NBA Playoffs 2015: Examining Latest Round 1 Results and Bracket Picture

Let's call a spade a spade—the NBA playoffs haven't exactly been chock-full of series drama this year. Yes, we've seen exciting finishes, chippy scuffles and thrilling highlights, but we could be looking at a first round without a single Game 7, barring a few teams rallying from major deficits or the Los Angeles Clippers and San Antonio Spurs going the distance. 

However, plenty is still up in the air. Let's break down the updated bracket, Sunday results and look at the playoffs going forward.

Bracket

Eastern Conference	Series Standings
Western Conference	Series Standings
No. 1 Atlanta vs. No. 8 Brooklyn	Atlanta leads 2-1
No. 4 Washington vs. No. 5 Toronto	Washington wins 4-0
No. 2 Cleveland vs. No. 7 Boston	Cleveland wins 4-0
No. 3 Chicago vs. No. 6 Milwaukee	Chicago leads 3-1
No. 1 Golden State vs. No. 8 New Orleans	Golden State wins 4-0
No. 4 Portland vs. No. 5 Memphis	Memphis leads 3-0
No. 2 Houston vs. No. 7 Dallas	Houston leads 3-1
No. 3 L.A. Clippers vs. No. 6 San Antonio	Even 2-2

Sunday Results

Winner	Score	Loser
Cleveland Cavaliers	101-93	Boston Celtics
Washington Wizards	125-94	Toronto Raptors
Los Angeles Clippers	114-105	San Antonio Spurs
Dallas Mavericks	121-109	Houston Rockets

Analysis

Three first-round playoff series have already come to a close, and three more are all but wrapped up. It's hard to imagine Portland erasing a 3-0 deficit to Memphis or the Dallas Mavericks and Milwaukee Bucks winning three straight games against the Houston Rockets and Chicago Bulls, respectively. 

So let's focus on the two series that actually seem to still be up in the air, the San Antonio Spurs facing the Los Angeles Clippers and the Atlanta Hawks taking on the Brooklyn Nets. 

Yes, Atlanta is probably going to knock off the Nets. Brooklyn earned a key win in Game 3 and has kept all three contests pretty close. What makes Brooklyn dangerous is the presence of veterans like Deron Williams, Joe Johnson, Brook Lopez, Jarrett Jack and Thaddeus Young. The Nets have a group of players who have been through these paces before.

Don't be surprised when this series goes at least six games.  

The Spurs and Clippers series is so compelling namely because it's hard to imagine one of these teams not reaching the second round (especially while being forced to watch so many mediocre teams in the Eastern Conference). 

It feels like a coin flip deciding who will win this series. The San Antonio Spurs have the championship pedigree, budding superstar Kawhi Leonard and a fantastic supporting cast and, of course, the genius Gregg Popovich. The Clippers have the superstar duo of Blake Griffin and Chris Paul and a slew of players who can chip in and play a major role, such as Austin Rivers in Game 4.

But how do you bet against the Spurs? How do you bet against the defending champions in the first round? 

You don't. It will take seven games, but the Spurs will survive, just like they always do. It won't get any easier for them from there, of course, but nothing in the West is going to come easy this postseason.