NBA Playoff Schedule 2015: TV, Live Stream Guide for Monday's Round 2 Matchups
After a first round filled with a few sweeps and some longer, more dramatic series, the NBA playoffs now move on to second-round action.
The conference semifinals got started Sunday afternoon with a pair of Game 1s. The Washington Wizards stole home-court advantage from the top-seeded Atlanta Hawks, while the Golden State Warriors continued their home dominance with a victory over the Mike Conley-less Memphis Grizzlies. Here's a look at Monday's schedule, along with the TV and live stream info:
The Chicago Bulls and Cleveland Cavaliers will tip off Monday's action with Game 1 of what is shaping up to be a competitive series. The Cavs will be shorthanded against the Bulls, especially in the first two games. As you probably know, Kevin Love is out for the rest of the playoffs with a dislocated shoulder. J.R. Smith will also have to sit out the first two games of the series because of a suspension resulting from an incident in Game 4 against the Celtics.
Can the Cavs still beat the Bulls? Of course. They still have LeBron James and Kyrie Irving. Either player can take over a game at any point and be the best player on the floor. But without the floor spacing Love provides, the Bulls will have an easier time imposing their will inside. Jalen Rose thinks the Cavs are in some trouble.
In the above linked USA Today piece, Cavs head coach David Blatt hasn't yet revealed who will start in place of Love and Smith. One player who could be vital to the Cavs' success, though, is Tristan Thompson. Thompson came off the bench for most of the year, and in the series against the Celtics, he grabbed 3.8 offensive rebounds per game.
But the Celtics don't have nearly the frontcourt talent the Bulls boast. You can bet Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau will look to pound it inside with Pau Gasol, Joakim Noah and Taj Gibson. Blatt will have his hands full balancing his lineups to contend inside while also keeping the floor spaced for James and Irving.
The late game will pit the second-seeded Houston Rockets against the third-seeded Los Angeles Clippers. The Rockets are fairly rested after dispatching the Dallas Mavericks in five games. The Clippers, however, have a short turnaround after finishing off the defending-champion San Antonio Spurs in seven games Saturday night, much to the delight of new owner Steve Ballmer.
Like the Cavs, the Clippers are now dealing with some injury trouble of their own. Except in the Clippers' case, they could be missing by far their most important player.
Early in Game 7 against the Spurs, Chris Paul grabbed his hamstring and subsequently went to the locker room. He was able to return to the contest, but he limped around for most of the second half. But that didn't stop him from hitting an unbelievable shot with one second left to break a tie at 109 and sink the reigning champs.
Paul had an MRI on his hamstring after the game, which came back negative. He is listed as a game-time decision, but he will try to give it a go, all according to Arash Markazi of ESPN.
Simply put, the Clippers can't afford to have Paul miss any time. Their bench is already short as it is, and Paul is the team's primary playmaker.
Chances are coach Doc Rivers would rather not have to rely on his son, Austin, to be the team's primary point guard. As Paul showed in Game 7 against the Spurs, he can be effective even on one leg. If Paul has to sit (and without home-court advantage), the Clippers could have their hands full with James Harden and the Rockets.
