NBA Playoffs 2016: Full Round 1 Bracket Results and Semifinal Predictions

The 2016 NBA playoffs will officially reach the end of the first round following Sunday’s duo of Game 7 matchups in the Eastern Conference.

Still to be decided before the full semifinals field is set are opening-round rubber matches between the Charlotte Hornets and Miami Heat, followed by the Toronto Raptors and Indiana Pacers on Sunday evening.

It was a tight playoff race in the East for the Nos. 3 through 6 seeds, but the gap between Toronto at No. 2 and the seventh-seeded Pacers was wider. Although the Raptors have home-court advantage, they face a ton of pressure in Sunday’s decider, whereas Miami has experience to draw on in Dwyane Wade.

Here’s a look at the first-round bracket to date, along with a look ahead at the semifinals. 

Semifinals Preview, Predictions

Provided the Heat can take care of business against the underdog Hornets, who’ve never made it to the second round in franchise history, they have the look of a conference finalist.

In addition to Wade, Miami has an X-factor on the front line in Hassan Whiteside. Although he’s prone to foul trouble and has struggled to defend Charlotte’s Al Jefferson at times, the elite rim protector is averaging an easy double-double and 3.2 blocks in the playoffs entering the Heat’s Game 7.

With experienced, versatile players on the wing in Joe Johnson and Luol Deng, along with a capable off-dribble creator in Goran Dragic, there’s reason to believe in Miami moving forward.

In a hypothetical matchup with the Pacers, it has the defensive chops (101.5 rating in the regular season) to hang tough and limit Indiana star Paul George, who presents about the only sure offense his squad can count on.

The other East series is already set with the Cleveland Cavaliers and Atlanta Hawks butting heads in a rematch of last year’s conference finals.

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