When was the last time a No. 7 seed (Warriors) was a betting favorite over a healthy No. 2 seed (Rockets)? Three of the four series in the West and at least one in the East (two if you're a big Pistons fan) could go either way.

The first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs begin Saturday, April 19. Late-May, early-June: Stanley Cup Final starts (can end no later than Monday, June 23). The format is a set bracket that is largely division-based with wild cards. The top three teams in each division will make up the first 12 teams in the playoffs.