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NBA Playoffs 2015: TV Schedule, Guide, and First Round Preview

The NBA Playoffs start today, and we've collected all the information you want all in one place!

Al Bello/Getty Images

The NBA Playoffs starts today, and as a result, the most exciting part of the NBA Season begins! Let's get you all the info you want, in one place:

As a Utah Jazz fan I'm hyped for the NBA Draft, but man, the Western Conference playoffs is where it's at. Watch this video, and then recognize that you don't want the basketball season to end just yet.

Anyway, let's get to the games....

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Eastern Conference:

Atlanta Hawks (1) vs. Brooklyn Nets (8)
1 Nets @ Hawks - SUN April 19 3:30 PM MT TNT
2 Nets @ Hawks - WED April 22 5:00 PM MT NBATV
3 Hawks @ Nets - SAT April 25 1:00 PM MT TNT
4 Hawks @ Nets - MON April 27 TBD TBD
5 Nets @ Hawks - WED April 29 TBD TBD *
6 Hawks @ Nets - FRI May 1 TBD TBD *
7 Nets @ Hawks - SUN May 3 TBD TBD *
* = if necessary
Hawks Roster Nets Roster
Jeff Teague PG Deron Williams
Kyle Korver SG Markel Brown
DeMarre Carroll SF Joe Johnson
Paul Millsap PF Thaddeus Young
Al Horford C Brook Lopez

Nets worked hard to make the playoffs, the Hawks have been in cruise control for about a month now, but I don't think the North East Jazz can beat the South East Jazz.

Cleveland Cavaliers (2) vs. Boston Celtics (7)
1 Celtics @ Cavaliers - SUN April 19 1:00 PM MT ABC
2 Celtics @ Cavaliers - TUE April 21 5:00 PM MT TNT
3 Cavaliers @ Celtics - THU April 23 5:00 PM MT TNT
4 Cavaliers @ Celtics - SUN April 26 11:00 AM MT ABC
5 Celtics @ Cavaliers - TUE April 28 TBD TBD *
6 Cavaliers @ Celtics - THU April 30 TBD TBD *
7 Celtics @ Cavaliers - SUN May 2 TBD TBD *
* = if necessary
Cavaliers Roster Celtics Roster
Kyrie Irving PG Avery Bradley
J.R. Smith SG Marcus Smart
LeBron James SF Evan Turner
Kevin Love PF Brandon Bass
Timofey Mozgov C Tyler Zeller

King James and his jester's court go up against the traditional Kings of the NBA. These games are going to be slow, gritty, and not fun to watch.

Chicago Bulls (3) vs. Milwaukee Bucks (6)
1 Bucks @ Bulls - SAT April 18 5:00 PM MT ESPN
2 Bucks @ Bulls - MON April 20 6:00 PM MT TNT
3 Bulls @ Bucks - THU April 23 6:00 PM MT NBATV
4 Bulls @ Bucks - SAT April 25 3:30 PM MT TNT
5 Bucks @ Bulls - MON April 27 TBD TBD *
6 Bulls @ Bucks - THU April 30 TBD TBD *
7 Bucks @ Bulls - SAT May 2 TBD TBD *
* = if necessary
Bulls Roster Bucks Roster
Derrick Rose PG Michael Carter-Williams
Jimmy Butler SG Khris Middleton
Mike Dunleavy SF Giannis Antetokounmpo
Pau Gasol PF Ersan Ilyasova
Joakim Noah C Zaza Pachulia

Speaking of slow and painful basketball . . . I don't expect any upsets so far in this playoffs yet.

Toronto Raptors (4) vs. Washington Wizards (5)
1 Wizards @ Raptors - SAT April 18 10:30 AM MT ESPN
2 Wizards @ Raptors - TUE April 21 6:00 PM MT NBATV
3 Raptors @ Wizards - FRI April 24 6:00 PM MT ESPN
4 Raptors @ Wizards - SUN April 26 5:00 PM MT TNT
5 Wizards @ Raptors - WED April 29 TBD TBD *
6 Raptors @ Wizards - FRI May 1 TBD TBD *
7 Wizards @ Raptors - SUN May 3 TBD TBD *
* = if necessary
Raptors Roster Wizards Roster
Kyle Lowry PG John Wall
Terrence Ross SG Bradley Beal
DeMar DeRozan SF Otto Porter
Amir Johnson PF Nene Hilario
Jonas Valanciunas C Marcin Gortat

I'm going to go with the Raps here, most of the world seems to agree as well, for whatever reasons. I'd love to see these guys get out of the first round, it's been a long time since that happened. So I'm expecting the top four seeds to all advance to the next round, out East.

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Western Conference:

Golden State Warriors (1) vs. New Orleans Pelicans (8)
1 Pelicans @ Warriors - SAT April 18 1:30 PM MT ABC
2 Pelicans @ Warriors - MON April 20 8:30 PM MT TNT
3 Warriors @ Pelicans - THU April 23 7:30 PM MT TNT
4 Warriors @ Pelicans - SAT April 25 6:00 PM MT ESPN
5 Pelicans @ Warriors - TUE April 28 TBD TBD *
6 Warriors @ Pelicans - FRI May 1 TBD TBD *
7 Pelicans @ Warriors - SUN May 3 TBD TBD *
* = if necessary
Warriors Roster Pelicans Roster
Stephen Curry PG Jrue Holiday
Klay Thompson SG Eric Gordon
Harrison Barnes SF Tyreke Evans
Draymond Green PF Anthony Davis
Andrew Bogut C Omer Asik

It's fun not to see the Thunder there, but this series is going to be the end of a monster movie where the highly trained specialists come out and succeed against a huge man-beast.

Houston Rockets (2) vs. Dallas Mavericks (7)
1 Mavericks @ Rockets - SAT April 18 7:30 PM MT ESPN
2 Mavericks @ Rockets - TUE April 21 7:30 PM MT TNT
3 Rockets @ Mavericks - FIR April 24 5:00 PM MT ESPN
4 Rockets @ Mavericks - SUN April 26 7:30 PM MT TNT
5 Mavericks @ Rockets - TUE April 28 TBD TBD *
6 Rockets @ Mavericks - THU April 30 TBD TBD *
7 Mavericks @ Rockets - SAT May 2 TBD TBD *
* = if necessary
Rockets Roster Mavericks Roster
Jason Terry PG Rajon Rondo
James Harden SG Monta Ellis
Trevor Ariza SF Chandler Parsons
Terrence Jones PF Dirk Nowitzki
Dwight Howard C Tyson Chandler

This is going to be lots of fun because of star calls. Rondo can't shoot. Parsons is gimpy. And we just saw the Rockets, and are aware of their flaws -- even if we're not able to capitalize on them.

Los Angeles Clippers (3) vs. San Antonio Spurs (6)
1 Spurs @ Clippers - SUN April 19 8:30 PM MT TNT
2 Spurs @ Clippers - WED April 22 8:30 PM MT TNT
3 Clippers @ Spurs - FRI April 24 7:30 PM MT ESPN
4 Clippers @ Spurs - SUN April 26 1:30 PM MT ABC
5 Spurs @ Clippers - TUE April 28 TBD TBD *
6 Clippers @ Spurs - THU April 30 TBD TBD *
7 Spurs @ Clippers - SAT May 2 TBD TBD *
* = if necessary
Clippers Roster Spurs Roster
Chris Paul PG Tony Parker
J.J. Redick SG Danny Green
Matt Barnes SF Kawhi Leonard
Blake Griffin PF Tiago Splitter
DeAndre Jordan C Tim Duncan

LETS GO SPURS!

Portland Trail Blazers (4) vs. Memphis Grizzlies (5)
1 Trail Blazers @ Grizzlies - SAT April 18 10:30 AM MT ESPN
2 Trail Blazers @ Grizzlies - TUE April 21 6:00 PM MT NBATV
3 Grizzlies @ Trail Blazers - FRI April 24 6:00 PM MT ESPN
4 Grizzlies @ Trail Blazers - SUN April 26 5:00 PM MT TNT
5 Trail Blazers @ Grizzlies - WED April 29 TBD TBD *
6 Grizzlies @ Trail Blazers - FRI May 1 TBD TBD *
7 Trail Blazers @ Grizzlies - SUN May 3 TBD TBD *
* = if necessary
Trail Blazers Roster Grizzlies Roster
Damian Lillard PG Mike Conley
Arron Afflalo SG Courtney Lee
Nicolas Batum SF Jeff Green
LaMarcus Aldridge PF Zach Randolph
Robin Lopez C Marc Gasol

The Blazers don't have come court, and are kinda gimpy right now. I don't think they are going to advance.

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So I have all Top Seeds advancing, as MEM is the top seed here. The games start today at 10:30 AM on ESPN!

  • WAS @ TOR -- 10:30 AM (ESPN)
  • NOP @ GSW -- 1:30 PM (ABC)
  • MIL @ CHI -- 5:00 PM (ESPN)
  • DAL @ HOU -- 7:300 PM (ESPN)

Woo! Basketball that's star call based! I can't wait! (Also you can take this in as a scouting experience for the Jazz . . . for next season . . . you can bet that Gordon Hayward, Derrick Favors, and Rudy Gobert will be watching.)