NBA Playoffs: Prediction and Preview of the first round of the West

The NBA West will produce a standing team in the end, but what a battle it will be to narrow things down.

All eight teams are good, some excellent, but perhaps no great teams in the group. The reason may be that they have hit each other a lot during the NBA regular season, and the playoffs will be more of the same, but turn up the intensity several notches and there you are.

Easily the best matchup of the first round is the San Antonio Spurs versus the Phoenix Suns. Shaquille O’Neal has been traded for this express reason, to produce against the likes of Tim Duncan. These teams don’t like each other, and it seems like Duncan and Shaq have stood in each other’s way for a decade for the right to be called the best. The Spurs beat the Suns in 6 in the Western Finals before the season started, so let’s stick with the Spurs in 6, just at an earlier date. The Spurs and Suns will wear each other down. Watch the effect on the winner as the playoffs progress.

The New Orleans Hornets let the No. 1 seed slip away late and got the Dallas Mavericks in the first round. It’s ironic that the Mavericks come into this season as the underseed, not much is expected. Last year, it was the Mavericks as the No. 1 seed that were outclassed and wasted by the Golden State Warriors, an embarrassing loss for Dallas. I really like Chris Paul, but I smell a disgust here. Dirk Nowitzki is one of the best when he’s healthy, and he’s been playing in MVP form in recent weeks. Dallas has the experience, and they have something to prove to themselves and to the NBA. Go with Dallas at 6 to upset the rising Hornets. New Orleans has to make a living and learn to win at this level.

The Utah Jazz and Houston Rockets are really good teams, but not at the elite level that it will take to win the NBA West. This is a rematch also from a year ago, when the Jazz defeated the Rockets in 7 games, including a game 7 win along the way. I think the Rockets had a great season, especially the way they played without Yao Ming at the end. It ends here, with the Utah Jazz picking off the Rockets in 5.

The Los Angeles Lakers maneuvered through injuries and drama to capture the No. 1 seed in the West, no easy feat. They get the Denver Nuggets, an excellent assembly of talented players, but something is missing when you count the sum. Allen Iverson and Carmelo Anthony can score with anyone, but they can’t cover anyone either. The Lakers have too much gear and too much Kobe Bryant. Go with the Lakers at 5.

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