NBA Playoff Schedule 2016: Viewing Guide, Predictions for Conference Finals

Sixteen teams have turned into four in the NBA playoffs. It’s conference finals time. 

In the Eastern Conference, the top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers are on fire offensively and look like they’re finally maximizing their potential, but they’ll have to get past a second-seeded Toronto Raptors team that plays with heart and quite a bit of skill.

Out West, the No. 1-seeded Golden State Warriors will face the No. 3-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder in what should be a series for the ages. Both squads possess a lot of talent and are formidable on both ends of the floor.

Let’s take a look at the schedules and TV information for both series and then preview and predict the matchups.

Predictions for Conference Finals

No. 1 Cleveland Cavaliers vs. No. 2 Toronto Raptors

Cleveland will enter its second consecutive playoff round being much more rested than its opponent, as the Cavaliers finished off their conference semifinal series against the Atlanta Hawks on May 8, winning in four games. Meanwhile, the Raptors finished off a back-and-forth seven-game series Sunday against the Miami Heat, with three of the contests going into overtime.

Even disregarding the team’s energy levels, though, Cleveland is hands down the better team in this matchup. 

LeBron James is easily the series’ best player (as he would be against any Eastern Conference opponent), and the Raptors’ biggest problem will be finding a way to contain him. DeMarre Carroll is the top candidate to check him, but he hasn’t been the same on defense since his knee surgery. The Indiana Pacers’ Paul George gave Toronto trouble in the first round, and LeBron …

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