How would the NBA Playoffs unfold in a single elimination tournament?

By Daniel Tran | Apr 14, 2015

Apr 10, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich (R) talks with forward Tim Duncan (21) during the fourth quarter against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center. The Spurs defeated the Rockets 104-103. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports /

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Mar 5, 2015; Portland, OR, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) dribbles around Dallas Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki (41) at Moda Center at the Rose Quarter. Mandatory Credit: Jaime Valdez-USA TODAY Sports /

First Round Matchups

(1) Golden State Warriors vs. (16) Phoenix Suns: I’m not going to even pretend like the Suns have a chance here. MVP candidate Stephen Curry could single-handedly beat this Phoenix team that has won only two of their last ten games, and have neither the defensive power to hold the Warriors in check, nor the weapons to keep up offensively. Golden State wins by a landslide.

(8) Portland Trail Blazers vs. (9) Dallas Mavericks: As dysfunctional as the Dallas Mavericks have looked at times this season with Rajon Rondo and head coach Rick Carlisle butting heads, they can overcome a Trail Blazers team that is limping into the playoffs without Wesley Matthews, and players like LaMarcus Aldridge and Nicolas Batum battling injury. The Mavericks pull off the road win.

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(5) Los Angeles Clippers vs. (12) Washington Wizards: The Clippers have recovered from a sluggish start and are now looking like the title contenders they were hoping to be before the season started; just another year for Doc Rivers. In their last game against the Wizards on March 20, the Clippers were able to come out on top by 14 points. Playing in Staples Center will give the Clippers the advantage again.

(4) San Antonio Spurs vs. (13) New Orleans Pelicans: Well look what we have here. It’s San Antonio in the postseason for the 18^th consecutive year. Think they will lose a group of playoff newbies? Yeah, I didn’t think so either. Spurs win.

(6) Houston Rockets vs. (11) Chicago Bulls: This game should be a lot more intriguing than the seeding would make it appear. Yes, the Rockets have one of the best centers in the NBA and one of the best players in the entire league in James Harden, but doing against a defensive genius like Tom Thibodeau moving people around, and Derrick Rose making an in-season comeback. This one has upset written all over it, Chicago wins on the road.

(3) Memphis Grizzlies vs. (14) Oklahoma City Thunder: What might have been if Kevin Durant remained healthy. Russell Westbrook has been playing out of his mind, but it won’t be enough to overcome Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol destroying the interior defense of Oklahoma City. Short of Dion Waiters transforming into Michael Jordan (nope) the Grizzlies take this one easily.

(7) Cleveland Cavaliers vs. (10) Toronto Raptors: The Cleveland Cavaliers, like Michigan State, is under-seeded at the seven slot, but they definitely have the talent to compete against anyone in the NBA with LeBron James leading them. The Cavs have won three consecutive games against the Raptors and it will be four after Cleveland forces the Raptors into postman extinction.

(2) Atlanta Hawks vs. (15) Milwaukee Bucks: Though the Jason Kidd has done a good job bringing young pieces together and getting them to play as one unit, there is no way that he can overcome the machine that is the Atlanta Hawks and their offense that ranks third in the league in field goal percentage. Hawks win.

Next: Quarterfinal Round