2018 NBA Playoffs: First-round schedule, initial thoughts on each series

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We take a look at the entire first-round NBA playoff schedule and begin to breakdown each of the series

The 2018 NBA Playoffs are officially here.

The 82-game regular season trek is finally in the review mirror, and from here on out everything that happens will matter. The Golden State Warriors begin their road to a third NBA title in four years and in the Eastern Conference the Cleveland Cavaliers look to get back to the NBA Finals for the fourth straight time.

But before we get to the NBA Finals, there are a number of potential interesting matchups to look forward to. And we have a few of them off the bat here in the first round, which tips off this weekend.

Before we start making predictions and crowning a champion, here is a complete first-round schedule along with a few initial thoughts on each series.