The Los Angeles Clippers’ first-round opponent for the 2015-16 NBA playoffs is the Portland Trail Blazers. Here is the complete schedule for every game of the series.
The Los Angeles Clippers have been locked into the 4th seed in the Western Conference for some time now, sitting a few wins behind the Oklahoma City Thunder and almost 10 games ahead of any team that’s rotated into the 5th seed. The Clippers have been in a comfortable position in that regard, even though they haven’t been able to know who they’ll face in the first round of the 2016 NBA playoffs.
On the final night of the regular season, though, as the Memphis Grizzlies slipped to 7th and the Dallas Mavericks came in 6th, the 5th seed Portland Trail Blazers were confirmed as the Clippers’ first-round opponent.
No matter how much they were doubted before the season began after losing four starters in free agency, the Blazers have done it. They not only made the playoffs, but they did so by claiming a far higher seed than expected. Now, they’ll go against the Clippers in a matchup between two of the NBA’s top 10 offensive teams.
Here’s the full schedule for the series (h/t Clips Nation):
Game 1 – Sunday April 17, 7:30 PM PST, TNT/Prime Ticket, Los Angeles, STAPLES Center.
Game 2 – Wednesday April 20, 7:30 PM PST, TNT/Prime Ticket, Los Angeles, STAPLES Center.
Game 3 – Saturday, April 23, 7:30 PM PST, ESPN/Prime Ticket, Portland, Moda Center.
Game 4 – Monday, April 25, 7:30 PM PST, TNT/Prime Ticket, Portland, Moda Center.
And, if the series isn’t ended in a sweep, here are the remaining dates for the final three games if necessary:
Game 5 – Wednesday, April 27, Time TBA, TV TBA, Los Angeles, STAPLES Center.
Game 6 – Friday, April 29, Time TBA, TV TBA, Portland, Moda Center.
Game 7 – Sunday, May 1, Time TBA, TV TBA, Los Angeles, STAPLES Center.
Before the last four games of the series (if it should go that far), the Clippers and Blazers will be benefiting a great deal of rest. With three days between each of the first three games, a couple of nights to rest up, practice, and study film after each contest is something that both teams will appreciate.
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If the matchup plays out as expected, and the Clippers aren’t tested beyond five or six games, the extra rest they can enjoy over the first few games of the series can benefit them going into the second round. Seeing as this team still has championship aspirations, no matter how imposing the 73-win Golden State Warriors are, the latter rounds are what they should be focussed on.
Plus, with Blake Griffin coming off another game of rest in the Clippers’ season finale against the Phoenix Suns, the extra time off over the first few games against the Blazers will help ease him into the postseason as he adjusts to playing after injury.
We’ve already started looking into the series in more detail, so to read about the advantages for the Clippers and their keys to victory, click here.
Next: How the Clippers can defeat the Trail Blazers
As we sit back and wait for the playoffs to begin this Saturday, with the first game between the Indiana Pacers and Toronto Raptors, be sure to keep following us here at Clipperholics for plenty of Clippers coverage and analysis.