NBA Playoff Schedule 2016: 1st-Round Dates, TV Info and Projected Matchups

As the NBA season comes to a close, we will remember it as the season of the Golden State Warriors and Kobe Bryant's last ride.

The Dubs are one win away from breaking the regular-season wins record the Chicago Bulls set in the 1995-96 season. With a victory over the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday night, Golden State would finish the season with 73 wins, setting a record that had seemed unbreakable until this machine of a team came along.

But as we know, NBA success is based mostly on titles. The Warriors already have one. But they would like to hang a second banner at Oracle Arena, and anything less would be a disappointment. NBA analyst Greg Anthony thinks a 73-win season would be merely "a footnote" without a title:

The end of the regular season means the playoffs are around the corner. It doesn't get much better than the league's best battling it out on the biggest stage for all the marbles.

According to NBA.com, the 2016 playoffs will start April 16. There's still some housekeeping to be sorted out as far as seeding and playoff berths are concerned, but Sports Media Watch noted ABC, TNT, NBA TV and the ESPN family of networks will broadcast the playoff games.

Here's how the standings look with two days to go. In the Eastern Conference, all the playoff teams are set, but the seeding could change.

Either the Detroit Pistons or Indiana Pacers will get the eighth seed, setting up a matchup with the top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers. The Pistons would be an interesting matchup with the Cavs, as they have a dominant interior player, Andre Drummond.

In the East, Nos. 3 through 6 are all separated by one game in the loss column, meaning there could be some moving and shaking in the last couple of days. Teams will be gunning hard for a top-four seed to ensure home-court advantage. The Atlanta Hawks, Boston Celtics, Miami Heat and Charlotte Hornets are all battling for Nos. 3 and 4.

If things stay the way they are now, the Heat-Celtics matchup would be fun to watch. It would feature two big markets, and the teams have recent playoff history. LeBron James and Paul Pierce won't be going mano a mano, but seeing Brad Stevens, one of the league's best young minds, coach in the playoffs would be a treat.

The Western Conference picture is more clear. The top four seeds—the Warriors, San Antonio Spurs, Oklahoma City Thunder and Los Angeles Clippers—are all set. But Nos. 5 through 7 could all change, and the final spot is still up for grabs.

Right now, the Houston Rockets hold the eighth seed out West, but Tony Jones of the Salt Lake Tribune noted the Utah Jazz still have a chance:

Ultimately, it may not matter, because it's hard to imagine either of those teams unseating the Warriors. But landing a playoff spot would be a boost for either franchise and its fanbase.

A matchup between the Spurs and Dallas Mavericks would be intriguing, as it would pit two Texas teams against each other as well as two of the NBA's best coaches, Gregg Popovich and Rick Carlisle.

The Clippers and Portland Trail Blazers would make for another potentially fun series. We already know about the things Damian Lillard can do in the playoffs. The Clippers have been one of the top regular-season teams for a few years, but they are still working Blake Griffin back into the rotation and getting everyone comfortable again.

This Clippers core has been together for a handful of years and has yet to make any noise in the playoffs. A first-round exit this season could mean some changes are on the horizon.

It doesn't get much better than the NBA playoffs. Even though the Warriors are the title favorites, it is far from a foregone conclusion that they will win. Just ask Jordan Spieth.

Either way, this is the most exciting time of the basketball season. Much like the first weekend of the NCAA men's basketball tournament, we are in for a lot of great basketball over the next few weeks.