NBA Playoffs 2015: Latest Postseason Standings, Championship Bracket Predictions
Expect the first round of the 2015 NBA playoffs to breeze by? Not so fast.
After the opening few days of the postseason gave the indication that we would be in for a number of sweeps, that's not exactly what has materialized. While the Cleveland Cavaliers, Washington Wizards and Golden State Warriors all have their feet up, virtually every other playoff contender finds itself in a precarious early situation.
The action over the weekend through Monday night only clouded things up even more, but clarity could return with just a few results. Let's take a look at how things currently stand and what to expect down the road.
First-Round NBA Playoff Outlook
| Atlanta Hawks (1) vs. Brooklyn Nets (8) | 2-2 | Game 5 in ATL: April 29, 7 p.m. |
| Washington Wizards (5) def. Toronto Raptors (4) | 4-0 | - |
| Chicago Bulls (3) lead Milwaukee Bucks (6) | 3-2 | Game 6 in MIL: April 30, TBD |
| Cleveland Cavaliers (2) def. Boston Celtics (7) | 4-0 | - |
| Golden State Warriors def. New Orleans Pelicans | 4-0 | - |
| Memphis Grizzlies lead Portland Trail Blazers | 3-1 | Game 5 in MEM: April 29, 9:30 p.m. |
| Los Angeles Clippers vs. San Antonio Spurs | 2-2 | Game 5 in LA: April 28, 10:30 p.m. |
| Houston Rockets lead Dallas Mavericks | 3-1 | Game 5 in HOU: April 28, 8 p.m. |
Championship Predictions
Eastern Conference
The Cleveland Cavaliers looked the part of a wrecking ball capable of ripping through the East with reckless abandon, so of course Kevin Love had to go down with a shoulder injury in the waning moments of the Cavs' four-game sweep over the Boston Celtics.
After averaging more than 18 points and nearly nine rebounds in his first three career playoff games, Love was in the process of proving he could be a key piece to the championship puzzle. Now, the Cavs are left replacing him at the most critical juncture of the season.
Love will miss at least the conference semifinals with a shoulder injury that in all likelihood is going to keep him out for the entire postseason, as ESPN's Dave McMenamin reported from the Cavs general manager:
Losing what's considered to be the team's third star is far from ideal, but Cleveland received another blow in Game 4 when J.R. Smith got ejected. That earned him a subsequent two-game suspension that will carry over into the next series, as Turner Sports' Rachel Nichols reported.
Being out one role player wouldn't seem to be a huge deal, but Smith's three-point shooting and dependable defense have made him into a starter in Cleveland. Add that to Love's injury, and the Cavs are out two critical pieces, leaving a five-man lineup that doesn't have loads of experience together, as CBS Sports' Zach Harper noted:
If this all unfolded about a week ago, folks would be clamoring over the Chicago Bulls' chances—and perhaps they still will. But Derrick Rose and Co. aren't doing anything to help their cause.
The Bulls are heading to Milwaukee for a Game 6 after two failed attempts to end the series in a sweep, giving the Cavs all the time in the world to rest up. Kyrie Irving still promises to give Cleveland an edge in the backcourt, and the combination of Iman Shumpert and LeBron James should slow down Jimmy Butler.
With the Atlanta Hawks waffling against the Brooklyn Nets in a series that could go the distance, the Cavs' most likely Eastern Conference Finals opponent looks to be the Washington Wizards. John Wall has a resilient crew, but the Wizards aren't ready to take on the best player in the world with a shot at his fifth straight NBA Finals.
Western Conference
After finishing three victories shy of the NBA record for most wins in a season, the Golden State Warriors entered the playoffs as the runaway favorite in an absolutely loaded Western Conference. Their biggest tests stand ahead, but nothing has happened to change that belief.
The Warriors ousted the eighth-seeded New Orleans Pelicans in a four-game sweep but were put to the test against one of the league's biggest stars in Anthony Davis and came out on top. Most impressive was a Game 3 win in which they eliminated a 20-point fourth-quarter deficit.
Just like the last few weeks of the regular season, the Warriors have all the time in the world to rest up as Marcus Thompson of San Jose Mercury News reported:
But unlike the dying days of the season, this break doesn't include any games that can keep the Warriors' sharpshooters fresh. There's no doubting that the players will be on the practice floor plenty to keep in rhythm, but don't count head coach Steve Kerr among those against the extra down time.
''I think this week off is perfect,'' Kerr told Antonio Gonzalez of The Associated Press, via Yahoo Sports. ''It gives us a chance to take a breather, enjoy the fact that we're 71-15, what a great year it's been and let's keep it moving. We'll have all week to prepare and get our bodies right, think about what we've accomplished and think about what's to come.''
They are going to need all of that rest come their next series, likely against the physical Memphis Grizzlies. Their defensive grittiness could force the Warriors into some tough games, but their own defensive edge will see them through.
The biggest test figures to be in the Western Conference Finals, where the San Antonio Spurs, Los Angeles Clippers or Houston Rockets would loom. But any of those teams would need Golden State to have not just one or two but four off nights from Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson in order to make it through.
Streaky shooting figures to be a tough thing to depend on for any playoff favorite, but the Warriors are much more than a jump-shooting team this year. With defensive stoppers capable of shutting down the elite scorers they are bound to face, Golden State is still sitting pretty.
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