NBA playoffs 2015 first round preview: LeBron James and the Cavaliers the favourites... but can the Warriors win a first title since 1975?
Golden State Warriors dominated the regular season
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After another gruelling 82-game season the NBA play-offs are back.
Last summer LeBron James sent shockwaves throughout the league when he announced he'd be return to his native Ohio to re-join the Cleveland Cavaliers. The move immediately turned the perennially poor Cavaliers into title contenders, with another star Kevin Love joining James soon after.
The Cavaliers begin the post-season as the bookies' favourites, but at least eight other teams will feel they have a legitimate chance at winning the Larry O'Brien trophy.
The defending champion San Antonio Spurs struggled through much of the season with injuries and a general malaise, before winning 19 of their final 25 games to secure the sixth seed in the west.
Ahead of Saturday night's tip-off, we look at the first round match-ups.
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EASTERN CONFERENCE
1. Atlanta Hawks (60-22) vs 8. Brooklyn Nets (38-44)
Atlanta were the surprise of the season, playing a brilliantly fluid motion offence that saw Mike Buldenholzer's team post the second best record in the NBA. Atlanta saw four of their starting five reach the All-Star game, but they are a team without a proper star man - and many experts have pointed to this as a potential sign of weakness if they should make a deep play-off run, the prevailing theory that if a team can stop the Hawks' system they will stop the team.
Brooklyn were terrible for much of the season but made a late push and managed to fill the final seed. In Joe Johnson and Brook Lopez they have a pair of players capable of taking over a game, but they have a thin squad compared to other teams.
Prediction: Atlanta win in 5
2. Cleveland Cavaliers (53-29) vs 7. Boston Celtics (40-42)
As stated above, LeBron James, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love lead the favourites for the title. The Cavs made some clever in-season trades to bring an impressive supporting cast to Cleveland and in James they have the best player in the league (MVP award or not). They will be a formidable opponent.
Boston were meant to be rebuilding this year but behind brilliant young coach Brad Stevens, they got the most out of their players to reach the play-offs in a very weak Eastern conference. They won't have enough to get past James and Co, though.
Cleveland in 4
3. Chicago Bulls (50-32) vs 6. Milwaukee Bucks (41-41)
Star player Derrick Rose is back but he just spent yet another season on the sidelines for long spells. The former MVP has lost much of his explosiveness but the Bulls have an extremely deep roster - especially their forwards - while coach Tom Thibodeau has the Bulls playing one of the stingiest defensive systems in the league. They look like Cleveland's main threat in the East, especially as their strength lies where the Cavs are relatively weak.
The Bucks have an extremely young but extremely talented group of players that have caused problems for teams all season long. They are one of the best defensive teams in the league, but lack offensive firepower, especially after the season-ending injury to rookie star Jabari Parker and trading away Brandon Knight. Their time should come in the near future.
Chicago in 5
4. Toronto Raptors (49-33) vs 5. Washington Wizards (46-36)
Two teams that seem to be wasting much of their promise through a combination of poor coaching and poor motivation. The Raptors started the season at a furious pace but slowed down enough to be caught up and overtaken by other teams. They do possess a lot of talent but seem to have fallen away from the group of title contenders.
Washington's coach Randy Wittman has been thrown a lot of flak this year for his perceived poor coaching. A first round exit will likely see the end of his tenure in the capital, but the Wizards have more than enough talent to make a decent run.
Toronto in 7
WESTERN CONFERENCE
1. Golden State Warriors (67-15) vs 8. New Orleans Pelicans (45-37)
Golden State have absolutely dominated the league this season, putting in one of the 10 best seasons in NBA history. They own the best roster with a number of back-up players who would easily start on other play-off teams. Not only do they have a deep squad but such was the nature of their season, where they beat teams big on a regular basis, that their best players are all well rested having had time to come out of games.
New Orleans possess the next big superstar in basketball, Anthony Davis. The 22-year-old can already do everything on the court, and is a beast both offensively and defensively. Their hopes rest with him but the Pelicans do not have nearly enough to bother the Warriors.
Golden State in 4
2. Houston Rockets (56-26) vs 7. Dallas Mavericks (50-32)
These two Texan teams have a deep hatred of each other with even the bigwigs sniping at each other. Houston guard James Harden has been brilliant this season, on his way to an MVP candidacy, especially considering star centre Dwight Howard missed a big chunk of the season with various injuries. Howard is back now and Houston will be considered favourites in this contest.
The Mavericks made an in-season trade that was aimed to push them over the top but has spectacularly backfired so far. Rajon Rondo arrived from the Boston Celtics but he has upset the coach and team chemistry, while failing to play to the level expected of him. However, Rondo built his lofty reputation by playing his best during the play-offs and Dirk Nowitzki and co will be hoping he can raise it a gear or two when it matters.
Houston in 6
3. Los Angeles Clippers (56-26) vs 6. San Antonio Spurs (55-27)
The tie of the round, these two are both genuine title contenders and possess some of the biggest stars around - losing a first round will constitute a major disappointment for both clubs. The Clippers have home-court advantage, which could be key in a series decider.
The Chris Paul-led Clippers have played at a league-best offensive rate since the All-Star break but have not put together a serious play-off run in recent seasons. Paul is fast developing a reputation as one of the greatest players to have never made a mark in the post-season.
The Spurs have been here and done it all over the past 15-20 years and despite their ageing legs have the know-how to get the job done. They were slow in the regular season but many believe that was to save themselves for the play-offs.
San Antonio in 7
4. Portland Trail Blazers (51-31) vs 5. Memphis Grizzlies (55-27)
Portland were looking like contenders before key defender Wes Matthews went down with a torn Achilles that ended his season. LaMarcus Aldridge has been playing with an injured thumb all season but still managed to keep the Blazers afloat. Portland still have a weakish bench, especially with the injuries, but in Damian Lillard and Aldridge they have two of the best players in the league.
Memphis were another to start the season at a great pace before slowing down because of injury. Their slow, deliberate, gritty offence isn't always the most pleasing on the eye but they are one of the strongest defensive teams in the league and never afraid to get tough.
Memphis in 7
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