Story Lines to Follow in the NBA Playoffs
Questions will be answered during post season's first round.
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Can the Miami Heat Three-Peat? - Can the Miami Heat's Big Three of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh lead their defending champion squad on another NBA title run and pull off a three-peat? Is this the final time that they will play together? These are only a couple of the most intriguing questions entering the first round of the NBA playoffs on Saturday. BET.com takes a look at the most compelling story lines to follow entering the first-round of the NBA playoffs. The Heat is on!(Photo: FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP/Getty Images)
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The Time Is Now for the Indiana Pacers - The Indiana Pacers achieved their preseason goal by locking up the first seed in the Eastern Conference. Now it's time for Paul George and the Pacers to take a step forward — to the NBA Finals. The Pacers start their quest against eighth-seeded Atlanta Hawks, who destroyed Indiana 107-88 on April 6. The Pacers lost nine of their last 15 games, but did score a huge win over the Oklahoma City Thunder on April 13. Which Pacers will show up in this first round? (Photo: Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
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Is It Really a Foregone Conclusion That Brooklyn Will Beat Toronto? - Built to win now, the Brooklyn Nets overcame a dismal start of the 2013-14 regular season by winning 20 of their last 31 games. With the Nets clicking at the right time, it seems like it's a foregone conclusion that they'll get past the Toronto Raptors in the first round of the NBA playoffs. But will they? The Raptors captured the third seed, albeit largely through a weak Atlantic division, and have silenced haters along the way. (Photo: NBA)
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All Eyes on John Wall - John Wall's fourth year as a pro has been his best with the 6-foot 4-inch point guard having averaged 19 points and nearly nine assists per game this season. Now comes the ultimate test in leading his fifth-seeded Washington Wizards past the rugged Chicago Bulls, arguably the most physical team in the NBA and one of the best coached. Washington won the regular-season series with Chicago, 2-1, but will truly need off-the-Wall play from its leader to stop the running of these Bulls. (Photo: Jared Wickerham/Getty Images)
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How Far Can the Bulls Run? - As physical of a team in the NBA playoffs, the Chicago Bulls are counted on to be a tough out for any squad they face, beginning with the Washington Wizards. Well, if Joakim Noah and the Bulls are able to emerge victorious out of the first round, they'll definitely be able to test an Indiana Pacers team of which they split the regular-season series with. High-profile free agents will also be watching Chicago, a team expected to be a major player in the market over the next couple of off seasons. (Photo: Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
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