NBA Playoff Schedule 2015: Updated Bracket Guide and Postseason Dates
The nascent 2015 NBA playoffs are just getting underway, but there are already a couple of conclusions we can draw from the early results.
Despite the New Orleans Pelicans' best efforts, Golden State appears to have far too much closing power. With Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson draining shots from outside with at-times breathtaking ease, the formidable inside presence of Anthony Davis is effectively neutralized.
In the thin, reedy Eastern Conference, the Chicago Bulls are clearly far superior to the Milwaukee Bucks. Jimmy Butler poured in 31 points on Monday to help Chicago to a 2-0 series lead, one they should have a firm handle on even as everyone packs up and heads to Milwaukee.
The Dallas-Houston, Boston-Cleveland and Washington-Toronto series pick back up Tuesday, so there's no shortage of NBA action for those just getting amped up for the postseason grind.
With the early games out of the way and each series just beginning to take shape, here's an updated look at the playoff bracket along with important postseason dates.
Updated Bracket Guide
| Higher Seed | Series | Lower Seed |
| No. 1 Golden State | 2-0 | No. 8 New Orleans |
| No. 2 Houston | 1-0 | No. 7 Dallas |
| No. 3 Los Angeles Clippers | 1-0 | No. 6 San Antonio |
| No. 4 Portland | 0-1 | No. 5 Memphis |
| Higher Seed | Series | Lower Seed |
| No. 1 Atlanta | 1-0 | No. 8 Brooklyn |
| No. 2 Cleveland | 1-0 | No. 7 Boston |
| No. 3 Chicago | 2-0 | No. 6 Milwaukee |
| No. 4 Toronto | 0-1 | No. 5 Washington |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
Note: Complete playoff bracket can be found at NBA.com.
Postseason Dates
May 4 or 5: Conference semifinals begin (possible move up to May 2 or 3)
May 19 or 20: Conference finals begin (possible move up to May 17 or 18)
June 4: NBA Finals begin
Important playoff dates courtesy of NBA.com.
Tuesday's Can't-Miss Matchup: Dallas Mavericks at Houston Rockets
Here's another safe conclusion for the 2015 NBA playoffs; no matter how he's shooting, James Harden is getting to that charity stripe. Houston defeated Dallas 118-108 in Game 1 of the teams' first-round series, and Harden, the NBA's leader in free throws attempted and made (by a wide margin), shot just 4-of-11 from the field but made 15 of 17 free throws.
His ability to get points out of even the most daring drives through the lane wasn't the biggest factor in Houston's win, but it was critical to its building and maintaining a comfortable lead throughout the first three quarters.
The most important factor appeared to be Harden's willingness to spread the ball around, as Rockets coach Kevin McHale noted, per NBA.com's Fran Blinebury:
"I've said a million times: They put two on the ball, you get off it. So they put two on the ball and he got off it. He made the pass. He had 11 assists, I think. But he also had seven or eight just kinda hockey assists...Then he had about another half-dozen that led to good shots.
"
Harden indeed had 11 assists, and a grand total of seven Rockets finished in double figures in scoring. Now that Harden's proved he can beat the Mavs in more way than one, it will be interesting to see if they can adjust defensively in Game 2 and prevent so many Houston players from getting comfortable on offense.
One player whom Dallas will certainly need to up his game to have any chance in this series is point guard Rajon Rondo, who had a fairly empty stat sheet (for him, at least) with 15 points, five assists and no boards in Game 1.
Rondo hasn't quite seemed comfortable ever since joining Dallas from Boston in a midseason trade, overdribbling at times in a Mavs offense predicated on fluidity and mild improvisation. Eddie Sefko of The Dallas Morning News highlighted shooting guard Monta Ellis as another player besides Rondo whom Dallas needs to step up in Game 2:
"For Ellis, Game 2 will provide an opportunity to make up for 5-of-16 shooting in Game 1. He also had trouble defensively as Jason Terry matched his 16 points. That’s a matchup the Mavericks expect and need to win if they are going to advance beyond this series.
Basically, the Mavericks have spent two days trying to work on subtle adjustments that they know have to be made in between the first two games. That’s usually when the series takes on a personality.
"
With steady-as-he-goes Dirk Nowitzki proving once again age is just a number—24 points in Game 1—and Chandler Parsons on the wing, Dallas has the star power to match up with Houston. Cleaning up the perimeter defense and getting Rondo, Ellis and company in form will be key to the Mavericks salvaging this series.
