NBA Playoff Standings 2015: Conference Semifinals Outlook, Tuesday's Game Picks

Eight teams are still standing in pursuit of the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy. After an opening round that featured only one series with any real drama, the signs from the early stages of the NBA conference semifinals are a lot more promising in that regard.

A lack of upsets created some terrific second-round matchups. That's especially true in the Western Conference given the incredible amount of depth compared to the weaker East group. But the disparity shrinks as the playoffs go on.

Let's check out how all of the series from the current round are shaping up after one game. That's followed by predictions for each of the Game 2s on Tuesday night.

Conference Semifinals Series Standings

Conference	Matchup	Status
East	No. 1 Atlanta Hawks vs. No. 5 Washington Wizards	1-0 WSH
East	No. 2 Cleveland Cavaliers vs. No. 3 Chicago Bulls	1-0 CHI
West	No. 1 Golden State Warriors vs. No. 5 Memphis Grizzlies	1-0 GSW
West	No. 2 Houston Rockets vs. No. 3 Los Angeles Clippers	1-0 LAC

May 5 Game Predictions

Washington Wizards at Atlanta Hawks (8 p.m. ET on TNT)

Perhaps the way Game 1 played out shouldn't be a surprise. The Wizards came out rusty after sitting on the sidelines for a week after a sweep of the Toronto Raptors. Yet the Hawks wore down in the latter stages playing on just one-day rest to allow Washington to steal a road win.

Atlanta just didn't have enough energy in the tank to slow down the dynamic guard combo of John Wall and Bradley Beal. They combined for 46 points, 14 assists and 14 rebounds. Paul Pierce also chipped in 19 points, working a lot of the perimeter.

Furthermore, the Hawks also struggled to shoot the ball despite getting some open looks, as highlighted by ESPN Stats and Info:

Atlanta can find a silver lining in those numbers. It lost by six even though it endured its worst shooting half of the entire campaign at an inopportune time.

The Hawks passed along comments from DeMarre Carroll, who had 24 points to pace the team in the opener, about the belief factor:

Quite simply, they need to shoot the ball better. They finished Game 1 at 38 percent from the field. Kyle Korver made just three of 11 shots from beyond the arc after ranking second in the NBA in three-point shooting at 49 percent during the regular season.

Expect a more typical performance from the Atlanta offense in Game 2. That should be enough to level the series at one game apiece as the two teams head to Washington.

Prediction: Hawks 102, Wizards 97

Memphis Grizzlies at Golden State Warriors (10:30 p.m. ET on TNT)

Golden State once again looked like the title favorite with a convincing win over Memphis in Game 1. The Warriors jumped out to a seven-point lead after the first quarter and never looked back en route to a 101-86 victory.

They shot better than 50 percent from the field, including 46 percent from three-point range. Their 13 threes were 10 more than the Grizzlies', a 30-point advantage that made the difference.

Stephen Curry provided 22 points and four treys. He was crowned the league's Most Valuable Player on the series' off day after a tremendous regular season. SportsCenter notes his main focus is still on the ultimate team goal, which is now 11 wins away:

How to slow down the Warriors offense is a crucial question for Memphis. Unfortunately, the answer was on the sidelines for Game 1: Mike Conley. The point guard is dealing with a face injury that's left his status up in the air.

NBA on ESPN showcased his importance to the team's success:

Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol tallied 41 points, 18 rebounds and eight assists, and the Grizzlies still lost by 15. Without Conley serving as a stabilizing force at both ends of the floor, this series is a massive uphill battle for Memphis.

He doesn't just have to return to the lineup; he must also be effective. Until he can get back on the court and show that, it's tough to pick against Golden State. Look for the Warriors to grab a 2-0 lead, even if Game 2 is a little more competitive.

Prediction: Warriors 99, Grizzlies 92