Playoff capsule previews:
Eastern Conference
1. ATLANTA (60-22) vs. 8. BROOKLYN (38-44) Season series: Atlanta, 4-0. Key stat: Atlanta plays well on both sides of the ball. It was 10th in the NBA in scoring (102.2) and fifth in points allowed (97.1).
Outlook: The Hawks must prove they are up to the challenge of coming out of the East by dispatching the Nets. There will be a lot of “Told-You-Sos” if Atlanta struggles in the series. The inconsistent Nets will need Deron Williams, Joe Johnson and Brook Lopez to be consistent for Brooklyn to have any chance.
Prediction: The Hawks are really good and will show it during the playoffs. Atlanta in five. 2. CLEVELAND (53-29) vs. 7. BOSTON (40-42) Season series: Tied, 2-2. Key stat: The Cavaliers won 20 of their last 21 games at home. The Celtics finished the season on a six-game winning streak, including two wins over the Cavaliers.
Outlook: LeBron James played in the last four NBA Finals, winning two championships with Miami. Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love are playing in the playoffs for the first time. Can Irving and Love handle the playoff pressure alongside James? This was supposed to be a rebuilding year for the Celtics, but they went 24-14 after Feb. 1 to claim a playoff spot.
Prediction: Cleveland shouldn’t have much to stress over in this series. Cavaliers in four. 3. CHICAGO (50-32) vs. 6. MILWAUKEE (41-41)
Season series: Bulls, 3-1. Key stat: Pau Gasol had a comeback season after leaving the Lakers for the Bulls, posting a league-high 54 double-doubles.
Outlook: It wasn’t a good sign for the Bulls when Derrick Rose sat out the second half of the regular-season finale with a sore left knee. Rose’s health is paramount if the Bulls have any chance of winning the NBA championship. Nobody expected the Bucks would make the playoffs after a league-worst 67 losses last season, but they are in.
Prediction: The Bulls have too many offensive weapons for the Bucks to handle. Chicago in six. 4. TORONTO (49-33) vs. 5. WASHINGTON (46-36) Season series: Toronto, 3-0. Key stat: The Raptors were the only NBA team to have five players make at least 100 3-pointers in a single season: Lou Williams (152), Terrence Ross (145), Greivis Vasquez (133), Kyle Lowry (132) and Patrick Patterson (104).
Outlook: Washington’s Paul Pierce started the trash-talking, saying the Raptors don’t have the kind of team that “makes you worried.” John Wall, the Wiz-
ards’ All-Star point guard who averaged a career-high 10 assists per game (second in the NBA), runs the show. The Raptors are a high-scoring team, averaging 104 points per game, tied for fourth-best in the league.
Prediction: Normally the four-five matchup pairs evenly matched teams. Home court wins it for the Raptors in seven.
Western Conference 1. GOLDEN STATE (67-15) vs. 8. NEW ORLEANS (45-37)
Season series: Golden State, 3-1. Key stat: The Warriors’ high-octane offense averaged an NBA-best 110 points per game and gets all the attention, but they actually played some defense, too, holding opponents to a league-low 42.8 percent field-goal shooting percentage.
Outlook: Fans can’t wait to see Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson go crazy raining down 3-pointers. But check out how the Warriors move and share the basketball. They led the league in assists, averaging 27.4 per game. And the nation finally will get a closer look at the Pelicans’ young superstar Anthony Davis, who can dominate at both ends of the court.
Prediction: It’s going to be fun watching the Warriors, but it won’t be a long series. Warriors in five.
2. HOUSTON (56-26) vs. 7. DALLAS (50-32) Season series: Rockets, 3-1. Key stat: The Rockets attempted an NBA-high 32.7 3-pointers per game and made the most (11.4). The Mavericks had the fifth-best efficient offense in the league.
Outlook: James Harden will have to step up his game in the playoffs; he has shot below 40 percent from the field in his last three playoff series. Since there are no back-to-back games in the playoffs, the Rockets hope Dwight Howard can play extended minutes. He’s averaged only 22 minutes a game since returning from a knee injury. Dallas coach Rick Carlisle is at his best in the playoffs and will have his team ready with different schemes.
Prediction: It’s hard to have faith in a jump-shooting team, but the Rockets have MVP candidate Harden to get them over the top. Rockets in seven. 3. CLIPPERS (56-26) vs. 6. SAN ANTONIO (55-27)
Season series: Tied, 2-2. Key stat: The Clippers had the most efficient offense in the NBA. The Spurs allowed just 97 points per game, tied for third-best.
Outlook: Both the Clippers and Spurs, two of the NBA’s hottest teams entering the playoffs, get rewarded by having to play each other. This has the potential to be the best first-round matchup in the playoffs. Chris Paul vs. Tony Parker. Blake Griffin vs. the ageless Tim Duncan. Doc Rivers vs. Gregg Popovich. So many storylines.
Prediction: How many times has there been talk about the demise of the Spurs? A weak Clippers bench will be the difference in this series. Spurs in six. 4. PORTLAND (51-31) vs. 5. MEMPHIS (55-27)
Season series: Memphis, 4-0. Key stat: The Grizzlies gave up just 95.1 points per game, second-best in the NBA. The Trail Blazers averaged 102.8 points per game, ninth-best in the league.
Outlook: This will be the unhealthy series. Portland won’t have guard Wesley Matthews (Achilles tendon) or forward Dorell Wright (broken left hand) and has concerns about forward Nicolas Batum (right knee), backup guard Arron Afflalo (right shoulder strain), backup guard C.J. McCollum (sprained left ankle) and center Chris Kaman (back). Memphis hopes to get back point guard Mike Conley (sprained right foot) and key reserve Tony Allen (left hamstring strain).
Prediction: It’ll be the last team standing healthwise. The Grizzlies grind down the Trail Blazers in six.