The NBA Playoffs are here, and this is your comprehensive guide to everything Round 1, as well as the end of the regular season. Below, you will find the full Round 1 schedule including where to watch each game and what time, predictions for each series, and the Sports World News end-of-season awards. Beside each team will be their odds to win the conference.
** denotes best series in conference
Eastern Conference Round 1
No. 1 Indiana Pacers (+150) vs. No. 8 Atlanta Hawks (+10,000)
The Pacers enter the playoffs in a funk, but that shouldn't erase their identity. Indiana is a hard-nosed defensive bunch, with arguably the game's best rim protector (Roy Hibbert) and perimeter defender (Paul George) in tow.
Atlanta's presence in the playoffs is more of a referendum on the weak Eastern Conference than anything else. Indiana may or may not struggle to score, but this series will be a breeze. The pick: Pacers in 5.
No. 4 Chicago Bulls (+1,500) vs. No. 5 Washington Wizards (+5,500)
The Bulls have no business being here after losing Derrick Rose for the entire season in the first month, then trading Luol Deng for the rights to release Andrew Bynum. Head coach Tom Thibodeau's culture, and his extension on the floor, center Joakim Noah have kept Chicago thriving though with defense and clutch shooting.
The Wizards will be a frisky opponent-they have lots of size and John Wall is a star, but they won't have enough shooting to score consistently vs. Thibs. The pick: Bulls in 6.
No. 3 Toronto Raptors (+2,000) vs. No. 6 Brooklyn Nets (+1,300)**
The fact that the sixth-seeded Nets are better bets to win the East than the third-seeded Raptors is telling. Toronto was better over the course of the entire season, but Brooklyn needed time to find itself after losing Brook Lopez. Once they transformed into a swarm of long-armed, interchangeable swingmen quarterbacked by Shaun Livingston they became a force.
The Raptors have been a great story, but Brooklyn's experience will be too much to handle. The pick: Nets in 6.
No. 2 Miami Heat (-150) vs. No. 7 Charlotte Bobcats (8,000)
The odds say it all. Miami has LeBron James, the top player on the planet and that alone will be enough. Al Jefferson will cause some headaches for Heat coach Erik Spoelstra, since Miami always struggles vs. size, but they could rest Dwyane Wade for the entire series and win it with ease. The pick: Heat in 4
Western Conference Round 1
No. 1 San Antonio Spurs (+125) vs. No. 8 Dallas Mavericks (+4,500)
Unlike the East, the West is wide open. San Antonio was the best team in the NBA this year, and yet if Dallas moved on it wouldn't be anywhere near a total shock. This series its two of the NBA's premier coaches, Gregg Popovich (Spurs) and Rick Carlisle (Mavs) against each other, as well as future Hall of Fame power forwards Tim Duncan (Spurs) and Dirk Nowitzki (Mavs). In the end, the Spurs' offense hums past a game Dallas squad that can't hold Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili. The pick: Spurs in 5.
No. 4 Houston Rockets (+1,000) vs. No. 5 Portland TrailBlazers (+2,500)**
Portland was one of the league's hottest teams out of the gate, but their defensive deficiencies caught up to them. They are an outlandishly balanced offensive team and nearly impossible to guard when they're clicking.
Still, the Rockets have the best player in the series (James Harden) and Dwight Howard in the post. That'll be tough for LaMarcus Aldridge, as will Harden's scoring. The pick: Rockets in 7.
No. 3 Los Angeles Clippers (+450) vs. No. 6 Golden State Warriors (+2,500)
I expect all the upset-lovers to plop their money down on Team Curry, but that may not be wise. Without Andrew Bogut in the paint, the rim protecting burden falls on Jermaine O'Neal. This isn't 10 years ago, so that's not a good thing.
Blake Griffin has emerged as one of the best players in the NBA, period, and while Stephen Curry is one of the league's best point guars, he will be matched up against No. 1 Chris Paul. The pick: Clippers in 6.
No. 2 Oklahoma City Thunder (+175) vs. No. 7 Memphis Grizzlies (+3,000)
Games and series between these clubs always get nasty, but barring an injury the Thunder should prevail. Memphis plays tough D, and Zach Randolph remains a threat to be dominant, but Kevin Durant's taken his game to a new level approaching King James. He has a healthy Russell Westbrook by his side, and sweet-shooting Serge Ibaka to knock down catch-and-shoots. The pick: Thunder in 5.
2013-14 NBA regular season awards:
MVP: Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City Thunder
Rookie of the Year: Victor Oladipo, Orlando Magic
Defensive Player of the Year: Joakim Noah, Chicago Bulls
Most Improved: DeMarcus Cousins, Sacramento Kings
Sixth Man: Taj Gibson, Chicago Bulls
Coach of the Year: Gregg Popovich, San Antonio Spurs
Full Round 1 Schedule
4/20 (8) Mavericks vs. (1) Spurs 12 p.m. TNT
4/23 (8) Mavericks vs. (1) Spurs 7 p.m. NBATV
4/26 (1) Spurs vs. (8) Mavericks 3:30 p.m. TNT
4/28 (1) Spurs vs. (8) Mavericks 8:30 p.m. TNT
4/30 (8) Mavericks vs. (1) Spurs TBD TBD
5/2 (1) Spurs vs. (8) Mavericks TBD TBD
5/4 (8) Mavericks vs. (1) Spurs TBD TBD
Date Matchup Time (ET) TV
4/19 (7) Grizzlies vs. (2) Thunder 9:30 p.m, ESPN
4/21 (7) Grizzlies vs. (2) Thunder 8 p.m. TNT
4/24 (2) Thunder vs. Grizzlies 8 p.m. TNT
4/26 (2) Thunder vs. Grizzlies 9:30 p.m. ESPN
4/29 (7) Grizzlies vs. (2) Thunder TBD TBD
5/1 (2) Thunder vs. Grizzlies TBD TBD
5/3 (7) Grizzlies vs. (2) Thunder TBD TNT
Date Matchup Time (ET) TV
4/19 (6) Warriors vs. (3) Clippers 3:30 p.m. ABC
4/21 (6) Warriors vs. (3) Clippers 10:30 p.m. TNT
4/24 (3) Clippers vs. (6) Warriors 10:30 p.m. TNT
4/27 (3) Clippers vs. (6) Warriors 3:30 p.m. ABC
4/29 (6) Warriors vs. (3) Clippers TBD TBD
5/1 (3) Clippers vs. (6) Warriors TBD TBD
5/3 (6) Warriors vs. (3) Clippers TBD TNT
Date Matchup Time (ET) TV
4/20 (5) Trail Blazers vs. (4) Rockets 9:30 p.m. TNT
4/23 (5) Trail Blazers vs. (4) Rockets 9:30 p.m. TNT
4/25 (4) Rockets vs. (5) Trail Blazers 10:30 p.m. ESPN
4/27 (4) Rockets vs. (5) Trail Blazers 9:30 p.m. TNT
4/30 (5) Trail Blazers vs. (4) Rockets TBD TBD
5/2 (4) Rockets vs. (5) Trail Blazers TBD TBD
5/4 (5) Trail Blazers vs. (4) Rockets TBD TBD
Date Matchup Time (ET) TV
4/19 (8) Hawks vs. (1) Pacers 7 p.m. ESPN
4/22 (8) Hawks vs. (1) Pacers 7 p.m. TNT
4/24 (1) Pacers vs. (8) Hawks 7 p.m. NBATV
4/26 (1) Pacers vs. (8) Hawks 2 p.m. TNT
4/28 (8) Hawks vs. (1) Pacers 8 p.m. NBATV
5/1 (1) Pacers vs. (8) Hawks TBD TBD
5/3 (8) Hawks vs. (1) Pacers TBD TNT
Date Matchup Time (ET) TV
4/20 (7) Bobcats vs. (2) Heat 3:30 p.m. ABC
4/23 (7) Bobcats vs. (2) Heat 7 p.m. TNT
4/26 (2) Heat vs. (7) Bobcats 7 p.m. ESPN
4/28 (2) Heat vs. (7) Bobcats 7 p.m. TNT
4/30 (7) Bobcats vs. (2) Heat TBD TBD
5/2 (2) Heat vs. (7) Bobcats TBD TBD
5/4 (7) Bobcats vs. (2) Heat TBD ABC
Date Matchup Time (ET) TV
4/19 (6) Nets vs. (3) Raptors 12:30 p.m. ESPN
4/22 (6) Nets vs. (3) Raptors 8 p.m. NBATV
4/25 (3) Raptors vs. (6) Nets 7 p.m. ESPN 2
4/27 (3) Raptors vs. (6) Nets 7 p.m. TNT
4/30 (6) Nets vs. (3) Raptors TBD TBD
5/2 (3) Raptors vs. (6) Nets TBD TBD
5/4 (6) Nets vs. (3) Raptors TBD TBD
Date Matchup Time (ET) TV
4/20 (5) Wizards vs. (4) Bulls 7 p.m. TNT
4/22 (5) Wizards vs. (4) Bulls 9:30 p.m. TNT
4/25 (4) Bulls vs. (5) Wizards 8 p.m. ESPN
4/27 (4) Bulls vs. (5) Wizards 1 p.m. ABC
4/29 (5) Wizards vs. (4) Bulls TBD TBD
5/1 (4) Bulls vs. (5) Wizards TBD TBD
5/3 (5) Wizards vs. (4) Bulls TBD TBD
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