NBA Playoff Bracket 2018: Dates, TV Schedule for Conference Finals Matchups
The NBA's conference finals could once again turn casual hoops fans into clairvoyants.
To the surprise of few observers, the four remaining squads include the Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors. If each team nets four more victories, they would meet in the NBA Finals for the fourth straight time.
Plenty of prognosticators could have predicted these conference-finals matchups before the season commenced. This postseason, however, has not felt like a fait accompli.
The Indiana Pacers pushed LeBron James and Co. to seven grueling games during the opening round. Despite rebounding to sweep the Toronto Raptors, Cleveland cannot exhale with the young and tenacious Boston Celtics looming.
The Warriors claimed each playoff series in five games, but that means they have already lost once more than last postseason. With a healthy Stephen Curry back at their disposal, they must defeat a Houston Rockets squad that finished the regular season with a better record, point differential and net rating.
Although the NBA will likely continue its Groundhog Day finale, neither three-time conference champion's progression is inevitable. Either way, viewers might as well enjoy the journey, so let's take a closer look at both matchups.
Conference Finals Schedule
Eastern Conference
No. 2 Boston Celtics vs. No. 4 Cleveland Cavaliers
Game 1—Sunday, May 13: Cavaliers at Celtics, 3:30 p.m. ET on ABC
Game 2—Tuesday, May 15: Cavaliers at Celtics, 8:30 p.m. ET on ESPN
Game 3—Saturday, May 19: Celtics at Cavaliers, 8:30 p.m. ET on ESPN
Game 4—Monday, May 21: Celtics at Cavaliers, 8:30 p.m. ET on ESPN
Game 5*—Wednesday, May 23: Cavaliers at Celtics, 8:30 p.m. ET on ESPN
Game 6*—Friday, May 25: Celtics at Cavaliers, 8:30 p.m. ET on ESPN
Game 7*—Sunday, May 27: Cavaliers at Celtics, 8:30 p.m. ET on ESPN
Western Conference
No. 1 Houston Rockets vs. No. 2 Golden State Warriors
Game 1—Monday, May 14: Warriors at Rockets, 9 p.m. ET on TNT
Game 2—Wednesday, May 16: Warriors at Rockets, 9 p.m. ET on TNT
Game 3—Sunday, May 20: Rockets at Warriors, 8 p.m. ET on TNT
Game 4—Tuesday, May 22: Rockets at Warriors, 9 p.m. ET on TNT
Game 5*—Thursday, May 24: Warriors at Rockets, 9 p.m. ET on TNT
Game 6*—Saturday, May 26: Rockets at Warriors, 9 p.m. ET on TNT
Game 7*—Monday, May 28: Warriors at Rockets, 9 p.m. ET on TNT
*—if necessary
Celtics vs. Cavaliers
The Celtics can't possibly end James' Eastern Conference tyranny without Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward, right? Probably not. Then again, they weren't expected to last this long.
Without two of their top stars, a young core has rapidly expedited its maturation. Terry Rozier has demonstrated a convincing Irving impression by averaging 17.6 points and 6.7 assists points per game. Despite injuring his hamstring in Game 7 of the opening round, Jaylen Brown closed out the conference semifinals by going 10-for-13 with 24 points.
Yet Jayson Tatum is Boston's key to shocking the world. The 20-year-old rookie has registered at least 20 points in the past seven postseason contests. NBA.com/Stats highlighted his seismic second-round showcase to fend off the Philadelphia 76ers:
He must now make life difficult for his cousin, Tyronn Lue. Per ESPN.com's Dave McMenamin, the Cavaliers head coach commended Tatum for shining on the grand stage.
"He's not scared, he's not afraid and he's always been that type of kid," Lue said. "He wants these type of moments, and he's taking advantage of it."
Boston earned the East's No. 2 seed—thus securing home-court advantage against Cleveland—by relinquishing an NBA-low 101.5 points per 100 possessions during the season. The youngsters, however, have bolstered their postseason offensive rating to 106.9—higher than the season's 105.2 clip attained with 60 games played by Irving.
Shutting down James is not a feasible option. Still at the height of his prowess, the 33-year-old superstar has submitted 34.3 points per postseason contest with a 55.3 field-goal percentage. He has created a staggering 70 points per 48 minutes.
In order to prevail, the Celtics must stifle his supporting cast and keep pace on offense. The first task isn't as easy as it may seem. Kevin Love has tallied 75 points over his past three games, and Kyle Korver has drained 30 of 65 postseason three-point attempts.
There's at least hope, as an NBA-best 33.9 opposing three-point percentage buoyed Boston's smothering defense during the season. Quieting that duo from downtown would leave Cleveland crossing its fingers for a prolonged J.R. Smith hot streak.
Otherwise, the onus falls on James to carry the Cavs back to the Finals. Boston can only hope he's worn down after playing every regular-season game and averaging 41.3 minutes through 11 playoff bouts.
Rockets vs. Warriors
Of the two home underdogs, a Rockets victory is an easier pitch. They won 65 regular-season games while ranking sixth in defensive rating (103.8). Their 112.2 offensive rating trailed the Warriors by one-tenth of a point for the leading spot. Including the playoffs, they are 39-8 at the Toyota Center, where the series starts Monday.
According to ESPN.com, Chris Paul and James Harden respectively ranked first and second in Real Plus-Minus during the season. Clint Capela is also becoming a legitimate third star, submitting 12.2 rebounds and 2.8 blocks per postseason game.
After advancing to the Western Conference Finals, Houston is 50-3 (and 2-0 against Golden State) when all three play. Per the San Francisco Chronicle's Bruce Jenkins, Paul credited the big man for their dominance at full strength.
“Y’all know the record when the three of us play together, and it's not because of me and James," Paul said. "Clint is really the X-factor. He opens up so much for us."
None of that may matter, as the Warriors also have all hands on deck.
In four games back after an MCL injury, Curry has scored 98 points while making 15 of 34 threes. Initially eased back into action off the bench, the two-time MVP logged 32 and 37 minutes in Games 4 and 5, respectively.
Per USA Today's Sam Amick, Curry expressed cautious optimism regarding his return:
"Yeah, I feel good. I feel confident in what I'm able to do out there. Timing can still get a little better with the ball, things like that, when you start to get so excited...I continue to get better, continue to get my timing right and continue to get back to the normal rotations, normal, you know, minutes that I'm out there playing, and hopefully won't look back."
Cleveland might not be the only frequent conference champion possessing a proverbial playoff switch. Golden State, cruising to an 8.7-point average margin of victory, leads all playoff participants in points scored (110.3) and defensive rating (99.3).
Every star has perfectly played his part this postseason. Klay Thompson is delivering lights-out shooting and suffocating defense. Draymond Green has led the club in rebounds (11.5), assists (9.0) and blocks (1.3). Kevin Durant is simply filing 28.0 points per game with a 49.3 field-goal percentage.
Yet, as ESPN.com's Zach Lowe aptly noted, the Rockets "represent the most profound challenge the Warriors have faced" since signing Durant in 2016. Perhaps it's a stretch to claim a series not featuring James will decide the championship, but the winner should enter the Finals as a considerable favorite.
Note: All advanced stats courtesy of NBA.com unless otherwise noted.
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