NBA Playoffs 2015: TV Schedule, Live Stream Guide and Updated Standings
Saturday in the NBA is all about one game. The Los Angeles Clippers and the San Antonio Spurs have come to the end of the road in their best-of-seven first-round series. In Game 7 in Los Angeles Saturday night, it's win or go home for both teams.
Considering the expectations both teams had coming into the season, you won't find a bigger game in the first round of any NBA postseason.
The game begins at 8 p.m. ET, and it will be televised by TNT and live streamed on TNT Drama. Every second-round series is set besides the Houston Rockets and the winner of the Clippers-Spurs tilt. Here's a look at the matchups and the viewing information for the other three series.
| Game | Date and Time (ET) | TV |
| 7 | Saturday, May 2 at 8 p.m. | TNT |
| Game | Date and Time (ET) | TV |
| 1 | Sunday, May 3 at 3:30 p.m. | ABC |
| 2 | Tuesday, May 5 at 10:30 p.m. | TNT |
| 3 | Saturday, May 9 at 8 p.m. | ABC |
| 4 | Monday, May 11 at 9:30 p.m. | TNT |
| 5 | Wednesday, May 13, TBD | TNT |
| 6 | Friday, May 15, TBD | ESPN |
| 7 | Sunday, May 17, TBD | TBD |
| Game | Date and Time (ET) | TV |
| 1 | Monday, May 4 at 7 p.m. | TNT |
| 2 | Wednesday, May 6 at 7 p.m. | TBA |
| 3 | Friday, May 8, TBD | ESPN |
| 4 | Sunday, May 10 at 3:30 p.m. | ABC |
| 5 | Tuesday, May 12, TBD | TNT |
| 6 | Thursday, May 14, TBD | ESPN |
| 7 | Sunday, May 17, TBD | TNT |
| Game | Date and Time (ET) | TV |
| 1 | Sunday, May 3 at 1 p.m. | ABC |
| 2 | Tuesday, May 5 at 8 p.m. | TNT |
| 3 | Saturday, May 9 at 5 p.m. | ESPN |
| 4 | Monday, May 11 at 7 p.m. | TNT |
| 5* | Wednesday, May 13, TBD | TNT |
| 6* | Friday, May 15, TBD | ESPN |
| 7* | Monday, May 18 at 8 p.m. | TNT |
ESPN broadcasts will be live streamed on the Watch ESPN application.
If the Bulls Fail, Major Changes Should Ensue
It won't be easy, but everything is aligned for the Chicago Bulls to beat the Cleveland Cavaliers in the playoffs. Cleveland will be without Kevin Love for the remainder of the NBA playoffs. The Cavs will also play the first two games of the series without J.R. Smith.
He was suspended by the league for elbowing the Boston Celtics' Jae Crowder in Cleveland's series-clinching win over the C's on April 26. The Cavs will have to make due without two key floor spacers. Obviously, they still have two of the best players in the game in LeBron James and Kyrie Irving, but the Bulls were already a deeper team before the loss of Love and Smith.
To augment the Cavs' depth issues, the Bulls will be completely healthy for the first time this season. Per Bulls Nation, Game 1 will be the first time the Cavs have played the Bulls with all of Chicago's starters active:
If the Bulls cannot beat the Cavs with this dynamic, then it's time to blow up the core.
Memphis Will Test Golden State's Toughness
Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors like to get out and run in transition. They play a high-speed, high-scoring brand of basketball that led them to the highest per-game scoring total in the NBA and the league's best record.
All of that will be tested when the Dubs meet the Memphis Grizzlies in the second round.
The Grizzlies are known for their size and physicality. Without question, Memphis will look to slow the tempo of the game and pound the Warriors inside. While Curry and Klay Thompson will obviously factor into this series in a major way, the X-factor for the Warriors is center Andrew Bogut.
As one of the few Warriors with the size to match up with Memphis' Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph, Bogut has to be a force on the inside, on the glass and defending in the low post.
Atlanta Must Be Better to Beat Washington
The Atlanta Hawks pushed past the Brooklyn Nets to advance to the second round, but the top seed in the Eastern Conference will need to be better against the Washington Wizards to make it to the conference finals.
The Hawks struggled to defend without fouling—especially in the low post—and they were a bit inconsistent from long range.
Against the Wizards, the Hawks won't have to deal with Brook Lopez on the block, but Marcin Gortat could have a similar impact. He's not as skilled as Lopez, but the Hawks still lack the size in the frontcourt to match up with him.
The dynamic playmaking of John Wall also presents a different challenge for Atlanta's defense. Deron Williams isn't capable of getting to the rim the way he once was. Wall's speed and size creates a matchup problem for Jeff Teague.
Atlanta's point guards will have to ratchet up their intensity and lace up those sneakers tight to contain Wall.
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