NBA Playoffs Weekend Predictions & Schedule: Chicago Bulls, Los Angeles Clippers Try to Take 3-1 Series Lead Over Cleveland Cavaliers, Houston Rockets
The Weekend is here at last.
It's time for NBA fans to just relax after a busy work week and concentrate on the league they love. Luckily for NBA fans, there's four huge playoff games this weekend that all have enormous implications on who will advance to the third round.
Let's take a look at the weekend schedule, and make some predictions.
Saturday
Atlanta Hawks at Washington Wizards
The Hawks are the No. 1 seed in the East, but they now have to travel to Washington with the series tied. Point guard John Wall is still listed as questionable for Game 3 with a wrist injury. The X factor in this game will be whether or not Kyle Korver can hit his three pointers for the Hawks. Paul Pierce and Nene will have to step up their play this weekend.
Schedule : 5 p.m. on ESPN
Prediction: Wall's injury is a devastating one for the Wizards, but the Hawks just don't have a consistent scorer. The Wizards have a great chance here to go up in the series at home. Game 3 should be an ugly one with the Wizards winning close.
Golden States Warriors at Memphis Grizzlies
What an interesting matchup this is. The Grizzlies don't get a lot of national recognition, but they always make a splash in the postseason. The Grizzlies won the first game, but the first place Warriors won the second game. Tied 1-1, the next two games will be played in Memphis. Marc Gasol is set to become a free agent, and he is boosting his stock with great postseason play.
Schedule: 8 p.m. on ABC
Prediction: Obviously the Grizzlies have to win at least one of the next two games at home. Zach Randolph has to continue to be a rebounding machine and play great defense. Mike Conley is emerging a great scorer, but the Grizzlies have to find a way to contain Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson. Grizzlies win a close one.
Sunday
Cleveland Cavaliers at Chicago Bulls
What an exciting series this has been so far. The Bulls and LeBron James have clashed three times in the postseason before, with James winning all three times in the past. The Bulls presently lead this series 2-1 after Derrick Rose hit a game-winning jump shot in Game 3 at the buzzer. More good news for Bulls fans, Game four will be played in Chicago.
Schedule: 3:30 p.m. on ABC
Prediction: The Cavaliers can't go down 3-1 in this series and expect to win three consecutive games. This is the kind of game where James just takes over and appears to be unbeatable, even without Kevin Love. The Cavaliers will win Game 4 and tie the series.
Houston Rockets at Los Angeles Clippers
The final playoff game of the weekend is between the Rockets and Clippers. James Harden averaged a career high 27.4 points per game during the regular season, and he knows how to get to the free throw line at a high rate. Despite Chris Paul being hurt, the Clippers are extremely balanced with Blake Griffin, Austin Rivers emerging, DeAndre Jordan's defense and J.J. Redick hitting perimeter shots.
Schedule: 8:30 p.m. on TNT
Prediction:The Clippers are rolling right now. Head coach Doc Rivers has this team right where he wants them. Harden will make a difference, but Dwight Howard needs to improve his offense, especially in the fourth quarter. Clippers win Game 4 pretty convincingly.
All times listed above are Eastern American.
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