NBA Playoffs 2016: Schedule Guide, Standings and Predictions for Round 1 Results
Legends are made in the NBA Finals, but the first round of the playoffs often provides fans with some of the most memorable moments.
Last year featured Stephen Curry drilling a ridiculous, fallaway three-pointer in the final seconds to send the Golden State Warriors and New Orleans Pelicans to overtime in Game 3 of their series and cap off a 20-point comeback in the fourth quarter. The 2014 playoffs saw Damian Lillard connect on a game-winning three at the buzzer to send the Portland Trail Blazers to the second round over the Houston Rockets.
There will likely be plenty of those moments that define the first round this season, especially with loaded squads like the Warriors, San Antonio Spurs and the Cleveland Cavaliers lacing it up.
With that in mind, here is a look at the first-round schedule, standings and some predictions for each playoff series.
First-Round Schedule
| Game | Date | Time (ET) | TV |
| 1: Detroit at Cleveland | Sunday, April 17 | 3 p.m. | ABC |
| 2: Detroit at Cleveland | Wednesday, April 20 | 8 p.m. | TNT |
| 3: Cleveland at Detroit | Friday, April 22 | 7 p.m. | ESPN |
| 4: Cleveland at Detroit | Sunday, April 24 | 8:30 p.m. | TNT |
| *5: Detroit at Cleveland | Tuesday, April 26 | TBD | TBD |
| *6: Cleveland at Detroit | Thursday, April 28 | TBD | TBD |
| *7: Detroit at Cleveland | Saturday, April 30 | TBD | TNT |
| Game | Date | Time (ET) | TV |
| 1: Indiana at Toronto | Saturday, April 16 | 12:30 p.m. | ESPN |
| 2: Indiana at Toronto | Monday, April 18 | 7 p.m. | NBA TV |
| 3: Toronto at Indiana | Thursday, April 21 | 7:30 p.m. | NBA TV |
| 4: Toronto at Indiana | Saturday, April 23 | 3 p.m. | TNT |
| *5: Indiana at Toronto | Tuesday, April 26 | TBD | TBD |
| *6: Toronto at Indiana | Friday, April 29 | TBD | TBD |
| *7: Indiana at Toronto | Sunday, May 1 | TBD | TBD |
| Game | Date | Time (ET) | TV |
| 1: Charlotte at Miami | Sunday, April 17 | 5:30 p.m. | TNT |
| 2: Charlotte at Miami | Wednesday, April 20 | 7 p.m. | NBA TV |
| 3: Miami at Charlotte | Saturday, April 23 | 5:30 p.m. | TNT |
| 4: Miami at Charlotte | Monday, April 25 | TBD | TBD |
| *5: Charlotte at Miami | Wednesday, April 27 | TBD | TBD |
| *6: Miami at Charlotte | Friday, April 29 | TBD | TBD |
| *7: Charlotte at Miami | Sunday, May 1 | TBD | TBD |
| Game | Date | Time (ET) | TV |
| 1: Boston at Atlanta | Saturday, April 16 | 7 p.m. | ESPN |
| 2: Boston at Atlanta | Tuesday, April 19 | 7 p.m. | TNT |
| 3: Atlanta at Boston | Friday, April 22 | 8 p.m. | ESPN 2 |
| 4: Atlanta at Boston | Sunday, April 24 | 6 p.m. | TNT |
| *5: Boston at Atlanta | Tuesday, April 26 | TBD | TBD |
| *6: Atlanta at Boston | Thursday, April 28 | TBD | TBD |
| *7: Boston at Atlanta | Saturday, April 30 | TBD | TNT |
| Game | Date | Time (ET) | TV |
| 1: Houston at Golden State | Saturday, April 16 | 3:30 p.m. | ABC |
| 2: Houston at Golden State | Monday, April 18 | 10:30 p.m. | TNT |
| 3: Golden State at Houston | Thursday, April 21 | 9:30 p.m. | TNT |
| 4: Golden State at Houston | Sunday, April 24 | 3:30 p.m. | ABC |
| *5: Houston at Golden State | Wednesday, April 27 | TBD | TBD |
| *6: Golden State at Houston | Friday, April 29 | TBD | TBD |
| *7: Houston at Golden State | Sunday, May 1 | TBD | TBD |
| Game | Date | Time (ET) | TV |
| 1: Memphis at San Antonio | Sunday, April 17 | 8 p.m. | TNT |
| 2: Memphis at San Antonio | Tuesday, April 19 | 9:30 p.m. | TNT |
| 3: San Antonio at Memphis | Friday, April 22 | 9:30 p.m. | ESPN |
| 4: San Antonio at Memphis | Sunday, April 24 | 1 p.m. | ABC |
| *5: Memphis at San Antonio | Tuesday, April 26 | TBD | TBD |
| *6: San Antonio at Memphis | Thursday, April 28 | TBD | TBD |
| *7: Memphis at San Antonio | Saturday, April 30 | TBD | TNT |
| Game | Date | Time (ET) | TV |
| 1: Dallas at Oklahoma City | Saturday, April 16 | 9:30 p.m. | ESPN |
| 2: Dallas at Oklahoma City | Monday, April 18 | 8 p.m. | TNT |
| 3: Oklahoma City at Dallas | Thursday, April 21 | 7 p.m. | TNT |
| 4: Oklahoma City at Dallas | Saturday, April 23 | 8 p.m. | ESPN |
| *5: Dallas at Oklahoma City | Monday, April 25 | TBD | TBD |
| *6: Oklahoma City at Dallas | Thursday, April 28 | TBD | TBD |
| *7: Dallas at Oklahoma City | Saturday, April 30 | TBD | TNT |
| Game | Date | Time (ET) | TV |
| 1: Portland at Los Angeles | Sunday, April 17 | 10:30 p.m. | TNT |
| 2: Portlant at Los Angeles | Wednesday, April 20 | 10:30 p.m. | TNT |
| 3: Los Angeles at Portland | Saturday, April 23 | 10:30 p.m. | ESPN |
| 4: Los Angeles at Portland | Monday, April 25 | 10:30 p.m. | TNT |
| *5: Portland at Los Angeles | Wednesday, April 27 | TBD | TBD |
| *6: Los Angeles at Portland | Friday, April 29 | TBD | TBD |
| *7: Portland at Los Angeles | Sunday, May 1 | TBD | TBD |
NBA Playoff Standings
| Seed | Team | Record |
| 1 | Golden State Warriors | 73-9 |
| 2 | San Antonio Spurs | 67-15 |
| 3 | Oklahoma City Thunder | 55-27 |
| 4 | Los Angeles Clippers | 53-29 |
| 5 | Portland Trail Blazers | 44-38 |
| 6 | Dallas Mavericks | 42-40 |
| 7 | Memphis Grizzlies | 42-40 |
| 8 | Houston Rockets | 41-41 |
| Seed | Team | Record |
| 1 | Cleveland Cavaliers | 57-25 |
| 2 | Toronto Raptors | 56-26 |
| 3 | Miami Heat | 48-34 |
| 4 | Atlanta Hawks | 48-34 |
| 5 | Boston Celtics | 48-34 |
| 6 | Charlotte Hornets | 48-34 |
| 7 | Indiana Pacers | 45-37 |
| 8 | Detroit Pistons | 44-38 |
First-Round Predictions
Golden State Warriors over Houston Rockets in Four Games
The Golden State Warriors did the unthinkable this season and broke the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls’ all-time record of 72 wins in a season. Curry is the surefire MVP, but his supporting cast of Klay Thompson, Draymond Green and many others allows the Warriors to beat opponents in a number of ways.
Golden State handled the Houston Rockets in five games in last year’s Western Conference Finals, and the final two wins in that series came by a combined 49 points. It was also 3-0 in head-to-head showdowns against Houston this year.
The Warriors are arguably the best team in NBA history, and they aren’t going to lose in the first round. Even if the Rockets find a way to negate Golden State’s lights-out shooting, its defense ranked fourth in the league in defensive rating, per NBA.com.
Simply put, this is a mismatch.
San Antonio Spurs over Memphis Grizzlies in Four Games
For as much attention as the Warriors deservedly received this season, the San Antonio Spurs quietly went 67-15. The playoff-tested core of Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, Tony Parker, Kawhi Leonard and coach Gregg Popovich added a game-changer in LaMarcus Aldridge and is now even more dangerous.
As for the Memphis Grizzlies, they may have a chance in this series if they were full strength. However, injuries to Marc Gasol and Mike Conley sapped the Grizzlies of much of their firepower, and they will struggle without two of their leaders.
Oklahoma City Thunder over Dallas Mavericks in Six Games
The Dallas Mavericks finished the season with a 7-2 record in their last nine games and will parlay that momentum into a couple of victories in this series.
Dirk Nowitzki understands what it takes to flip an extra switch in the postseason, and he will do just that during Dallas' home games. However, the Oklahoma City Thunder are still going to have two transcendent superstars on the court for the majority of every game with Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant and will win this series based on talent alone.
Adi Joseph of Sporting News pointed to Durant and Westbrook as serious problems for Dallas:
"The problem is that the matchups are very much against them: The Thunder have perhaps the two best isolation players in the NBA, and the Mavericks’ defense struggles in one-on-one situations. Dallas coach Rick Carlisle is one of the best—and, in a matchup against rookie NBA coach Billy Donovan, that probably is worth a win—but he simply doesn’t have the same top-level talent or the matchups to his advantage.
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Los Angeles Clippers over Portland Trail Blazers in Seven Games
The Portland Trail Blazers overachieved all season after they lost Aldridge and Nicolas Batum during the offseason, and that won’t stop in the playoffs. Unfortunately for Portland fans, their team will run out of steam in a Game 7 on the Los Angeles Clippers’ floor.
The backcourt combo of Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum is dangerous for the Trail Blazers, and there is still some uncertainty for the Clippers since Blake Griffin has only appeared in five games since Christmas Day. Still, Los Angeles just has too many weapons for Portland to thwart in a do-or-die Game 7.
Chris Paul will direct the offense, DeAndre Jordan will provide rim protection and J.J. Redick and Jamal Crawford will drill threes and send the Clippers to the second round.
Cleveland Cavaliers over Detroit Pistons in Five Games
The combination of Andre Drummond and Reggie Jackson is worth a game in this series for the Detroit Pistons, especially since the Cleveland Cavaliers could overlook the No. 8 seed with their eyes on a potential NBA Finals rematch against the Warriors.
Even if the Pistons get one game, LeBron James essentially carried Cleveland to two victories in the NBA Finals by himself without Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love. The rest of the Big Three are healthy this season, which will be more than enough to beat the No. 8 seed in the East.
James has his eye on a title for the city of Cleveland and has been in the NBA Finals the last five seasons. He isn’t going to be shocked in the first round.
Toronto Raptors over Indiana Pacers in Seven Games
The Toronto Raptors may be the biggest threat to Cleveland in the East behind DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry, but this franchise hasn’t won a postseason series since the 2000-01 campaign. The Raptors need to prove they can win in the playoffs, especially after the Washington Wizards swept this core last season.
With some doubt about Toronto’s ability to come through at this time of year, the Indiana Pacers will use the momentum they have from a 6-1 finish to the season to steal a few games from the No. 2 seed. Paul George will come through with critical plays in the game's most important moments in Indiana and push the Raptors to the brink.
However, the Raptors were a sparkling 32-9 at home this season and will defend home-court advantage in Game 7.
Miami Heat over Charlotte Hornets in Six Games
It feels like the season in the Eastern Conference has been building toward a postseason showdown between James’ current team and his old one. The Miami Heat were 2-1 in head-to-head clashes with the Cavaliers this season, and those two wins came by a combined 36 points.
If the Heat are going to get to that showdown with Cleveland, they will have to beat the Charlotte Hornets. Dwyane Wade is a proven champion, and he boasts a solid supporting cast with Goran Dragic, Hassan Whiteside and Joe Johnson. Miami has enough weapons to win this series, but the combination of Batum , Al Jefferson and Kemba Walker will win two games.
Hornets coach Steve Clifford recognized Charlotte is in a better position to compete with the Heat in this year’s playoffs than it was in a 2014 postseason loss to Miami, per Scott Fowler of the Charlotte Observer: “We have a lot better team. Two years ago our guys did a great job, but we didn’t have nearly the talent level or depth we have now.”
This better Charlotte team will win two games, but Wade will come through with enough plays to send his team into the second round.
Atlanta Hawks over Boston Celtics in Seven Games
The Atlanta Hawks feature largely the same core that reached last season’s Eastern Conference Finals with Paul Millsap, Al Horford and Jeff Teague. They are playoff-tested and will find a way to win a critical Game 7 against the Boston Celtics.
Still, the Celtics deserve credit for finishing as the No. 5 seed behind Brad Stevens’ impressive coaching and a collection of solid players. Isaiah Thomas can take over a game as a scorer, Avery Bradley and Jae Crowder are formidable defenders, and other contributors such as Evan Turner, Marcus Smart and Jared Sullinger provide depth.
That collection will win three games, but Atlanta’s postseason experience will prove critical in Game 7.
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