NBA Playoffs Weekend Predictions & Schedule: Cleveland Cavaliers, Chicago Bulls, Golden State Warriors & Houston Rockets Look to Advance to Second Round
The 2015 NBA playoffs have been exciting so far, and the first round is almost complete. The field will soon dwindle down from 16 teams to just eight. This weekend has eight playoff games you can't miss.
Let's break down the games and make some predictions.
Saturday
Atlanta Hawks vs. Brooklyn Nets
The Hawks finished with the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference, but a lot of fans still aren't sold. Well, it might be time to buy. The Hawks have defended home-court with back to back wins at Atlanta, and they will travel to Brooklyn for Game 3. As long as the Hawks win just one of the two games in New York, they'll be just fine.
Schedule: 3 p.m. on TNT
Prediction: The Nets will make it interesting, and win Game 3. Hawks still win the series.
Chicago Bulls vs. Milwaukee Bucks
Is Derrick Rose finally healthy? NBA fans in Chicago hope so. The Bulls currently lead the Bucks 3-0 in this series, and they have a chance to move on to the second round this weekend. Jimmy Butler and Pau Gasol have given the Bucks a lot of problems.
Schedule: 5:30 p.m. on TNT
Prediction: The Bulls will eventually win this series, but Jason Kidd's Bucks will live to fight another day.
Golden State Warriors vs. New Orleans Pelicans
What a devastating loss for Anthony Davis and the Pelicans in Game 3. They blew a 20-point lead in the fourth quarter to the Warriors to drop to 0-3 in this series. The Pelicans have been having a lot of problems rebounding the basketball, and Stephen Curry is a three point machine.
Schedule: 8 p.m. on FSN
Prediction: The Pelicans have blown too many opportunities. The Warriors will end this series Saturday night and advance to the second round.
Memphis Grizzlies vs. Portland Trail Blazers
Marc Gasol and the Grizzlies currently hold a 2-0 series lead over the Trail Blazers. Each of the first two games the Grizzlies won by at least 14 points, but now the series heads to Portland where LaMarcus Aldridge should dominate.
Schedule: 10:30 p.m. on ESPN
Prediction: The Trail Blazers will win Game 3 at home, but the Grizzlies will eventually win the series.
Sunday
Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Boston Celtics
As expected, the Cavaliers lead the No. 7 seed Celtics 3-0. LeBron James looks unstoppable, Kyrie Irving is playing great, and Kevin Love is hitting his three pointers. The Celtics are completely outmatched when playing the Cavaliers in this series.
Schedule: 1 p.m. on ABC
Prediction: Just too much LeBron James. The Cavaliers will sweep the Celtics.
Los Angeles Clippers vs. San Antonio Spurs
The defending champion Spurs played one of their most impressive games on Friday dominating the Clippers, 100-73. Kawhi Leonard is playing outstanding, and Tim Duncan just never seems to age. If the Spurs can win Game 4 at home, this series is all but over.
Schedule: 3:30 p.m. on ABC
Prediction: This should be a close one. Blake Griffin appears to have hurt his knee, and the Spurs bench is rolling. Spurs win game 4 at home.
Toronto Raptors vs. Washington Wizards
Over in the nation's capital, the Wizards are dominating the Raptors. The Wizards have won all three games of this series, and will have the chance to close this out on Sunday. John Wall has inserted himself as one of the best point guards in the league, and even veteran Paul Pierce is playing a big role.
Schedule: 6:30 p.m. on TNT
Prediction: The Wizards have outplayed the Raptors in virtually every factor of the game thus far, and that will continue. Wizards win game 4.
Houston Rockets vs. Dallas Mavericks
Game 3 was very exciting, if you love offense. The Mavericks season is coming to an end, and it looks like Rajon Rondo has officially played his last game in a Mavericks uniform. For the Rockets, they're soaring thanks to James Harden and Dwight Howard. Even Jason terry is getting huge steals and making clutch shots.
Schedule: 9 p.m. on TNT
Prediction: Do the Mavericks have one last punch in them? Maybe, but they just don't have the defense. The Rockets will end this series on Sunday and get some much needed rest.
All times listed above are Eastern American.
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