1.Los Angeles Lakers (1) vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (8)
A great first-round match-up, considering the talent and the intensity of these two teams. But of course, we have nuances for that.
The Lakers In: They have the chemistry and the skill, and now, it's all about form and gameplay. Kobe Bryant and the rest of the Laker team have injuries to deal with , plays to perfect, and a rhythm to develop. What could probably help them in this series are to learn to be less Kobe-centric, to have the other guys do the scoring and to improve their defense.
The Thunder In: Facing the Lakers was something that Kevin Durant and his team could have avoided, but destiny prevailed and gave them a challenge that is compared to running through a brick wall (sorry, another Kobe reference here). The keys to their game could be the way they beat the Lakers during their last meeting: preventing points in the paint and scoring more in it, while occasionally raining down treys to a startled Laker defense.
What Could Be: Experience will still prevail in the midst of confusion, as the team could straighten its path and correct mistakes along the way. KB can take on KD anytime, even with a broken finger. Lakers in 6.
2.Denver Nuggets (4) vs. Utah Jazz (5)
Plethora of skills here, with leadership and direction being the key to this match-up.
The Nuggets In: Even without George Karl, the Denver Nuggets still prove to be dangerous with another "coach" in the court: Chauncey Billups. Mix a dose of Melo, J.R. Smith, and the Birdman, and you will have something to be afraid of on both ends of the floor. Denver just needs a little consistency to get their team straight and fit.
The Jazz In: It seems to be the nth time that Jerry Sloan made a trip to the playoffs with the Utah Jazz, but this time, it's stronger than before. Even without Andre Kirilenko, the Jazz have the trio of Deron Williams, Carlos Boozer, and Mehmet Okur to take down their opponents. Let the plays work out for the three of them, and everything else will be fine.
What Could Be: The Jazz might have the right weapons, but Denver's talents could outscore them. Even without Karl, I believe that the Nuggets could get over this one. Denver in 5.
3.Phoenix Suns (3) vs. Portland Trailblazers (6)
A battle of speed and shooting, the Suns-Blazers game is sure to be a blast. But of course, things have to end and someone has to win.
The Suns In: Phoenix is more intact than ever. With stronger bigs, backed up with the backcourt that is as efficient as ever, Steve Nash and the run-and-gunners could earn their ticket to the next round provided that they put everything in the right places. They ended the season on a roll, and the key to a playoff win is to keep things afloat.
The Blazers in: This would prove to be difficult without Brandon Roy, but the Blazers could get a win through the efforts of everyone else. They've still got LaMarcus Aldridge and Travis Outlaw keeping up with the boards and trying to score both in and out. Steve Blake and Rudy Fernandez can still keep up and get the ball moving. This time, being a Roy-less team is not an option, but a necessity.
What Could Be: The Blazers might have all the potential, but Phoenix has been through a lot of offensive opponents and know what it takes to beat one in five or six games. Two key people could be the problem for the Blazers: Nash and Channing Frye, the center who could slide in and out of the paint. Suns in 5.
4.Dallas Mavericks (2) vs. San Antonio Spurs (7)
Ah, at last. A good Texas showdown early in the playoffs. I reckon this will go down as one of the best seven-game series in NBA History.
The Mavs In: Call it Dallas v2.0 this season, made possible by transactions. Sure, they've let go of Jerry Stackhouse and Josh Howard, their two potent scorers from the bench. But then, they've earned Brendan Haywood and Caron Butler to assist Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Kidd in their duties on both ends of the court. One of the strongest teams this seasons, they could go deeper into the playoff bracket this season, and it's not the only moment for them, and their core players making the right moves in the right places could let them in.
The Spurs In: Manu Ginobili's contrat season was so far his best one in five years, and with Tim Duncan still able to call the shots in critical situations despite playing limited minutes these past games. But with the age factor, those two, together with Tony Parker, would need a lot of help with the young ones: DaJuan Blair, George Hill, and Roger "Minutes" Mason, who should be getting more playing time by now.
What Could Be: In terms of talent, these two teams are equals, but when it goes down to the wire, it would be the strength of the youth which could keep them up. Fatigue may be an issue, so the Mavericks in 7.
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