2015 NBA Playoff Preview

The chase for the chip begins Saturday.

The NBA Playoffs Tip-Off This Weekend - It's NBA playoff time! Sixteen teams begin their quest for the title this weekend with the tip off to the 2015 playoffs. Will LeBron James be able to lead his Cleveland Cavaliers to the championship? After tallying 67 victories, is Stephen Curry's Golden State Warriors the team to beat? Are fans sleeping on James Harden and the Houston Rockets' chances? All these questions and more will be answered this postseason. But first, we break down and preview the first-round matchups.(Photos from left: Ezra Shaw/Getty Images, Patrick Smith/Getty Images, Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

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The NBA Playoffs Tip-Off This Weekend - It's NBA playoff time! Sixteen teams begin their quest for the title this weekend with the tip off to the 2015 playoffs. Will LeBron James be able to lead his Cleveland Cavaliers to the championship? After tallying 67 victories, is Stephen Curry's Golden State Warriors the team to beat? Are fans sleeping on James Harden and the Houston Rockets' chances? All these questions and more will be answered this postseason. But first, we break down and preview the first-round matchups.(Photos from left: Ezra Shaw/Getty Images, Patrick Smith/Getty Images, Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

(4) Toronto Raptors vs. (5) Washington Wizards - This Toronto Raptors-Washington Wizards matchup features All-Star point guards Kyle Lowry and John Wall. As if that wasn't enough firepower, Paul Pierce upped the ante, recently saying he didn't think the Raptors had the 'it' factor that would carry them a long way in the postseason. Now's Toronto's chance to prove him wrong. This should be a great series. On paper at least, it looks to be the best first-round matchup that the East has to offer.(Photos from left: Patrick Smith/Getty Images, Mike Lawrie/Getty Images)

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(4) Toronto Raptors vs. (5) Washington Wizards - This Toronto Raptors-Washington Wizards matchup features All-Star point guards Kyle Lowry and John Wall. As if that wasn't enough firepower, Paul Pierce upped the ante, recently saying he didn't think the Raptors had the 'it' factor that would carry them a long way in the postseason. Now's Toronto's chance to prove him wrong. This should be a great series. On paper at least, it looks to be the best first-round matchup that the East has to offer.(Photos from left: Patrick Smith/Getty Images, Mike Lawrie/Getty Images)

(1) Golden State Warriors vs. (8) New Orleans Pelicans - Stephen Curry has arguably been the best player (23 points, 7.7 assists, 4.3 rebounds per game) on the NBA-best Golden State Warriors (67-15). One can make the case, though, that no player in the league has had to do more for their team than Anthony Davis (24.4 points, 10.2 boards, 2.9 blocks) has had to do for the New Orleans Pelicans. Still, expecting Davis by himself to make the Pelicans-Warriors matchup a legit series, is a tall order. But hey, you never know.(Photos from left: Maddie Meyer/Getty Images, Scott Halleran/Getty Images)

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(1) Golden State Warriors vs. (8) New Orleans Pelicans - Stephen Curry has arguably been the best player (23 points, 7.7 assists, 4.3 rebounds per game) on the NBA-best Golden State Warriors (67-15). One can make the case, though, that no player in the league has had to do more for their team than Anthony Davis (24.4 points, 10.2 boards, 2.9 blocks) has had to do for the New Orleans Pelicans. Still, expecting Davis by himself to make the Pelicans-Warriors matchup a legit series, is a tall order. But hey, you never know.(Photos from left: Maddie Meyer/Getty Images, Scott Halleran/Getty Images)

(3) Chicago Bulls vs. (6) Milwaukee Bucks - A post-surgery Derrick Rose was able to make it back to the Chicago Bulls' lineup just in time for the stretch run of the regular season. Now, he'll be able to test his legs in the playoffs, beginning with the Milwaukee Bucks. You know that Joakim Noah and the Bulls would like nothing more than to advance in this series quickly and have ample time to prepare for what should be a second-round matchup with LeBron James and Cleveland Cavaliers. (Photos from left: Elsa/Getty Images, Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

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(3) Chicago Bulls vs. (6) Milwaukee Bucks - A post-surgery Derrick Rose was able to make it back to the Chicago Bulls' lineup just in time for the stretch run of the regular season. Now, he'll be able to test his legs in the playoffs, beginning with the Milwaukee Bucks. You know that Joakim Noah and the Bulls would like nothing more than to advance in this series quickly and have ample time to prepare for what should be a second-round matchup with LeBron James and Cleveland Cavaliers. (Photos from left: Elsa/Getty Images, Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

(2) Houston Rockets vs. (7) Dallas Mavericks - James Harden and the Houston Rockets took the regular-season series from the Dallas Mavericks, 3-1, en route to clinching the West's second seed. But the slate has been wiped clean and we can easily see veterans like Dirk Nowitzki, Rajon Rondo and Tyson Chandler being a tough out for the Beard and company.(Photos from left: Ronald Martinez/Getty Images, Scott Halleran/Getty Images)

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(2) Houston Rockets vs. (7) Dallas Mavericks - James Harden and the Houston Rockets took the regular-season series from the Dallas Mavericks, 3-1, en route to clinching the West's second seed. But the slate has been wiped clean and we can easily see veterans like Dirk Nowitzki, Rajon Rondo and Tyson Chandler being a tough out for the Beard and company.(Photos from left: Ronald Martinez/Getty Images, Scott Halleran/Getty Images)

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(2) Cleveland Cavaliers vs. (7) Boston Celtics - Ever since LeBron James returned from his eight-game rest earlier this year, the Cleveland Cavaliers have gone 34-11, including a pair of back-to-back losses against the Boston Celtics on April 10th and 12th. But the Cavs were resting nearly all their stars those two games, so don't read too much into it at all. The Celtics will be hard-pressed to slow King James down in this series. After all, the playoffs are why Bron came back to the Land.(Photos from left: Maddie Meyer/Getty Images, Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

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(2) Cleveland Cavaliers vs. (7) Boston Celtics - Ever since LeBron James returned from his eight-game rest earlier this year, the Cleveland Cavaliers have gone 34-11, including a pair of back-to-back losses against the Boston Celtics on April 10th and 12th. But the Cavs were resting nearly all their stars those two games, so don't read too much into it at all. The Celtics will be hard-pressed to slow King James down in this series. After all, the playoffs are why Bron came back to the Land.(Photos from left: Maddie Meyer/Getty Images, Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

(1) Atlanta Hawks vs. (8) Brooklyn Nets - The Brooklyn Nets needed a win and Indiana Pacers' loss on the last day of the regular season to make the playoffs. The 60-win Atlanta Hawks, meanwhile, cruised to the top seed of the Eastern Conference. With four All-Stars, the Hawks should roll over the Nets in a lopsided series.(Photos from left: Al Bello/Getty Images, Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

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(1) Atlanta Hawks vs. (8) Brooklyn Nets - The Brooklyn Nets needed a win and Indiana Pacers' loss on the last day of the regular season to make the playoffs. The 60-win Atlanta Hawks, meanwhile, cruised to the top seed of the Eastern Conference. With four All-Stars, the Hawks should roll over the Nets in a lopsided series.(Photos from left: Al Bello/Getty Images, Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

(4) Portland Trail Blazers vs. (5) Memphis Grizzlies - Intriguing series. The Memphis Grizzlies have two of the best big men in the game in Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph to contend with Portland's LaMarcus Aldridge. But the latest reports have the Grizz unsure about the status of guards Mike Conley and Tony Allen. The loss of either would cripple the Grizzlies' chances in this series. Despite having lost Wesley Matthews, the Trail Blazers should receive a game series from Arron Afflalo. This one should be interesting. (Photos from left: Bob Levey/Getty Images, Harry How/Getty Images)

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(4) Portland Trail Blazers vs. (5) Memphis Grizzlies - Intriguing series. The Memphis Grizzlies have two of the best big men in the game in Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph to contend with Portland's LaMarcus Aldridge. But the latest reports have the Grizz unsure about the status of guards Mike Conley and Tony Allen. The loss of either would cripple the Grizzlies' chances in this series. Despite having lost Wesley Matthews, the Trail Blazers should receive a game series from Arron Afflalo. This one should be interesting. (Photos from left: Bob Levey/Getty Images, Harry How/Getty Images)

(3) Los Angeles Clippers vs. (6) San Antonio Spurs - Playing the red-hot, defending champion San Antonio Spurs was the first-round matchup that nobody wanted in the West, but one challenge that the Los Angeles Clippers will have to pass if they want to continue their postseason march. Both teams ended the regular season strong, with the Spurs winning 21 of their last 25 and the Clippers taking 14 of their last 15. But will Chris Paul's leadership be enough to overcome Tim Duncan's championship experience and a Spurs' system that now caters to Kawhi Leonard?(Photos from left: Al Bello/Getty Images, Scott Halleran/Getty Images)

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(3) Los Angeles Clippers vs. (6) San Antonio Spurs - Playing the red-hot, defending champion San Antonio Spurs was the first-round matchup that nobody wanted in the West, but one challenge that the Los Angeles Clippers will have to pass if they want to continue their postseason march. Both teams ended the regular season strong, with the Spurs winning 21 of their last 25 and the Clippers taking 14 of their last 15. But will Chris Paul's leadership be enough to overcome Tim Duncan's championship experience and a Spurs' system that now caters to Kawhi Leonard?(Photos from left: Al Bello/Getty Images, Scott Halleran/Getty Images)