NBA Playoffs 2015: Updated TV Schedule, Dates and Odds for Rest of Postseason
None of the four conference semifinal series in the 2015 NBA playoffs are tipping their hands after two games of play.
As two series out East and two out West get ready to head to the lower-seeded team's arena, all are knotted up at one game apiece. The Memphis Grizzlies were the only road team to drop Game 1 of their opening series against the top-seeded Warriors but bounced back with a shocking victory in Golden State to even it up.
Regardless, each of the four road teams head home to Game 3 with the home-court advantage in their back pockets.
Let's take a look below at all of the schedule information from Thursday night onward, as well as some updated championship predictions.
2015 NBA Playoffs Schedule
| Game 3 (at Memphis) | Saturday, May 9 at 8 p.m. | ABC |
| Game 4 (at Memphis) | Monday, May 11 at 9:30 p.m. | TNT |
| Game 5* (at Golden State) | Wednesday, May 13, TBD | TNT |
| Game 6* (at Memphis) | Friday, May 15, TBD | ESPN |
| Game 7* (at Golden State) | Sunday, May 17, TBD | TBD |
| Game 3 (at Chicago) | Friday, May 8, TBD | ESPN |
| Game 4 (at Chicago) | Sunday, May 10 at 3:30 p.m. | ABC |
| Game 5* (at Cleveland) | Tuesday, May 12, TBD | TNT |
| Game 6* (at Chicago) | Thursday, May 14, TBD | ESPN |
| Game 7* (at Cleveland) | Sunday, May 17, TBD | TNT |
| Game 3 (at Washington) | Saturday, May 9 at 5 p.m. | ESPN |
| Game 4 (at Washington) | Monday, May 11 at 7 p.m. | TNT |
| Game 5* (at Atlanta) | Wednesday, May 13, TBD | TNT |
| Game 6* (at Washington) | Friday, May 15, TBD | ESPN |
| Game 7* (at Atlanta) | Monday, May 18 at 8 p.m. | TNT |
| Game 3 (at Los Angeles) | Friday, May 8 at 10:30 p.m. | ESPN |
| Game 4 (at Los Angeles) | Sunday, May 10 at 8:30 p.m. | TNT |
| Game 5* (at Houston) | Tuesday, May 12, TBD | TNT |
| Game 6* (at Los Angeles) | Thursday, May 14, TBD | ESPN |
| Game 7* (at Houston) | Sunday, May 17, TBD | TBD |
Championship Odds
| Golden State Warriors | 10-11 |
| Cleveland Cavaliers | 4-1 |
| Chicago Bulls | 13-2 |
| Los Angeles Clippers | 8-1 |
| Houston Rockets | 11-1 |
| Atlanta Hawks | 12-1 |
| Memphis Grizzlies | 20-1 |
| Washington Wizards | 28-1 |
Odds courtesy of Odds Shark, last updated May 7
Series to Watch: Chicago Bulls vs. Cleveland Cavaliers
Despite a weak Eastern Conference, one postseason heavyweight battle seemed inevitable from the moment LeBron James dropped that Sports Illustrated essay. And thanks to the Atlanta Hawks' spectacular season that garnered them the No. 1 seed, we're getting it a few weeks early.
Sure, the timing may not be ideal, with the Chicago Bulls still gaining their playoff footing and the Cleveland Cavaliers trying to overcome Kevin Love's sudden absence. But through 96 minutes of play, there's no indication that this series will produce anything other than top-notch dramatics and high-level basketball.
Reason to doubt the new-look Cavs' chances came early on when the Bulls put together a comprehensive Game 1 victory on the heels of their high-powered offense and a defense that limited James and Kyrie Irving. Derrick Rose, Pau Gasol and Jimmy Butler each eclipsed the 20-point mark.
But right when concern was brewing in Cleveland, James did what James does: take over. With Butler facing him up just as he did in Game 1, James didn't budge en route to one of the most dominating first-half performances in recent playoff memory, per ESPN Stats & Info:
Of course, James' extra-aggressive nature—not often seen as he typically facilitates first due to the attention heaped on him—could be attributed to the absences of Love as well as J.R. Smith. At least that's what he said, via Sports Illustrated's Ben Golliver:
""The extra shots I'm getting right now would be for Kevin [Love], or a couple more shots I'm getting would be for J.R. [Smith]," James explained. "For me, I had to change my approach tonight knowing how shorthanded we are. Be ultra-aggressive. Kyrie wanted me to be ultra-aggressive. ... I'm not accustomed to taking that many shots. I've never been a high-volume shooter, but I have to respond to what my teammates want me to do."
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That has certainly made its impact on James' shooting so far in the series. He's already taken 51 shots in just two games, including the 29 that he put up in Game 2. That's more than he attempted in any postseason game in his four-year Miami Heat career.
But for all of James' greatness, the series won't just come down to his individual brilliance. He needs more help spacing the floor, what with Chicago returning to its home court and intent on playing better defensively. Perhaps J.R. Smith will help the cause, but ESPN's Jeff Goodman has a lump in his stomach just saying so:
To be fair, the Cavaliers showcased in Game 2 that Smith doesn't have to return and put up 20-25 points to give Cleveland a chance—not after James showed that he can take over the series all by himself, and not after Irving proved that he can hang with Rose defensively.
The firepower of Butler and Rose in Game 1 bulldozed the opposition, and James' greatness in Game 2 paved the way, but it's impossible to ignore that both games so far in the series have been won and lost on energy. The Bulls' energy in the series opener could not be matched by an undermanned and out-of-whack Cavaliers team, but roles were reversed in Game 2.
As we continue forward in what seems will be a long series, it's hard to put much stock into the return of one Cleveland role player or the Bulls' return to the United Center with home-court advantage. This series will simply boil down to which team wants it most.
And that's a trend that is changing by the game, at least thus far.
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