NBA Playoff Schedule 2015: Known Dates, Times for Conference Semifinals
The remainder of the 2015 NBA playoffs has some living up to do.
In the finale of Round 1 Saturday night, the Los Angeles Clippers emerged past the defending-champion San Antonio Spurs in a Game 7 for the ages. A noticeably hobbled Chris Paul kept his team in the game before falling back and hitting an off-balance floater over Tim Duncan with exactly one second left, securing a 111-109 victory and a spot in Round 2.
On a day pegged as one of the biggest in sports history, Paul stole the show on one leg.
Of course, now fans must wait and see whether the rest of the playoffs can live up to that—a game that for all intents and purposes felt like the NBA Finals. But based on how things have unfolded in recent postseasons, the best should be yet to come.
Let's take a look at what's out there regarding Round 2.
Known NBA Playoff Schedule for Round 2
| Memphis Grizzlies vs. Golden State Warriors | Second-Round Series | |
| 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 |
| Chicago Bulls vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | Second-Round Series | |
| 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 |
| Atlanta Hawks vs. Washington Wizards | Second-Round Series | |
| 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 |
| Los Angeles Clippers vs. Houston Rockets | Second-Round Series | |
| 1 | Monday, May 4 at 9:30 p.m. | TNT |
| 2 | Wednesday, May 6 at 9:30 p.m. | TNT |
| 3 | Friday, May 8 at 10:30 p.m. | ESPN |
| 4 | Sunday, May 10 at 8:30 p.m. | TNT |
| 5* | Tuesday, May 12, TBD | TNT |
| 6* | Thursday, May 14, TBD | ESPN |
| 7* | Sunday, May 17, TBD | TBD |
Series to Watch: Chicago Bulls vs. Cleveland Cavaliers
One noticeable, last-minute absence has done little to quell the anticipation for a series that has been brewing since LeBron James announced his return.
In a crushing development, the Cavaliers will be without Kevin Love for the rest of the postseason after he was injured in Game 4 of Cleveland's sweep of Boston. With Love having surgery, the Cavs will miss their starting power forward following his impressive start to his playoff career.
To say the timing is bad in this circumstance would be an understatement.
Cleveland is gearing up to face its big, bad rival, the Chicago Bulls—who have the size and offensive weapons in the post to produce a big advantage down low.
Of course, how much that truly impacts the series will depend on how much James and Kyrie Irving can dominate the backcourt, as K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune noted:
Considering the fact that Derrick Rose is still getting used to full-speed basketball—much less playoff-level basketball—and Jimmy Butler struggled at times versus Milwaukee, the Cavaliers seem to have a decided edge in the backcourt. But that could all change with one key switch.
James has been much more of a wing player than the dominant post presence he liked to be at times in Miami, but Love's absence could force a change in his nature. At least, that's what Taj Gibson expects, per Bleacher Report's Sean Highkin:
That's where this series could really get tricky in terms of matchups. James down low will force Iman Shumpert and J.R. Smith to handle Butler's offense, which has bordered on unstoppable during stretches of his emergent 2014-15 season.
With that said, both Shumpert and Smith have been effective defenders and have aided in the Cavaliers' defensive resurgence late in the season. Keeping the Bulls in front of them in half-court sets should play to Cleveland's advantage, but that's not the only key. As James told ESPN's Dave McMenamin:
"Turnovers and rebounding. Can't turn the ball over against a team like that, get D-Rose (Derrick Rose) into the open floor, and you have to rebound. They're very good in the interior with Joakim, and Taj (Gibson), Pau (Gasol), those guys do a great job of rebounding, so we have to help clean the glass both offensively and defensively.
"
Rose may not be on his usual level. Pau Gasol may be past his prime. Butler may not have what it takes to go one-on-one with the world's best player. But heading into a tell-all series, Chicago does have its players healthy and a deep lineup for the first time in years.
Whether that's enough to usurp James and Co. will play a big role in the NBA narrative over the offseason and into 2015-16.
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