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NBA: Cleveland seen as 9-4 odds favorite to emerge as champions


Westgate SuperBook calls Cleveland the 9-4 favorite to win the NBA's Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy. Golden State, who finished first overall, draws 4-1 odds at SuperBook.

The NBA playoffs this time around will feature four teams that failed to qualify for the postseason last year: Boston, Cleveland, Milwaukee, New Orleans.
 
Six of the 16 playoff teams have never won a league championship: Brooklyn, Cleveland, Los Angeles Clippers, Memphis, New Orleans, Toronto.
 
The Boston Celtics (40-42) and Brooklyn Nets (38-44) both qualified for the playoffs in the Eastern Conference despite posting losing records during the 2014-15 NBA regular season.
 
The Oklahoma City Thunder (45-37) missed out on the final Western Conference playoff berth due to a tiebreaker, making them the only team with a winning record not in the postseason.
 
Four playoff coaches are in their first year with current team: Lionel Hollins (Brooklyn), David Blatt (Cleveland), Steve Kerr (Golden State) and Jason Kidd (Milwaukee).

Schedule of games for the best-of-seven opening round of the National Basketball Association playoffs (*-if needed):
 
EASTERN CONFERENCE
 
Atlanta Hawks vs. Brooklyn Nets
 
Game 1 - April 19 at Atlanta
 
Game 2 - April 22 at Atlanta
 
Game 3 - April 25 at Brooklyn
 
Game 4 - April 27 at Brooklyn
 
Game 5 * April 29 at Atlanta
 
Game 6 * May 1 at Brooklyn
 
Game 7 * May 3 at Atlanta
 
- -
 
Cleveland vs Boston
 
Game 1 - April 19 at Cleveland
 
Game 2 - April 21 at Cleveland
 
Game 3 - April 23 at Boston
 
Game 4 - April 26 at Boston
 
Game 5 * April 28 at Cleveland
 
Game 6 * April 30 at Boston
 
Game 7 * May 2 at Cleveland
 
- -
 
Chicago vs Milwaukee
 
Game 1 - April 18 at Chicago
 
Game 2 - April 20 at Chicago
 
Game 3 - April 23 at Milwaukee
 
Game 4 - April 25 at Milwaukee
 
Game 5 * April 27 at Chicago
 
Game 6 * April 30 at Milwaukee
 
Game 7 * May 2 at Chicago
 
- -
 
Toronto vs Washington
 
Game 1 - April 18 at Toronto
 
Game 2 - April 21 at Toronto
 
Game 3 - April 24 at Washington
 
Game 4 - April 26 at Washington
 
Game 5 * April 29 at Toronto
 
Game 6 * May 1 at Washington
 
Game 7 * May 3 at Toronto
 
- -
 
WESTERN CONFERENCE
 
Golden State vs. New Orleans
 
Game 1 - April 18 at Golden State
 
Game 2 - April 20 at Golden State
 
Game 3 - April 23 at New Orleans
 
Game 4 - April 25 at New Orleans
 
Game 5 * April 28 at Golden State
 
Game 6 * May 1 at New Orleans
 
Game 7 * May 3 at Golden State
 
- -
 
Houston vs Dallas
 
Game 1 - April 18 at Houston
 
Game 2 - April 21 at Houston
 
Game 3 - April 24 at Dallas
 
Game 4 - April 26 at Dallas
 
Game 5 * April 28 at Houston
 
Game 6 * April 30 at Dallas
 
Game 7 * May 2 at Houston
 
- -
 
Los Angeles Clippers vs San Antonio
 
Game 1 - April 19 at Los Angeles
 
Game 2 - April 22 at Los Angeles
 
Game 3 - April 24 at San Antonio
 
Game 4 - April 26 at San Antonio
 
Game 5 * April 28 at Los Angeles
 
Game 6 * April 30 at San Antonio
 
Game 7 * May 2 at Los Angeles
 
- -
 
Portland vs Memphis
 
Game 1 - April 19 at Memphis
 
Game 2 - April 22 at Memphis
 
Game 3 - April 25 at Portland
 
Game 4 - April 27 at Portland
 
Game 5 * April 29 at Memphis
 
Game 6 * May 1 at Portland
 
Game 7 * May 3 at Memphis

Team profiles

ATLANTA HAWKS
 
Regular season record: 60-22
 
How they qualified: First in East
 
Head coach: Mike Budenholzer
 
Top scorer: Paul Millsap (16.7 points per game)
 
Top rebounder: Paul Millsap (7.8 rebounds per game)
 
NBA titles: One (*1958)
 
Joined NBA: 1949
 
*As St. Louis Hawks
 
- -
 
CLEVELAND CAVALIERS
 
Regular season record: 53-29
 
How they qualified: Won Central Division
 
Head coach: David Blatt
 
Top scorer: LeBron James (25.3 points per game)
 
Top rebounder: Kevin Love (9.7 rebounds per game)
 
NBA titles: None
 
Joined NBA: 1970
 
- -
 
CHICAGO BULLS
 
Regular season record: 50-32
 
How they qualified: Third in East
 
Head coach: Tom Thibodeau
 
Top scorer: Jimmy Butler (20 points per game)
 
Top rebounder: Pau Gasol (11.8 rebounds per game)
 
NBA titles: Six (1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998)
 
Joined NBA: 1966
 
- -
 
TORONTO RAPTORS
 
Regular season record: 49-33
 
How they qualified: Won Atlantic Division
 
Head coach: Dwane Casey
 
Top scorer: DeMar DeRozan (20.1 points per game)
 
Top rebounder: Jonas Valanciunas (8.7 rebounds per game)
 
NBA titles: None
 
Joined NBA: 1995
 
- -
 
WASHINGTON WIZARDS
 
Regular season record: 46-36
 
How they qualified: Fifth in East
 
Head coach: Randy Wittman
 
Top scorer: John Wall (17.6 points per game)
 
Top rebounder: Marcin Gortat (8.7 rebounds per game)
 
NBA titles: One (1978)
 
Joined NBA: 1961
 
- -
 
MILWAUKEE BUCKS
 
Regular season record: 41-41
 
How they qualified: Sixth in East
 
Head coach: Jason Kidd
 
Top scorer: Brandon Knight (17.8 points per game)
 
Top rebounder: Zaza Pachulia (6.8 rebounds per game)
 
NBA titles: One (1971)
 
Joined NBA: 1968
 
- -
 
BOSTON CELTICS
 
Regular season record: 40-42
 
How they qualified: Seventh in East
 
Head coach: Brad Stevens
 
Top scorer: Isaiah Thomas (19 points per game)
 
Top rebounder: Jared Sullinger (7.6 rebounds per game)
 
NBA titles: 17 (1957, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1968, 1969, 1974, 1976, 1981, 1984, 1986, 2008)
 
Joined NBA: 1946
 
- -
 
BROOKLYN NETS
 
Regular season record: 38-44
 
How they qualified: Eighth in East
 
Head coach: Lionel Hollins
 
Top scorer: Brook Lopez (17.2 points per game)
 
Top rebounder: Brook Lopez (7.4 rebounds per game)
 
NBA titles: None
 
Joined NBA: 1976

— Reuters

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