NBA Playoff Schedule 2015: Game Times, TV Info and More for Wednesday's Matchups
The Los Angeles Clippers, Atlanta Hawks and Memphis Grizzlies will be looking to take 2-0 leads in their respective series on Wednesday night. All three teams had little problem winning on their home floors on Sunday.
The Clippers defeated reigning NBA champion San Antonio Spurs 107-92 behind a combined 58 points from Chris Paul and Blake Griffin.
Atlanta held off a late charge from the Brooklyn Nets to win 99-92. Kyle Korver paced the Hawks with 21 points and seven rebounds. Memphis was too strong down low for the Portland Trail Blazers. Both Zach Randolph (16 points and 11 rebounds) and Marc Gasol (15 points, 11 rebounds and 7 assists) had double-doubles, while Beno Udrih had 20 points off the bench. The Grizzlies won 100-86.
With the Game 1 losers presumably making adjustments, we'll soon find out if the three games render different results.
Below is the schedule and viewing information for Wednesday's postseason action. Following the table is a look at the adjustments the Nets, Blazers and Spurs need to make to take Game 2.
| Brooklyn at Atlanta | 7 p.m. | NBA TV | Atlanta leads 1-0 |
| Portland at Memphis | 8 p.m. | TNT | Memphis leads 1-0 |
| San Antonio at L.A. Clippers | 10:30 p.m. | TNT | L.A. Clippers leads 1-0 |
Key Adjustments to Watch
Getting More from Their Starters
The Blazers were out of it early in Game 1. At halftime, Portland trailed by 19 points. It can blame it's starting five for the rough beginning. Specifically, LaMarcus Aldridge and Damian Lillard, who were a combined 3-of-15 from the field in the first quarter.
Lillard missed all four of his first-quarter shots and finished with 14 points on woeful 5-of-21 shooting. Aldridge wasn't much better. He did manage 32 points and 14 rebounds, but he made just 13-of-34 shots from the field. When your two best players combine to shoot 18-of-55 (.327) from the field, it's going to be hard to win. Josh Eberley of HoopsCritic compares the stars of both teams' efficiency.
The Grizzlies' grinding style and solid defense make them the last team you want to fall behind against. Portland must avoid another slow start to avoid an 0-2 hole in the series.
Shoot It Better from Everywhere
The San Antonio Spurs are known for having an abundance of shooters. Those shooters weren't present in Game 1 against the Clippers. San Antonio shot 36.6 percent from the field, 30.3 percent from three-point range and an embarrassing 53.8 percent from the free-throw line.
While looking for a reason for the team's struggles, we can easily say it's just about making shots. However, it's a little more than that.
The Spurs are missing the healthy Tony Parker, who was able to create havoc for defenses and shots for his teammates. Parker played, but he looked nothing like the player Spurs fans have come to know and love.
He had 10 points on 4-of-11 shooting and one assist in 29 minutes of action. Meanwhile, Paul had 32 points, seven rebounds and six assists to dramatically win the point guard battle. The Spurs must get better shots, better play from Parker and take advantage of their time on the free-throw line to rebound.
Limit Turnovers
Brooklyn had the best chance to win of any of the teams that lost on Sunday. It shot itself in the foot with a conga line of turnovers—17 to be exact, and the Hawks scored 24 points off Brooklyn's miscues.
The Nets can either look at this game as a glass half-full or a glass half-empty. On the positive side, the team can say, "we didn't play well, yet we were still in the game most of the way and lost by just seven points."
On the other hand, the Hawks didn't play especially well themselves. Newly honored NBA Coach of the Year Mike Budenholzer, per the league's official website, will have to clean up his team's turnovers as well. The Hawks gave it away 13 teams, but the Nets weren't able to capitalize as often.
If Brooklyn is going to steal Game 2, it must win the turnover battle.
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