NBA Playoffs 2015: Remaining Teams' Keys to Advancing Past Round 1
Six teams remain in contention for the final three spots in the Eastern and Western Conference Semifinals.
Three of the teams are just one game away from advancing, while the other three are just one game away from their season's end.
The following is a breakdown of all six teams' keys to winning their respective first-round series.
It will be a tall order for the Milwaukee Bucks who need to continue to defend well against the Chicago Bulls, while the Atlanta Hawks may have an easier time limiting the inconsistent Brooklyn Nets to avoid Game 7.
Los Angeles Clippers
1 of 6
The Los Angeles Clippers are one game away from their season ending, as they trail the San Antonio Spurs 3-2.
Their keys to extending the series to Game 7 and advancing? Defending drives, establishing a stronger presence on the boards and leveling out scoring output.
According to NBA.com, the Spurs led the league in field-goal percentage on drives at 49.3 percent during the regular season. That has since dropped to 45.9 percent in the playoffs, but the team continues to pose a significant threat with 154 drives spread across the five games so far—the second most in the NBA.
The Spurs also have the highest amount of uncontested rebounds in the playoffs with 35.2 per game, according to NBA.com. The Clippers have contested just 25.1 percent, turning over second-chance opportunities to San Antonio.
Los Angeles has also lacked consistency in its scoring output throughout the series. After shooting 51.3 percent to take Game 1, its performance dropped to 42.4 and 34.1 percent in Games 2 and 3. It spiked at 53.6 percent in Game 4 before dropping less dramatically to 46.5 percent in Game 5.
Needless to say, the team's scoring output has been all over the place and will require cleaning up for Game 6 on Thursday.
San Antonio Spurs
2 of 6
If the San Antonio Spurs can keep the Los Angeles Clippers from getting open looks, the series could end in Game 6.
The Clippers' Game 1 and 4 wins happened largely in part to their high scoring performance. However, as mentioned in the last slide, that output has been inconsistent.
On the other hand, the Spurs have a number of things going for them. Among them is their continued success on drives. Although the Clippers have managed to keep the Spurs below their regular-season average, it's still working and should continue to be a focus for the remainder of the series.
Brooklyn Nets
3 of 6
The Brooklyn Nets finally defeated the Atlanta Hawks on their seventh attempt this season, taking Game 3 before eventually evening the series in Game 4.
Brooklyn now trails Atlanta 3-2; however, it might have the right means to at least push the series to Game 7.
A pivotal turning point in the series was the Nets’ 18-0 run spread between the third and fourth quarters of Game 3. The team rode the run to the win and managed to put together another run in Game 5, which nearly closed the gap on the Hawks' lead.
The Nets also have the added benefit of Deron Williams, who performed well above his norm with 35 points to lead the team to victory in overtime of Game 4. Although he followed the big game up with just five points in Game 5, there is a glimmer of hope he could make another significant impact.
Each team has won on its home court this series, and fortunately for the Nets, Game 6 will take place at the Barclays Center on Friday.
Atlanta Hawks
4 of 6
The series against the Brooklyn Nets is tipped in favor of the top-seeded Atlanta Hawks.
But just as Al Horford told reporters after Game 5, “The playoffs are a new season. You never underestimate any team.”
As mentioned in the previous slide, the tide turned in favor of the Nets in Game 3 when the team put together an 18-0 run to take the lead.
Brooklyn challenged an Atlanta lead again in Game 5 with an 11-0 run in the third and fourth quarters, but the Hawks kept the Nets off their heels when Horford stole the ball and snapped the run with a layup.
Limiting Brooklyn’s offensive runs with timely stops will be key to ending the series in Game 6, while also keeping an eye out for any unexpected performances like the 35 points Deron Williams had in Game 4.
Replicating the Game 5 double-digit scoring efforts from the starting five wouldn't hurt either, especially not the 20-plus performances from Horford, DeMarre Carroll and Jeff Teague.
In fact, Game 3 was also pivotal in the series because of Atlanta’s lower scoring output. The Hawks shot just 35.6 percent from the field, while Horford and Kyle Korver combined for just nine points.
The team found rhythm again in Game 5, shooting 48.2 percent from the field. Maintaining that groove in the next game will be critical.
Milwaukee Bucks
5 of 6
The Milwaukee Bucks have avoided elimination twice now, winning Games 4 and 5 against the Chicago Bulls after going down 3-0 in the series.
If the team wishes to avoid elimination, it will need to maintain its defensive performance while also improving its scoring output.
The Bucks lead all playoff teams with 12.4 steals per game, per NBA.com. Their 20 steals in Game 4 were critical in their victory, particularly Khris Middleton’s steal with 1.3 seconds to play. That steal gave the Bucks the final possession, which they scored on to avoid overtime and win 92-90.
According to NBA.com, the Bucks have the lowest effective field-goal percentage among playoff teams. Their shooting performance peaked at 42.4 percent in Game 5 and has notched in below 40 percent in three of the five games.
Chicago Bulls
6 of 6
The Chicago Bulls were in position to sweep the Milwaukee Bucks in Game 4 but now find themselves preparing for Game 6.
Given Milwaukee’s 12.4 steals per game and how it extended the series for the young team, it is imperative for Chicago to tighten up ball control. If it weren't for that steal in the final seconds of Game 4, the Bulls wouldn't be in this position.
Chicago’s success will also depend largely on Derrick Rose and Jimmy Butler. The pair struggled in Game 5 despite scoring in double figures. Rose shot 5-of-20, while Butler shot 5-of-21. However, if Rose and Butler can clean up their shots and get better looks in Game 6, it could give the Bulls the edge to end the series.
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