NBA Playoffs 2015: Updated Postseason Bracket Picture, Results and Predictions
Down 0-3 already, the New Orleans Pelicans, Dallas Mavericks, Boston Celtics, Toronto Raptors and Milwaukee Bucks are on life support.
The Portland Trail Blazers and Brooklyn Nets have fallen 0-2 in their respective battles and could join that list tonight.
Just one series—the Los Angeles Clippers against the San Antonio Spurs—contains some parity.
The reigning champions stole one on L.A.'s floor after getting stomped in Game 1 and then returned home and administered an absolute beatdown on the visitors.
Have all these teams already dug themselves into an inescapable hole, or is there still a glimmer of hope?
Bracket
| Golden State Warriors (1) lead New Orleans Pelicans (8) | 3-0 |
| Memphis Grizzlies (5) lead Portland Trail Blazers (4) | 2-0 |
| Houston Rockets (2) lead Dallas Mavericks (7) | 3-0 |
| San Antonio Spurs (6) lead Los Angeles Clippers (3) | 2-1 |
| Atlanta Hawks (1) lead Brooklyn Nets (8) | 2-0 |
| Washington Wizards (5) lead Toronto Raptors (4) | 3-0 |
| Chicago Bulls (3) lead Milwaukee Bucks (6) | 3-0 |
| Cleveland Cavaliers (2) lead Boston Celtics (7) | 3-0 |
Tonight's schedule
| Hawks at Nets | 3 p.m. | TNT |
| Bulls at Bucks | 5:30 p.m. | TNT |
| Warriors at Pelicans | 8 p.m. | ESPN |
| Grizzlies at Blazers | 10:30 p.m. | ESPN |
Which Underdogs Have Some Fight Left?
Toronto Raptors
Truthfully, Paul Pierce has killed the Raptors this series. What's worse is that he talked the talk before walking the walk.
Whenever Washington needs a bucket or a big play, the wily veteran is there to make it happen.
After sinking what turned out to be the biggest shot of Game 3—a dagger three-pointer from the left side with 16.3 seconds left that put his team up six—Pierce calmly strutted back down the court, seemingly asking all Wizards fans to bow down and worship him.
Oh, and he said it again—"That’s why I'm here"—just like he did with the Nets last season.
Eye roll.
The Raptors didn't take to kindly to Pierce's pre-series trash talk, and some people (including myself) thought that would serve as motivation for the boys up north.
It hasn't. But maybe Pierce sauntering down the court and basking in his own cockiness will.
Raptors guard DeMar DeRozan, who set a franchise record for points scored in a quarter (20) on Friday, seems to have been given a boost from the tough-guy talk.
Cathal Kelly of The Globe and Mail pointed out that Washington needed to adjust its defense in Game 2:
"DeMar DeRozan was 6-for-20 on Saturday. He's 3-for-3 so far tonight, and has abused Paul Pierce so badly, Beal is now guarding him.
— cathalkelly (@cathalkelly) April 22, 2015"
Just a few weeks ago, Pierce commented on Toronto’s lack of "It" to ESPN.com's Jackie MacMullan. So far, he's right. On the biggest stage in all of basketball, the Raptors have come up painfully short.
Almost as short as, I don't know, Kevin Hart? Kyle Lowry knows a bit about him:
Washington has been an incredibly streaky team all season, so Toronto still has a chance to at least make this series interesting.
It's time for the rest of the Raptors to follow DeRozan's lead and let their play speak louder than Pierce.
Portland Trail Blazers
The supposed death of the Blazers has been greatly exaggerated.
Yes, the Grizzlies absolutely tore Portland apart at the Grind House twice. And yes, Memphis appears to be far and away the better team.
But let's see what happens when Damian Lillard, LaMarcus Aldridge and Co. hit their home floor.
Lillard refuses to count his team out, as he told Jason Quick of The Oregonian:
"It's who we are. Since I've been here, you look at how many times we have come back in games. Or been down big and come back. And the situations we all come from. Everybody here comes from underdog situations. So I don't think it's an uncomfortable place or our team. I think that gives us a chance by itself.
"
Lillard's partner in crime chimed in, too.
"I don't really care if people believe [we can come back]," Aldridge added. "I think it's about the guys in the locker room believing it, every guy who goes in the court believing we can win the game. We believe it, but every guy knows it's going to take more."
Step one in pulling off a monumental comeback is believing it's possible. Check.
Step two is simpler but more difficult—going out there and actually pulling off a monumental comeback.
Based on sheer talent alone, though, the Trail Blazers can't be entirely discounted.
And after all, unlike some of the other teams discussed in this piece, they're only down 0-2. If they can defend their home court these next two games, this whole "Portland is finished" narrative will pull a screeching U-turn.
Memphis is definitely favored, but let's not pronounce the Blazers dead just yet.
There's still a pulse in Rip City.
All stats are accurate via Basketball-Reference.com.
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