NBA Playoff Preview

Here is a look at the NBA playoffs that begin on Saturday.

Records: Detroit, 44-38; Cleveland, 57-25.

Coaches: Detroit, Stan Van Gundy, 2nd season, 76-88, overall 447-296; Cleveland, Tyrone Lue, 1st season, 27-14.

Season series: Detroit, 3-1.

Last season: Detroit didn't make the playoffs. Cleveland lost to Golden State in the NBA finals.

Key players: Detroit, C Andre Drummond (16.2 ppg., 14.8 rpg., 1.9 bpg.); PG Reggie Jackson (18.8 ppg., 6.2 apg.); SF-PF Marcus Morris (14.1 ppg., 5.1 rpg.). Cleveland, LeBron James (25.3 ppg.. 7.4 rpg. 6.8 apg.); PG Kyrie Irving (19.6 ppg., 4.7 apg.); PF Kevin Love (16.0 ppg., 9.9 rpg.).

Free throw: Drummond is a rising star, but he shot just 35.5 percent from the foul line making him a late-game liability.

Prediction: Cleveland in five games.

Records: Indiana, 45-37; Toronto, 56-26).

Coaches: Indiana, Frank Vogel, 6th season, 250-181; Toronto Dwane Casey, 5th season, 210-184, overall 263-253.

Season series: Toronto, 3-1.

Last season: Indiana didn't qualify for the playoffs. Toronto lost in the first round to Washington.

Key players: Indiana, SF-PF Paul George (23.1 ppg., 7.0 rpg.); SG Monta Ellis (13.8 ppg., 4.7 apg.); PG George Hill (12.1 ppg., 3.5 apg.). Toronto, PG Kyle Lowry (21.2 ppg., 6.4 apg.); SG DeMar DeRozan (23.5 ppg., 4.0 apg.); C Jonas Valanciunas (12.8 ppg., 9.1 rpg.)

Free throw: Toronto was third in the NBA in scoring defense, allowing 98.2 ppg., while Indiana was eighth (100.5 ppg.).

Prediction: Toronto in six games.

Records: Charlotte, 48-34; Miami, 48-34.

Coaches: Charlotte, Steve Clifford, 3rd season, 124-122; Miami, Erik Spoelstra, 8th season, 399-241.

Season series: Tied 2-2.

Last season: Neither team qualified for the playoffs.

Key players: Charlotte, PG Kemba Walker (20.9 ppg., 5.2 apg.); PF-C Al Jefferson (12.0 ppg., 6.4 rpg.); SG-SF Nicolas Batum (14.9 ppg., 6.1 rpg., 5.8 apg.). Miami, SG Dwyane Wade (19.0 ppg., 4.6 apg.); C Hassan Whiteside (14.2 ppg., 11.8 rpg.); PG Goran Dragic (14.1 ppg., 5.8 apg.)

Free throw: Chris Bosh hasn't played since the all-star break for Miami due to blood clots, and if he is available the Heat could compete with any team in the Eastern Conference. Charlotte's Batum has been battling a late-season ankle injury, and that bears watching.

Prediction: Miami in seven games.

Records: Boston, 48-34; Atlanta, 48-34.

Coaches: Boston, Brad Stevens, 3rd season, 113-133; Atlanta, Mike Budenholzer, 3rd season, 146-100.

Season series: Atlanta, 3-1.

Last season: Boston lost in the first round to Cleveland. Atlanta lost in the Eastern Conference finals to Cleveland.

Key players: Boston, PG Isaiah Thomas (22.2 ppg., 6.2 apg.); SG Avery Bradley (15.2 ppg., 2.1 apg.); SF Jae Crowder (14.2 ppg., 5.1 rpg.). Atlanta, PF Paul Milsap (17.1 ppg., 9.0 rpg.); C Al Horford (15.2 ppg., 7.3 rpg.); PG Jeff Teague (15.7 ppg., 5.9 apg.).

Free throw: These are two underrated defensive teams. Atlanta was sixth in the NBA in scoring defense, allowing 99.2 points per game, while Boston was tied for first in most opposing turnovers forced per game (15.8).

Prediction: Atlanta in seven games.

Records: Houston, 41-41; Golden State, 73-9.

Coaches: Houston, J.B. Bickerstaff, 1st season, 37-34; Golden State, Steve Kerr, 2nd season, 140-24.

Season series: Golden State, 3-0.

Last season: Houston lost to Golden State in the Western Conference finals. Golden State won the NBA championship.

Key players: Houston, SG James Harden (29.0 ppg., 7.5 apg., 38.1 mpg.); C Dwight Howard (13.7 ppg., 11.8 rpg.); SG-SF Trevor Ariza (12.7 ppg., 4.5 rpg.). Golden State, PG Stephen Curry (30.1 ppg., 6.7 apg., .908 FT percentage); SG Klay Thompson (22.1 ppg., 3.4 rpg.); PF Draymond Green (14.0 ppg., 9.5 rpg., 7.4 apg.)

Free throw: Curry had an NBA record 402 three-point field goals, while also making 403 two-point field goals.

Prediction: Golden State in five games.

Records: Memphis, 42-40; San Antonio, 67-15.

Coaches: Memphis, Dave Joerger, 3rd season, 147-99; Dallas Gregg Popovich, 20th season, 1,089-485).

Season series: San Antonio, 4-0.

Last season: Memphis lost in the second round to Golden State. San Antonio lost in the first round to the Los Angeles Clippers.

Key players: Memphis, PF Zach Randolph (15.3 ppg., 7.8 rpg.); SF-PF Matt Barnes (10.0 ppg., 5.5 rpg.); SG-SF Lance Stephenson (14.2 ppg., 4.4 rpg. in 26 games for Memphis after being traded from the L.A. Clippers). San Antonio, SF Kawhi Leonard (21.2 ppg., 6.8 rpg.); PF-C LaMarcus Aldridge (18.0 ppg., 8.5 rpg.); PG Tony Parker (11.9 ppg., 5.3 rpg.).

Free throw: With point guard Mike Conley and center Marc Gasol out with injuries, Memphis will struggle to win a game against a Spurs team that has qualified for the playoffs 19 consecutive years.

Prediction: Spurs in four games.

Records: Dallas, 42-40; Oklahoma City, 55-27.

Coaches: Dallas, Rick Carlisle, 8th season, 380-260, overall 661-471; Oklahoma City, Billy Donovan (1st season, 55-27).

Season series: Oklahoma City, 4-0.

Last season: Dallas lost in the first round to Houston. Oklahoma City didn't qualify for the playoffs.

Key players: Dallas, PF Dirk Nowitzki (18.3 ppg., 5.8 rpg.); SG Wesley Matthews (12.5 ppg., .863 FT percentage); PG Deron Williams (14.1 ppg., 5.8 apg.). Oklahoma City, SF-SG Kevin Durant (28.2 ppg., 8.2 rpg.); PG Russell Westbrook (23.5 ppg., 7.8 rpg., 10.4 apg.); PF Serge Ibaka (12.6 ppg., 6.8 rpg.)

Free throw: Durant (28.2) and Westbrook (27.6) were second and third, respectively, in the NBA in player efficiency rating (a measure of per minute production), with the league average being 15.0.

Prediction: Oklahoma City in five games.

Records: Portland, 44-38; Los Angeles, 53-29.

Coaches: Portland, Terry Stotts, 4th season, 182-146 ; Los Angeles, Doc Rivers, 3rd season, 166-80, overall 753-553.

Season series: Los Angeles, 3-1.

Last season: Portland lost to Memphis in the first round. The Clippers lost to Houston in the second round.

Key players: Portland, PG Damian Lillard (25.1 ppg., 6.8 apg.); SG C.J. McCollum (20.8 ppg., 4.3 apg.); SF Al-Farouq Aminu (10.2 ppg., 6.1 rpg.). Los Angeles, PG Chris Paul (19.5 ppg., 10.0 apg.); PF Blake Griffin (21.4 ppg., 8.4 rpg.); C DeAndre Jordan (12.7 ppg., 10.3 rpg., 2.3 bpg.).

Free throw: Portland was tied for fourth in the NBA in three-point percentage (.370), and that will be the Blazers' only chance to stay competitive if they can hit from beyond the arc.

Prediction: Clippers in seven games.