(1) LA Lakers vs (8) Oklahoma City Thunder
(1) LA Lakers
The defending NBA champs are here. Kobe and company are locked and loaded and ready for another run at a championship. With the acquisition of Ron Artest in the off season the Lakers sent a statement to the league that Defense is a priority. The Lakers are a talented bunch with a great starting five (Gasol, Bryant, Bynum, Fisher, and Artest), and a great sixth man in Lamar Odom. The question is the rest of the supporting cast. Vujacic is out with an injury so it will be interesting to see who Phil Jackson plugs into the rotation. Adam Morrisson anyone?
(8) Oklahoma City Thunder
I have one word for you, Durantula. Kevin Durant is a beast period. Durant is coming off his best year as a pro (30.1 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 2.8 apg) and led the young Thunder to their 1st ever playoff birth. Led by Scott Brooks the Thunder have over achieved and matured throughout the season. They have a talented but young core of players with Durant, Westbrook, and Green, but no playoff experience. The unfortunate thing is they draw the Lakers in round 1. Look for the Thunder to continue to improve the next few years and be a strong contender in the West.
Paisan's Series Prediction: Durant can score almost at will, but the Lakers lock down Westbrook and the rest of the Thunder. Lakers 4-0
(2) Dallas Mavericks vs (7) San Antonio Spurs
(2) Dallas Mavericks
Dallas has the look of a team on a mission. With the mid-season trade that brought in Caron Butler and Brendan Haywood from Washington, Dallas looked to solidify itself as a major threat to the Lakers and Nuggets out west. Nowitzki is coming off another very good year, and Terry has again been huge as a sixth man once again. and lets not forget the ageless wonder in PG Jason Kidd. Let's not be fooled Kidd makes this team take off. The key is can Carlisle get these guys over the hump. He struggled with managing the egos in Detroit, can he do it in Dallas?
(7) San Antonio Spurs
Its hard to believe that San Antonio is a 7 seed out the West, but that just shows you how deep this conference is. Even as a seven seed you never can count out the Spurs. With Duncan, Ginobli, and Parker not to mention a great coach in Popovich the Spurs are a threat to anyone in the West. The one concern with this team is aging. They are not getting any younger and their best days are maybe behind them. Regardless they will fight till the bitter end and be a tough out in the Playoffs.
Paisan's Series Prediction: These teams really hate each other all the way down to the owners Holt and Cuban. Should be one of the more entertaining 1st round series.
Mavericks 4-3
(3)Phoenix Suns vs (6) Portland Trailblazers
(3) Phoenix Suns
The trade that never happened was the best thing that happened to the Suns season. After almost shipping out Amare Stoudemire before the trade deadline, Phoenix stood pat and surged to the three seed of the Western Conference. They have a good starting five and some decent help coming off the bench. What I like about Phoenix is they have the ability to run and shoot the lights out. Steve Nash is the engine that makes this car purr. If he's on then watch out, they'll be flying all over the court.
(6) Portland Trailblazers
Portland got bit. Yes, you heard me right the Blazers were bit by the injury bug right before seasons end when Brandon Roy injured his knee. Roy will be out the 1st round after having surgery to repair the meniscus in his knee. Its kind of hard to be positive about a team that's lacking their star player, but Portland will attempt to get out of the first round without Roy. If Portland can pull an upset here then Roy could return for round two. I just think it will be tough for these guys without him.
Paisan's Series Prediction: Suns too much for wounded Blazers, Suns 4-1
(4) Denver Nuggets vs (5) Utah Jazz
(4) Denver Nuggets
The Denver enter the playoffs without their leader. George Karl has been out getting treatment for throat cancer and no team has missed their coach more than the Nuggets. At times during the second half of the season it seemed these guys were on the verge of self destructing. But with team leaders Chauncey Billups and Carmelo Anthony Denver was able to harness the reigns and get back on track. The Nuggets are very dangerous with formidable bigs and sharp shooting behind the 3-point arc. If this team plays hard they are tough to beat. The question is which Nuggets team will we get?
(5) Utah Jazz
Poor, poor Utah. No team has been hit harder by injuries late in the year than the Jazz. But no matter who goes down Coach Jerry Sloan keeps finding bodies to plug in and keep winning. With Boozer and Kirilenko banged up Utah will look to Milsap and Okur to step in and step up. Deron Williams is a top-3 point guard in the NBA and can distribute the ball nicely, but also can shoot when needed. Utah played very well after the All-Star break and seems to be in stride heading into the Playoffs.
Paisan's Series Prediction: This series will be a battle and Utah won't go easy, but the Nuggets get in gear and "Mr. Big Shot" and Melo get the Nuggets to round 2. Nuggets 4-2
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