The NBA Conference Finals officially start on Sunday, May 13, with the Boston Celtics playing host to the Cleveland Cavaliers at TD Garden.

This is the second straight year that the Celtics and Cavs have met in the Eastern Conference Final.

Last season, Cleveland moved on to the NBA Finals after winning the series 4-1. When Kyrie Irving was traded to Boston over the summer, there was intrigue in the possibility of a rematch.

But with Irving and Gordon Hayward out, it's an entirely different picture, and most analysts are picking the Cavs to advance again.

The Western Conference Final begin on Monday, May 14, with the Houston Rockets playing host to the Golden State Warriors.

With a now fully healthy roster, many analysts are picking the Warriors to repeat as champions, but those same analysts have offered the caveat that the Rockets are the one team built to beat them.

That should make for an epic series out West.

Here we will dive into the playoff schedule, make some predictions and reveal the latest championship odds, according to OddsShark.

NBA Playoffs: Conference Finals Schedule and Predictions

Eastern Conference

Cleveland at Boston (Game 1): Sunday at 3:30 p.m. on ABC

Cleveland at Boston (Game 2): Tuesday at 8:30 p.m. on ESPN

Boston at Cleveland (Game 3): Saturday, May 19 at 8:30 p.m. on ESPN

Boston at Cleveland (Game 4): Monday, May 21 at 8:30 p.m. on ESPN

Cleveland at Boston (Game 5, if necessary): Wednesday, May 23 at 8:30 p.m. on ESPN

Boston at Cleveland (Game 6, if necessary): Friday, May 25 at 8:30 p.m. on ESPN

Cleveland at Boston (Game 7, if necessary): Sunday, May 27 at 8:30 p.m. on ESPN

Western Conference

Golden State at Houston (Game 1): Monday at 9 p.m. on TNT

Golden State at Houston (Game 2): Wednesday at 9 p.m. on TNT

Houston at Golden State (Game 3): Sunday, May 20 at 8 p.m. on TNT

Houston at Golden State (Game 4): Tuesday, May 22 at 9 p.m. on TNT

Golden State at Houston (Game 5, if necessary): Thursday, May 24 at 9 p.m. on TNT

Houston at Golden State (Game 6, if necessary): Saturday, May 26 at 9 p.m. on TNT

Golden State at Houston (Game 7, if necessary): Monday, May 28 at 9 p.m. on TNT

*All times ET

Championship Odds

Golden State Warriors -130
Houston Rockets +247
Cleveland Cavaliers +552
Boston Celtics +2070

Predictions

Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Boston Celtics

A little over a month ago, the Eastern Conference Final between Cleveland and Boston would have been chum for all of sports media.

LeBron James vs. Kyrie Irving.

Batman against Robin.

Former teammates going head-to-head with a chance to go to the NBA Finals on the line.

But with Irving showing up in street clothes and Gordon Hayward sidelined, too, this series won't have the marquee matchups, but it will still be exciting.

Let's face it, any game or series with The King of Akron is must-see TV.

James has delivered, yet again, this postseason, averaging 34.3 points, 9.4 rebounds and 9 assists per game.

And who could forget about those two incredible buzzer-beaters?

James is seemingly surrounded by castoffs that appear and disappear from game to game, but if Kevin Love can consistently play at or near his All-Star level, the Cavs will advance.

On the other side of the ball is Boston.

Brad Stevens is the best coach in the series, and the Celtics have literally made it this far because of him.

He's instilled greatness in Jaylen Brown and Terry Rozier, and they have delivered.

Rookie Jayson Tatum has stepped up in a big way, too. He's entered esteemed company this postseason, racking up seven straight games with 20 or more points. 

That's the second-longest streak of 20-point games by a rookie in history (he's tied with Donovan Mitchell).

The player with the biggest assignment will be Marcus Morris. He has to defend James and try to keep him somewhat contained.

In the end, though, the Cavs will prevail and James will advance to play in his eighth straight NBA Finals.

Cleveland in 6

Golden State Warriors vs. Houston Rockets

The Houston Rockets have made no qualms about who they've wanted to face in the Western Conference Final.

It's always been the Golden State Warriors.

They're the team on the mountaintop, and the Rockets want to see them fall.

It all started back in January, when Houston beat Golden State 116-108 and someone put a microphone in Clint Capela's face.

"We are better than them," he said, via ESPN's Tim MacMahon.

That's the way the Rockets have felt since then.

And now here we are.

For their part, the Warriors aren't as focused on the who, they're focused on the what.

They want another championship. Period.

"It don't matter to us who we play," Draymond Green said matter-of-factly at the postgame presser after winning Game 5 of the semifinals. "However we got them. Alright. Now let's get it."

This is likely going to be some of the best basketball fans have seen in years.

According to ESPN Stats & Info, this is the first time since turnovers became an official stat in 1973 that a playoff series features two teams that both averaged at least 112 points per 100 possessions in the regular season.

Both of these teams can score in bunches.

Both of these teams can light it up from three.

Both of these teams are exciting to watch.

The only real difference is style of play.

Houston's offense tends to depend on a lot of iso plays where James Harden and Chris Paul take turns going one-on-one.

Golden State's offense is centered around ball movement. They pass the ball until they find the best shot.

No matter how many three's the Rockets hit, that's where the Warriors will separate themselves and come out on top.

Golden State in 7