The NBA Playoff Bracket is all set after the NBA regular season finished in one of the greatest single nights in NBA history. But we’re not here to talk Kobe or regular season records, we’re here to talk about the part of the NBA player’s lives that matter the most: playoffs. Records, wins, and highlights mean nothing if you’re not holding the trophy. Here’s a quote from a very blunt Kobe Bryant regarding that very topic. “You either win a championship or you’re sh*t.”
So that being said, here are 18 teams who hoping to prove that they’re much more than sh*t. Obviously the favorites in the Western Conference are the Golden State Warriors, but both the Spurs and the Thunder are going to give them a serious run for their money come Western Conference Finals. In the East, everyone assumes the Cavaliers are going to make it to the Finals–but we’re not too sure. Playoff Lebron is still the most deadly single force in the NBA, but the Cavaliers have shown signs of weakness throughout the season. They’re definitely vulnerable to upsets.
NBA Playoff Bracket
Here’s a visual representation of the 2016 NBA Playoff Bracket. We’ll update this after the first round is over with.
NBA playoff schedule with dates, times & TV channels
Here’s the full NBA Playoff schedule, complete with dates, times and television channels. We’ll update this schedule as we progress round by round, but keep in mind that the NBA rewards teams who win games earlier. A team won’t play in the next round until everyone in their round’s games are over with.
*- if necessary
Eastern Conference
No. 1 Cavaliers vs. No. 8 Pistons
Game 1: Sunday, April 17- Detroit at Cleveland, 3 p.m., ABC
Game 2: Wednesday, April 20- Detroit at Cleveland, 8 p.m., TNT
Game 3: Friday, April 22- Cleveland at Detroit, 7 p.m., ESPN
Game 4: Sunday, April 24- Cleveland at Detroit, 8:30 p.m., TNT
Game 5: Tuesday, April 26- Detroit at Cleveland, TBD, TBD*
Game 6: Thursday, April 28- Cleveland at Detroit, TBD, TBD*
Game 7: Saturday, April 30- Detroit at Cleveland, TBD, TNT*
No. 2 Raptors vs. No. 7 Pacers
Game 1: Saturday, April 16- Indiana at Toronto, 12:30 p.m., ESPN
Game 2: Monday, April 18- Indiana at Toronto, 7 p.m., NBA TV
Game 3: Thursday, April 21- Toronto at Indiana, 7:30 p.m., NBA TV
Game 4: Saturday, April 23- Toronto at Indiana, 3 p.m., TNT
Game 5: Tuesday, April 26- Indiana at Toronto, TBD, TBD*
Game 6: Friday, April 29- Toronto at Indiana, TBD, TBD*
Game 7: Sunday, May 1- Indiana at Toronto, TBD, TBD*
No. 3 Heat vs. No. 6 Hornets
Game 1: Sunday, April 17- Charlotte at Miami, 5:30 p.m., TNT
Game 2: Wednesday, April 20- Charlotte at Miami, 7 p.m., NBA TV
Game 3: Saturday, April 23- Miami at Charlotte, 5:30 p.m., TNT
Game 4: Monday, April 25- Miami at Charlotte, TBD, TBD
Game 5: Wednesday, April 27- Charlotte at Miami, TBD, TBD*
Game 6: Friday, April 29- Miami at Charlotte, TBD, TBD*
Game 7: Sunday, May 1- Charlotte at Miami, TBD, TBD*
No. 4 Hawks vs. No. 5 Celtics
Game 1: Saturday, April 16- Boston at Atlanta, 7 p.m., ESPN
Game 2: Tuesday, April 19- Boston at Atlanta, 7 p.m., TNT
Game 3: Friday, April 22- Atlanta at Boston, 8 p.m., ESPN2
Game 4: Sunday, April 24- Atlanta at Boston, 6 p.m., TNT
Game 5: Tuesday, April 26- Boston at Atlanta, TBD, TBD*
Game 6: Thursday, April 28- Atlanta at Boston, TBD, TBD*
Game 7: Saturday, April 30- Boston at Atlanta, TBD, TNT*
Western Conference
No. 1 Warriors vs No. 8 Rockets
Game 1: Saturday, April 16- Houston at Golden State, 3:30 p.m., ABC
Game 2: Monday, April 18- Houston at Golden State, 10:30 p.m., TNT
Game 3: Thursday, April 21- Golden State at Houston, 9:30 p.m., TNT
Game 4: Sunday, April 24- Golden State at Houston, 3:30 p.m., ABC
Game 5: Wednesday, April 27- Houston at Golden State, TBD, TBD*
Game 6: Friday, April 29- Golden State at Houston, TBD, TBD*
Game 7: Sunday, May 1- Houston at Golden State, TBD, TBD*
No. 2 Spurs vs. No. 7 Grizzlies
Game 1: Sunday, April 17- Memphis at San Antonio, 8 p.m., TNT
Game 2: Tuesday, April 19- Memphis at San Antonio, 9:30 p.m., TNT
Game 3: Friday, April 22- San Antonio at Memphis, 9:30 p.m., ESPN
Game 4: Sunday, April 24- San Antonio at Memphis, 1 p.m., ABC
Game 5: Tuesday, April 26- Memphis at San Antonio, TBD, TBD*
Game 6: Thursday, April 28- San Antonio at Memphis, TBD, TBD*
Game 7: Saturday, April 30- Memphis at San Antonio, TBD, TNT*
No. 3 Thunder vs. No. 6 Mavericks
Game 1: Saturday, April 16- Dallas at Oklahoma City, 9:30 p.m., ESPN
Game 2: Monday, April 18- Dallas at Oklahoma City, 8 p.m., TNT
Game 3: Thursday, April 21- Oklahoma City at Dallas, 7 p.m., TNT
Game 4: Saturday, April 23- Oklahoma City at Dallas, 8 p.m., ESPN
Game 5: Monday, April 25- Dallas at Oklahoma City, TBD, TBD*
Game 6: Thursday, April 28- Oklahoma City at Dallas, TBD, TBD*
Game 7: Saturday, April 30- Dallas at Oklahoma City, TBD, TNT*
No. 4 Clippers vs. No. 5 Trail Blazers
Game 1: Sunday, April 17- Portland at Los Angeles, 10:30 p.m., TNT
Game 2: Wednesday, April 20- Portland at Los Angeles, 10:30 p.m., TNT
Game 3: Saturday, April 23- Los Angeles at Portland, 10:30 p.m., ESPN
Game 4: Monday, April 25- Los Angeles at Portland, 10:30 p.m., TNT
Game 5: Wednesday, April 27- Portland at Los Angeles, TBD, TBD*
Game 6: Friday, April 29- Los Angeles at Portland, TBD, TBD*
Game 7: Sunday, May 1- Portland at Los Angeles, TBD, TBD*