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, 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 Jefferso ...
Read Full Article at Bleacher Report - NBA
Article written by Matt Fitzgerald
NBA Playoffs 2016: Full Round 1 Bracket Results and Semifinal Predictions
May 1st, 2016 by Matt Fitzgerald Leave a reply »
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