NBA Playoffs 2015: Updated Predictions for Conference Semifinals Bracket
The second round of the 2015 NBA postseason gets underway on Sunday. Game 1 of the Memphis Grizzlies vs. Golden State Warriors series and Game 1 of the Washington Wizards vs. Atlanta Hawks matchup kick off the action.
Here's a look at the matchups for the conference semifinals.
| Washington Wizards vs. Atlanta Hawks | Washington in 7 |
| Chicago Bulls vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | Chicago in 6 |
| Memphis Grizzlies vs. Golden State Warriors | Golden State in 7 |
| LA Clippers vs. Houston Rockets | Clippers in 6 |
Warriors in 7
Golden State was 39-2 at home during the regular season, and it won both games on its floor against the New Orleans Pelicans in the first round. During the regular season, the Warriors took two out of three from the Grizzlies. The lone game the Grizzlies won was a 105-98 victory in Memphis, Tennessee, on December 17.
The loss snapped the Warriors' 16-game win streak. It was just one of 11 times Golden State was held to less than 100 points in a game all year.
Memphis will need to keep scores low throughout the series to have a chance to win. I predict this series goes seven games, but the Warriors will ultimately have too much firepower. They will advance to the Western Conference Finals.
Wizards in 7
The Atlanta Hawks won three of four against the Washington Wizards during the regular season. However, the most recent game was a 108-99 win for the Wizards in Washington. Atlanta doesn't look as fierce as it did earlier in the season. While the Hawks did advance past the Brooklyn Nets in the first round, their inability to defend in the low post was apparent.
The Nets' Brook Lopez had a field day against Atlanta's smallish frontcourt. Lopez averaged 19.8 points and nine rebounds over the six games. Lopez is a more skilled big man than the Wizards' Marcin Gortat, but Washington would be wise to feed him the ball in an effort to make his size a factor.
Despite the Hawks' dominance in the regular-season series, after Washington's four-game sweep of the Toronto Raptors in the first round, head coach Randy Wittman's team is playing its best basketball when it counts. The Wizards are my pick to win in seven games.
Bulls in 6
LeBron James is the best player in the NBA, but even he and Kyrie Irving are up against a huge challenge in the conference semifinals. The Chicago Bulls are healthy and at full capacity; the Cleveland Cavaliers are not.
Power forward Kevin Love is out for the entire postseason with a shoulder injury. Cavs shooting guard J.R. Smith will miss the first two games of the series while serving a suspension for striking Boston Celtics forward Jae Crowder in the first round.
The Cavs would have issues dealing with the Bulls' depth even if they were at full strength. Without two key contributors for at least two games, Cleveland is in trouble. The Bulls are finally healthy and couldn't have been dealt a better hand. Chicago will finally conquer James in the playoffs and move on to the Eastern Conference Finals.
Clippers in 6
It all comes down to defense for the Los Angeles Clippers. That was the biggest difference in their victory over the San Antonio Spurs in the first round. We know a Chris Paul-led team will score points, and Blake Griffin has truly proved himself to be an MVP-caliber player after torching the Spurs all series. He nearly averaged a triple-double (24.1 points, 13.1 rebounds, 7.4 assists) over the seven games, but slowing down the Houston Rockets' high-scoring offense will be key.
No one can stop James Harden, but the Clippers will be charged with containing his teammates.
Dwight Howard will have his hands full with DeAndre Jordan. DJ is one of the only centers who can match Howard's combination of size and athleticism. By taking care of the basketball and limiting the Rockets' points in the paint, the Clippers will have an easier time dispatching Houston than they did with the Spurs.
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