NBA Playoffs 2016: Breaking Down Potential First-Round Matchups
While the top NBA teams in both conferences have wrapped up playoff spots, the bottom seeds are still open with 10 days left in the regular season.
Of course the season doesn't end today, but if it did, below are the eight matchups in both conferences that would take place in the postseason.
The Chicago Bulls and Washington Wizards in the East and Houston Rockets in the West are the only teams currently not in the playoff picture still able to clinch a spot before the final day on April 13.
Let's take a look at the potential first-round matchups as well as predictions for all eight series.
Eastern Conference
(1) Cleveland Cavaliers vs. (8) Detroit Pistons
Season series: Detroit, 2-1
LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers are clearly the best team in the East, but it's still been a season featuring nearly as many downs as ups.
It started with the firing of head coach David Blatt despite the fact the team had the best record in the East just prior to the All-Star Game.
Friction between James and the Cavs has surfaced, per Cleveland.com's Joe Vardon, stemming from the fact he talked about his desire to play on a "Super Team" with friends around the league at some point in his career, per Howard Beck of Bleacher Report.
"I really hope that, before our career is over, we can all play together," James said. "At least one, maybe one or two seasons—me, [Carmelo Anthony], [Dwyane Wade], [Chris Paul]—we can get a year in. I would actually take a pay cut to do that."
New head coach Tyronn Lue has kept the Cavaliers afloat in the East, but at one point their lead was trimmed to one game by the Toronto Raptors. It's now 3.5 games, and the Cavaliers appear to have a stranglehold on the top seed and home-court advantage until the NBA Finals.
After seven years of missing the playoffs, Detroit could be back in the postseason this year. The Pistons are much improved in part to having a rare, true dominant center in Andre Drummond, who is averaging 10.0 rebounds per game—on the defensive side. His 14.9 total boards per game lead the league, and it doesn't hurt that he averages 16.5 points per contest.
Despite the improvement, don't expect their postseason journey to last long.
Even with the internal issues, James, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love are just too talented to lose in the first round. In fact, don't count on them even losing a game as long as the stay healthy.
Prediction: Cleveland, 4-0
(2) Toronto Raptors vs. (7) Indiana Pacers
Season series: Toronto, 2-1
After a one-year absence from the postseason following two straight appearances in the conference finals, the Indiana Pacers could be back in the playoffs again.
However, they are matched up against a talented Toronto Raptors squad. They are led by two-time All-Star Kyle Lowry, who is averaging 21.5 points, 6.5 assists and 4.8 rebounds per game.
Shooting guard DeMar DeRozan is Toronto's top scorer at 23.7 points per game, and eight players average at least 7.0 points on the team.
That team effort has enabled the Raptors to win 50 games in a season for the first time in franchise history. A 22-16 road record to date is a big reason why, but they have home-court advantage here and the Pacers just don't have enough firepower to hang with the one team that could give the Cavs a run for their money in the postseason.
Prediction: Toronto, 4-1
(3) Atlanta Hawks vs. (6) Charlotte Hornets
Season series: Atlanta, 3-1
The Eastern Conference is jam-packed, as the Atlanta Hawks, Charlotte Hornets, Boston Celtics and Miami Heat each are separated by a half game in the standings, meaning the matchups could change back and forth every day.
Point guard Kemba Walker and his 21.0 points and 5.2 assists per game have been a great story for a Hornets team that has been in the playoffs just two of the past 11 seasons.
However, the Hawks are a more balanced team with 10 players this season averaging at least six points per game, led by power forward Paul Millsap and his 17.2 points and 8.8 rebounds per contest.
What could ultimately do the Hornets in is the fact Atlanta will have home-court advantage and the Hornets are a dismal 16-21 on the road despite winning 28 of 39 at home.
According to the Hornets, shooting guard Nicolas Batum (15.3 ppg) strained his knee Sunday night, which could be another bad sign for the team.
It was a good season for the Hornets, but count on the veteran Hawks to pull this one out.
Prediction: Atlanta, 4-2
(4) Boston Celtics vs. (5) Miami Heat
Season series: Boston, 2-0
Just like the Hawks-Hornets matchup, a potential one between the Celtics and Heat could change day to day.
If the two teams do end up playing each other, it should go seven games. Although Boston won both during the regular season, the Heat have one player in center Hassan Whiteside who can alter the outcome of a series.
The 7-footer is averaging a league-high 3.7 blocks per game to go along with 14.1 points and 11.8 rebounds. They also have veteran Dwyane Wade, who knows what it takes to win in the playoffs with three championships under his belt.
However, the Celtics are a formidable foe and just ended the Golden State Warriors' NBA-record 54-game win streak on Friday behind Isaiah Thomas' 22 points and six assists.
Head coach Brad Stevens is clearly proving he can coach in the NBA, taking the Celtics to the playoffs for the second straight season, but count on the Heat winning this one during Whiteside's coming-out party.
Prediction: Miami, 4-3
Western Conference
(1) Golden State Warriors vs. (8) Utah Jazz
Season series: Golden State, 4-0
The Utah Jazz deserve props if they can qualify for the playoffs for the first time in four years, but if they end up as the No. 8 seed, it's going to be a short-lived postseason.
In a year where the Golden State Warriors broke records for most wins to start a season, most consecutive home wins and most wins in franchise history, they also have a shot to win the most regular-season games in NBA history.
The NBA championship shouldn't be handed to them, but a first-round victory is all but assured. Last year's MVP, Stephen Curry, is at it again this season, leading the league in points per game (30.0) and recording 6.5 assists, 5.4 rebounds and 2.2 steals for good measure.
If that's not enough, he also set the record for most three-pointers in a season in February. Golden State then comes at you with the league's second-leading triple-double machine (Draymond Green) and a guy who scored 40 points in back-to-back games recently (Klay Thompson).
At this point, it's not worth mentioning what the Jazz can bring to the table, because it's just not going to matter.
Prediction: Golden State, 4-0
(2) San Antonio Spurs vs. (7) Dallas Mavericks
Season series: San Antonio, 3-0
If not for Golden State, the San Antonio Spurs would be having one of the best seasons in NBA history. With wins in their final six games, they could still become just the third team ever to win 70 regular-season games (assuming the Warriors reach the mark).
The superstar trio of Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili (30.0 points, 12.6 rebounds and 11.2 assists per game) is aging, but they have help with young stars in Kawhi Leonard and LaMarcus Aldridge, who are the team's top two scorers.
| Team | Season | Wins |
| Golden State Warriors | '15-16 | 73.4* |
| Chicago Bulls | '95-96 | 72 |
| Chicago Bulls | '96-97 | 69 |
| San Antonio Spurs | '15-16 | 69* |
| Chicago Bulls | '91-92 | 67 |
Five-time NBA champion head coach Gregg Popovich has done a masterful job resting his starters when need be, and the team's 92.6 points per game allowed are by far the best in the NBA.
The Dallas Mavericks have talent, and an aging superstar of their own in Dirk Nowitzki, but the fact they allow 103.2 points per game is concerning against a team like the Spurs, who have home-court advantage.
Dallas could probably steal a game, but no more.
Prediction: San Antonio, 4-1
(3) Oklahoma City Thunder vs. (6) Portland Trail Blazers
Season series: Oklahoma City, 2-1
While the Oklahoma City Thunder have more talent—including All-Stars Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook—the Portland Trail Blazers have one of the most exciting young stars playing right now in Damian Lillard, who scored 51 points in a victory over the Warriors early this season.
He dropped 38 against Golden State on Sunday, but Portland fell, 136-111.
It was a bit of a microcosm of what this series should be. Lillard and C.J. McCollum combine to average 45.8 points per game, but no other Blazer scores more than 10.3 per contest.
While the Thunder have a tough time closing out games, they still have 53 wins and are easily settled into the No. 3 seed.
Durant and Westbrook can—and will—take over games and should prove too much for a young Portland team that may be a year or two away from reaching its potential.
Prediction: Oklahoma City, 4-1
(4) Los Angeles Clippers vs. (5) Memphis Grizzlies
Season series: Tied 1-1
The Los Angeles Clippers have been without power forward Blake Griffin and his 23.8 points and 8.7 rebounds per game since Christmas after he broke his hand in an altercation with a team employee.
He returned on Sunday, and while he had just six points, five rebounds and four assists, he had a plus/minus of plus-22 in a 114-109 victory over the Wizards.
Once Griffin returns to peak form, the Clippers, who average the second-most points among current Western Conference playoffs teams, will be tough to beat.
The Grizz play tough defense at 100.8 points per game allowed, but their 99.1 per contest aren't going to be enough to keep up with a high-scoring Clippers team at full strength.
These two teams have made the playoffs a combined nine times the past five years, but only the Grizzlies in 2013 advanced to the conference finals. That is not at stake right here, but look for the Clippers—behind Griffin, point guard Chris Paul and the NBA's second-leading rebounder, DeAndre Jordan—to advance in fairly easy fashion.
Prediction: Los Angeles, 4-2
