The NBA playoffs aren't a one-and-done affair like March Madnessand after an entertaining path to the postseason, that's a good thing.Sometimes criticized for a long regular season, the NBA's playoffs get the same treatment. But looking back at how the bracket formed, who doesn't want to see the struggling Cleveland Cavaliers try to survive against the Indiana Pacers or Russell Westbrook and James Harden fight a historic battle over a seven-game series'What seemed like a cut-and-dry outcome featuring the Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors in the Finals isn't so surefire anymore. The Eastern Conference has more teams like Washington representing parity these days, and after the first two out West, star power like those mentioned could make lengthy series entertaining.For now, let's put the zoom on Round 1.2017 NBA Playoffs Round 1Bracket Standings and Predictions(2) Cavaliers vs. (7) PacersCall it a throwback: Lance Stephenson, the man known as Born Ready, is back with the Pacers and has his eyes on taking down LeBron James (and maybe blowing in his ear a little bit).The Pacers closed the season on a five-game tear, including wins against Atlanta and Toronto after taking Cleveland to double overtime in a five-point loss at the start of the month.Stephenson has played a major role:As for the Cavaliers, willingly giving the first seed to Boston seemed like quite the odd move after a sluggish finish to the regular season. They dropped four games in a row to close the season, including two in a row against Atlanta and resting their stars in the finale against Toronto.This is certainly an Indiana team able to exploit the struggling Cavaliers. The Pacers will hope Myles Turner (14.5 points per game) can exploit a struggling Cleveland frontcourt. And there's nothing quite like Paul George, who might be playing his last playoff series with the Pacers.In fact, on such a note, the Pacers might play with a sense of urgency the Cavaliers can't predict, thanks to the situation with George. He's a California kid playing in a small market, and if the Pacers don't show him something in the way of serious contention this postseason, his time with the team might come to a close because he wants to win titles.The problem for the Pacers and when it simply comes time to make a decision here has a one-word descriptionLeBron.James hasn't lost a first-round series. His teams have never lost more than two games in a first round, nor have they lost one at all since 2012. Indiana is talented enough and has the urgency to grab a win or two, but in a seven-game series, James will eventually impose his will and George doesn't have enough scoring help around him to compensate.Prediction: Cavaliers in seven(4) Jazz vs. (5) ClippersA battle of old against new between middling seeds in the Western Conference makes for a great on-paper matchup.Casual fans know the Los Angeles Clippers by now, even if the conference has seemingly passed the Blake Griffin-Chris Paul-DeAndre Jordan trio by. They put up another 51 wins this year to stick in the middle of the pack while a team like the Oklahoma City Thunder fell off, though the Clips couldn't move past the upstart Utah Jazz.Utah also pegged a nice 51 wins, making for yet another year of strong improvement. Gordon Hayward acting as the star while averaging 21.9 points per game next to a rejuvenated George Hill helped.It's Rudy Gobert, though, who should enjoy household-name status. The breakout star center averages 14.0 points, 12.8 rebounds and 2.6 blocks per game, which doesn't do the campaign justice.Let USA Today's Sam Amick put Gobert's historic season into context:The only other players to record at least 14 points, 12 rebounds and two blocks per game on 60% shooting were Dwight Howard (18.3 points on 61.2% shooting, 13.2 rebounds, 2.8 blocks per game for the Magic in 2009-10) and Artis Gilmore (18 points on 62.6% shooting, 12 rebounds and 2.3 blocks for the Spurs in 1982-83).Gobert has the game to match Jordan down low, which shifts the focus elsewhere. Los Angeles might have more experience in the postseason, but it doesn't have an athletic swingman who can match Hayward.Should Hayward put up strong performances and force the Clippers to endlessly adapt, this could be a passing-of-the-torch series. The Clippers closed the season on a high note, but it's hard to escape the feeling we've been down this road before. Utah is a tough matchup, which will show over the course of seven games.Prediction: Jazz in sevenAll stats and info via ESPN.com unless otherwise specified.
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