to completely carry the load: “With more weapons than ever, the Bulls are no longer a team he needs to carry and his simple presence has made the thought of Chicago as a serious threat in the Eastern Conference, at the very least, worth considering.”
It is easy to jump to conclusions after a single home game, but it is important for the Bulls to carry over that initial momentum into the upcoming contests with the Bucks. A quick victory would mean more rest before James comes to town and the opportunity for the injury-plagued Bulls to come closer to full health.
Western Conference: San Antonio Spurs vs. Los Angeles Clippers
The San Antonio Spurs and Los Angeles Clippers are arguably two of the top three or four teams in the league, and they are playing each other in the first round. Such is life in the loaded Western Conference.
That means fans will get the opportunity to watch two red-hot title contenders square off in the early going. The defending champion Spurs won 14 of 16 and 21 of 25 entering the playoffs, while the Clippers won 14 of their final 15. Something has to give in the playoffs.
Los Angeles coach Doc Rivers discussed the notion that the Spurs are unbeatable, per Robert Morales of the Long Beach Press-Telegram (via the Los Angeles Daily News): “No, I think you can beat anybody. You just have to match it. I’ve never met an unbeatable team. Everybody’s beatable. You’ve just gotta hang in there long enough to do it.”
There are superstars everywhere you look in this series. San Antonio has Tony Parker running the show, Tim Duncan as the ageless wonder down low, Kawhi Leonard as a defensive force and Manu Ginobili as the spark off the bench. Los Angeles has Chris Paul lobbing passes to Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan and providing clutch plays in the fourth quarter.
The idea of Leonard defending Paul with the game on the line or Duncan battling Griffin for a crucial fourth-quarter rebound is an absolute treat for NBA fans. The fact that it will happen in the first round is just a bonus.
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