NBA PLAYOFFS 2017: FIRST-ROUND SCHEDULE, PREVIEW
Breaking down the first-round series of the NBA playoffs (all times p.m. Eastern):
Eastern Conference
No. 1 Boston Celtics vs. No. 8 Chicago Bulls Game 1: at Celtics, Sun., 6:30, TNT Game 2: at Celtics, Tues., 8, TNT Game 3: at Bulls, April 21, 7, ESPN Game 4: at Bulls, April 23, 6:30, TNT Game 5 (if necessary): at Celtics, April 26 (TBD) Game 6 (if necessary): at Bulls, April 28 (TBD) Game 7 (if necessary): at Celtics, April 30 (TBD) Season series: 2-2. Celtics win if: Isaiah Thomas continues to throw Boston on his sturdy back. With Thomas on the court, the Celtics’ offensive rating is 113.7 points per 100 possessions. Without him, they shrivel to 98.6. He has his defensive shortcomings, but Boston is equipped with numerous perimeter defenders to help support him. Bulls win if: Dwyane Wade can turn back the clock. Wade, who just returned from an 11-game absence because of an elbow fracture, is accustomed to winning this time of the year. Last season, Wade dragged the Miami Heat to a Game 7 in the second round before they fell to the Toronto Raptors. His 22.8 point per game playoff average, coupled with Jimmy Butler’s ability to fill it up, might make the Celtics sweat. No. 2 Cleveland Cavaliers vs. No. 7 Indiana Pacers Game 1: at Cavs, Sat., 3, ABC Game 2: at Cavs, Mon., 7, TNT Game 3: at Pacers, Thurs., 7, TNT Game 4: at Pacers, April 23, 1, ABC Game 5 (if necessary): at Cavs, April 25 (TBD) Game 6 (if necessary): at Pacers, April 27 (TBD) Game 7 (if necessary): at Cavs, April 29, TNT Season series: Cavs won 3-1.
Cavaliers win if: LeBron James plays like LeBron James. Recent defensive issues aside, the Cavaliers will always have one significant advantage over their opponent, and that’s James. He is 11-0 in first-round series in his career and hasn’t lost a first-round game since 2012, his second year in Miami. In total, James’ teams are 44-7 in first-round games.
Pacers win if: They can maintain their momentum. Paul George has lamented all season that the Pacers have lacked an identity, but they seem to have found one in clawing their way into the playoffs. The Pacers ended the regular season on a five-game winning streak. No. 3 Toronto Raptors vs. No. 6 Milwaukee Bucks Game 1: at Raptors, Sat., 5:30, ESPN Game 2: at Raptors, Tues., 7, NBA TV Game 3: at Bucks, Thurs., 8, NBA TV Game 4: at Bucks, April 22, 3, TNT Game 5 (if necessary): at Raptors, April 24, 7, NBA TV Game 6 (if necessary): at Bucks, April 27 (TBD) Game 7 (if necessary): at Raptors, April 29, TNT Season series: Raptors won 3-1. Raptors win if: Kyle Lowry picks up where he left off. It’s not quite as sexy as the return of Kevin Durant to Golden State, but Lowry (wrist) coming back with four games left in the regular season is huge. He was in the midst of a career year and leads the team with 192 three-pointers despite missing 21 games. Bucks win if: Giannis Antetokounmpo dominates like he has all season. Given his combination of athleticism and size, there might not be a harder matchup in today’s NBA. And though the Bucks are at a disadvantage as the lower seed, he’s the type of transcendent player who can overcome a road environment. The Greek Freak finished the season ranked in the top 20 of the NBA in points, assists, rebounds, blocked shots and steals. No player has ever finished a season with those marks. No. 4 Washington Wizards vs. No. 5 Atlanta Hawks Game 1: at Wizards, Sun., 1, TNT Game 2: at Wizards, Wed., 7, NBA TV Game 3: at Hawks, April 22, 5:30, TNT Game 4: at Hawks, April 24, 8, TNT Game 5 (if necessary): at Wizards, April 26 (TBD) Game 6 (if necessary): at Hawks, April 28 (TBD) Game 7 (if necessary): at Wizards, April 30 (TBD) Season series: Wizards won 3-1.
Wizards win if: They distribute the load. Though not as prolific as other teams’ Big Threes, the Wizards have a legitimate triumvirate. John Wall and Bradley Beal are possibly the East’s best backcourt duo, and Otto Porter has emerged as one of the best three-point shooters in the NBA. What’s more, the Wizards have an NBA-best 27 times with all five starters scoring in double figures.
Hawks win if: They can keep their composure. There’s a new cast of characters in Atlanta with Al Horford and Jeff Teague gone. In their place, Dwight Howard (13th consecutive season averaging a double-double) and Dennis Schroder have performed admirably. Schroder has blossomed into the primary distributor, and it’s his job to keep the ball swinging between Paul Millsap, Kent Bazemore and Tim Hardaway Jr.
Western Conference
No. 1 Golden State Warriors vs. No. 8 Portland Trail Blazers Game 1: at Warriors, Sun., 3:30, ABC Game 2: at Warriors, Wed., 10:30, TNT Game 3: at Blazers, April 22, 10:30, ESPN Game 4: at Blazers, April 24, 10:30, TNT Game 5 (if necessary): at Warriors, April 26 (TBD) Game 6 (if necessary): at Blazers, April 28, (TBD) Game 7 (if necessary): at Warriors, April 30 (TBD) Season series: Warriors won 4-0. Warriors win if: They play Warriors basketball. The Splash Brothers will have their hands full with Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum. But provided injuries don’t play a factor, the Golden Boys are simply too strong to have much trouble, especially with a healthy Durant back. Blazers win if: Lillard and McCollum play the best basketball of their lives and big man Jusuf Nurkic — who was traded to Portland at the deadline and has thrived (15.2 points, 10.4 rebounds in 20 games) in his new role — returns from his leg injury. Even then, it’s a long shot. No. 2 San Antonio Spurs vs. No. 7 Memphis Grizzlies Game 1: at Spurs, Sat., 8, ESPN Game 2: at Spurs, Mon., 9:30, TNT
Game 3: at Grizzlies, Thurs., 9:30, TNT Game 4: at Grizzlies, April 22, 8, ESPN Game 5 (if necessary): at Spurs, April 25 (TBD) Game 6 (if necessary): at Grizzlies, April 27 (TBD) Game 7 (if necessary): at Spurs, April 29 (TBD)
Season series: 2-2. Spurs win if: They play their brand of basketball. You think they forgot about the Grizzlies’ first-round upset in 2011, when Memphis became the fourth No. 8 seed in NBA history to beat a No. 1 seed? Grizzlies win if: They stay healthy and consistent, limit the Spurs (NBA-best 39.1% from three-point range) on the perimeter, win the battle in the frontcourt and Mike Conley plays like a $153 million man. No. 3 Houston Rockets vs. No. 6 Oklahoma City Thunder Game 1: at Rockets, Sun., 9, TNT Game 2: at Rockets, Wed., 8, TNT Game 3: at Thunder, April 21, 9:30, ESPN Game 4: at Thunder, April 23, 3:30, ABC Game 5 (if necessary): at Tuesday, April 25 (TBD) Game 6 (if necessary): at Thunder, April 27 (TBD) Game 7 (if necessary): at Rockets, April 29 (TBD) Season series: Rockets won 3-1. Rockets win if: They make shots. We hate to say it’s that simple, but if any combination of James Harden, Ryan Anderson, Trevor Ariza, Eric Gordon and Lou Williams get hot, the Rockets have the firepower to beat anyone.
Thunder win if: Russell Westbrook gets help offensively (particularly from shooters), Andre Roberson’s defense frustrates Harden (significantly) and the bigs dominate the glass and cash in on second-chance opportunities. No. 4 Los Angeles Clippers vs. No. 5 Utah Jazz Game 1: at Clippers, Sat., 10:30, ESPN Game 2: at Clippers, Tues., 10:30, TNT Game 3: at Jazz, April 21, 10, ESPN2 Game 4: at Jazz, April 23, 9, TNT Game 5 (if necessary): at Clippers, April 25 (TBD) Game 6 (if necessary): at Jazz, April 28 (TBD) Game 7 (if necessary): at Clippers, April 30 (TBD) Season series: Clippers won 3-1. Clippers win if: They ride their end-of-season hot streak, play to their strengths and don’t get caught on their heels. Jazz win if: George Hill, who just returned from a six-game absence (groin injury), plays like he did in November (20 ppg, 55.4% shooting) and Gordon Hayward, Derrick Favors and Rodney Hood all fend off the injury bug. When healthy, this starting lineup (11 wins in 13 regular-season games) is one of the NBA’s best.