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The time has come for the most intense and entertaining annual 2 months in professional sports – the NBA playoffs. This year we have around 10 teams who could legitimately end up in the NBA finals! Drama is higher than its even been, hype is not something that we will need TNT and ESPN to fabricate, and its set to be the most entertaining Playoffs in recent memory. Let’s have a look at what’s on the agenda shall we?!

WESTERN CONFERENCE

(1)LA Lakers vs (8) Denver

On paper, the Denver nuggets might just be the most talented team in the NBA. You have Allen Iverson and Carmelo Anthony who are two true superstars and actual All-Star starters this year. You have Marcus Camby the reigning defensive player of the year, along with Kenyon Martin who is getting back into his old scary self that earned him the first overall pick by the Nets some years ago. Then off the bench Linus Kleiza and J.R. Smith are two of the most high octane scorers period, forget the fact that they are coming off the bench. Nene at his peak can destroy just about any power forward in the league, and Najara could just be the most energetic/rugged player in the League. Yes, on paper they are THAT good. However, on the other side we have a man by the name of Kobe Bryant, who is capable of destroying 2 superstars, defensive beasts, energetic benches all by himself. This year however he won’t really have to, as Odom is playing the best basketball in his life, and Gasol has fit perfectly into the triangle offense. If the 3 point specialists Vujacic, Radmanovic, and Farmar start getting hot from beyond the perimeter, this could be a short series. But if the Lakers dont bring their A game, the Denver just have enough firepower to give Jack Nicholson a heartbreak or 4.

(2) New Orleans Hornets vs (7) Dallas Mavericks

If there has ever been a season where a Number 7 seed is considered a favorite over the 2 seed, then this has to be it. Let’s not forget Dallas are coming off a 67 win season, and they actually got better by adding a true Playoff veteran in Jason Kidd. New Orleans on the other hand have been the surprise team this year and have led the Western Conference for longer than any other team. However, everyone continues to doubt whether this team is for real and whether they have enough playoff experience to win a series. Their poor form at the end of the season sure didn’t help comfort critics, but with perhaps the MVP, the coach of the year, and the best player you never heard of (David West) - they can go on to win the Championship and no one could feel too surprised. They have, afterall, favorable season records against almost all top teams in the NBA.

(3) San Antonio Spurs vs (6) Phoenix Suns

Last year these 2 powerhouses met in the 2nd round of the playoffs, and everyone thought it was a early final. This year their clash has been pushed all the way up to the first round in what must be the two strongest teams to ever meet in the first round of the playoffs. You have San Antonio on the one hand which are the only dynasty since Jordan’s Bulls and are the team to beat year after year. On the other side you got the Phoenix Suns who have 2 former MVP players (Nash and Shaq), a future MVP player (Amare), a one time ‘the next MJ’ player (Grant Hill), the 2nd best bench player (Barbosa) and perimeter defender in the league (Bell). And one of these two teams will be knocked out in the first round, holy crap! Oh and I didn’t even mention the bloodbath of a series these two teams had last year where there were broken noses, below the belt trashtalk, controversial suspensions, refing scandals, and an all out war on the court. I’d be surprised if this series doesn’t end in the 3rd overtime of the 7th game, with enough drama to make any Brazilian soap look tame in comparison.

(4) Utah Jazz vs (5) Houston Rockets

This is suppose to be the ‘boring’ series of the first round out in the Wild wild west – but I’ll assure you right here it’s not going to be boring…not one bit. If you are into UFC type fights, then you’re sure going to enjoy watching these two defensive minded and tough nosed teams beat the living crap out of each other. Of course, this is the NBA playoffs and the hype doesn’t end there. Last year these two teams met and Utah ended up upsetting Houston on its own floor in the decisive Game 7. This year despite Houston being the 5^th seed they still have homecourt advantage due to a better record, and will need every one of their horde of Chinese fans to give them a lift… or perhaps burn down Carlos Boozer’s house. Without Yao Ming, the pressure lies on T-Macs shoulders to finally lift one of his teams past the first round. Last year he guaranteed victory and ended up crying in front of the press after the game 7 loss…this year he might totally lose it.

EASTERN CONFERENCE

(1) Boston Celtics vs (8) Atlanta Hawks 

The best team in the NBA probably isn’t fearing an 8^th seed in the weak East who couldn’t even manage to achieve a .500 record, but they should sure not take them lightly. The Atlanta Hawks, more so than the Toronto Raptors and Philadelphia 76ers who are seeded higher, have a legit chance to upset the heavily favored Celtics. Why you ask? Their team is so athletic you could send them to the Olympics this Summer and rest assured they will come back with a handful of medals. Joe Johnson on a good day can be a poor-man’s Kobe Bryant, Mike Bibby a poor-man’s Steve Nash, Al Hornton a poor-man’s Dwight Howard… So you can imagine if things start clicking, the Hawks can become dangerous fast! If they don’t elevate their game however, this is gonna be a relaxed fall season front yard sweep.

(2) Detroit Pistons vs (7) Philadelphia 76ers 

I’ll admit, I never expected to see the numbers 76 being mentioned this post-season next to the Detroit Pistons other than what they are likely going to concede per game against their first round opponent. Moving swiftly along, the Detroit Pistons are one team that likes playing against important teams and elevate their game when they do so. Last year they were the most impressive looking team in the playoffs until they bumped heads with the puny Cavaliers and seemed to have lost any form of motivation. The 76ers sure aren’t likely to get Rasheed fired up, and this could cost them big as the 76ers have shown that they can beat the top teams when they are in full flow with their high-flying and lightning quick young players.

(3) Orlando Magic vs (6) Toronto Raptors 

The Orlando Magic really haven’t got much attention this year even since their hot start to the season. No one expects them to win the East and a Toronto upset would in fact not be so upsetting. They have the pieces to make a run out in the East – Dwight Howard is the most dominant big man in the league today, Hedo Turkoglu can elevate his game to become a mix of Dirk Nowitzki and Kobe Bryant at times (no kidding!), and Rashard Lewis is able to light it up when the stage is big. Toronto is a really balanced team that will need Chris Bosh to be a superstar, and with Dwight Howard clogging the middle this will be a true test of what he is about…if you ask me, its ImBoshible.

(4) Cleveland Cavaliers vs (5) Washington Wizards 

Last but most certainly not least, is my personal favorite matchup of the first round. Woww, where do I start? How about 2 seasons ago, when LeBron and Arenas had the most competitive rivalry in a playoff series in a long time. 40 points, 50 points, game winners, they were coming left and right each and every game. The Cavs ended up beating the Wizards after LeBron talked smack to Arenas during crucial freethrows which he ended up missing. I imagine those freethrows still haunt Gilbert to this day. Last year they met again, but the Cavs ended up making minced meat out of the Wizards after Caron Butler and Arenas had season ending injuries. This year the hype and rivalry has not died down one bit. DeShawn Stevenson and LeBron James ended up exchanging quite a couple words in their final head to head game of the season which DeShawn and the Wizards ended up winning. Stevenson said after the game that LeBron was overrated which escalated all the way into their rivalry being compared to a Soulja Boy vs Jay-Z rap beef. While everyone expects the Cavs to give the Celtics a serious run for their money in the second round, I believe the only way they will be able to do that is by wagering on the Washington Wizards…if you catch my drift.

 

Predictions for the First Round

 

Lakers over Denver in 5

Dallas over New Orleans in 7

Phoenix over San Antonio in 6

Utah over Houston in 5

 

Boston over Atlanta in 4

Detroit over Philadelphia in 4

Orlando over Toronto in 7

Washington over Cleveland in 7

  

Tags:2008, first round, NBA, playoffs, preview