Eastern Conference
[1] Boston Celtics vs. [8] Atlanta Hawks:
Why the Celtics can win: Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and Ray Allen have led the Celtics to the biggest turnaround in NBA history and the league's best record. For the first time in a long time, Celtic pride is back. Boston hasn't overlooked an opponent this sesaon even once, and I doubt it will start now. The Celtics beat Atlanta by double digits in all three games this season.
Why the Hawks can win: Why bother? The Hawks are partying like it's 1999, the last time the franchise made the playoffs. Coach Mike Woodson plans to shave his head to celebrate... no really - he is. But unless they can devise a plan to kidnap Boston's Big Three, there's no chance Atlanta takes this one.
Difference Maker: Kevin Garnett. The MVP candidate is back in the playoffs for the first time in four years. The last time he was there, his Timberwolves got knocked out of the Western conference finals. Naturally, he wants a championship ring - the one that has evaded a player of his caliber for quite some time now. He has dominated Atlanta this season, averaging 23.7 points and 13.7 rebounds.
Bottom Line: Pull out the broom - Celtics in four.
[2] Detroit Pistons vs. [7] Philadelphia 76'ers
Why the Pistons can win: The Pistons have won at least 50 games for, count 'em, seven consecutive seasons and advanced to the Eastern conference finals in each of the past five postseasons. The past two times Detroit was the #2 seed, it made the NBA Finals, winning the title in 2004. Detroit is arguably the most battle-tested team in the East, with starters Chauncey Billips, Richard Hamilton, Tayshaun Prince, and Rasheed Wallace still remaining from the championship team.
Why the 76'ers can win: Since Febuary 5th, Philadelphia has had the third-best record in the Eastern conference at 22-12, behind Boston and Detroit. The 76'ers have defeated the Pistons in their past two meetings.
Difference Maker: Andre Iguodala. Iguodala averaged 23.5 points in Philly's two wins over Detroit and just 16 in their two losses. If he gets hot, Detroit better be careful...
Bottom Line: Pistons in five.
[3] Orlando Magic vs. [6] Toronto Raptors
Why the Magic can win: Dwight Howard aka Superman, has emerged as a cornerstone center, and Hedo Turkoglu is a front-runner for the league's most improved player. The Magic are looking to win their first playoff series since 1996, when Shaquille O'Neal led Orlando to the conference finals... Damn Shaq's old...
Why the Raptors can win: The Raptors desired a matchup against Orlando because they have the size and speed to handle them. Orlando is also the least experienced of the top seeds. Toronto overcame jitters of making the playoffs for the first time in five seasons last year. The Raptors have lost 17 of their past 26 games, but Rasho Nesterovic has stepped up in the second half of the season, scoring in double figures in 17 of his final 18 games.
Difference Maker: Chris Bosh. Bosh has averaged 33 points on 64.5% shooting in his two games against Orlando this season. In the Raptors' lone win against Orlando this year, Bosh had 40 points on 14-16 shooting.
Bottom Line: Magic in six.
[4] Cleveland Cavaliers vs. [5] Washington Wizards
Why the Cavaliers can win: Two words: LeBron James. This is the third straight year the teams have met in the first round of the playoffs, with the Cavs winning each of the previous series and getting some BS calls. The Cavs have the superstar player, they have home-court advantage, and they have the experience of going to the Finals last year. All are big advantages. The Cavs underwent a midseason makeover, importing Ben Wallace, Wally Szczerbiak, Joe Smith and Delonte West, but went just 15-13 after the move. Cleveland, without Sasha Pavlovic for the first round, causes a lot of struggles with its all-out approach to crashing the boards.
Why the Wizards will win: This is probably the only first-round series in the East that could feature an upset -- even though the Wizards, including DeShawn Stevenson, fired up the Cavs and James by claiming they wanted Cleveland. Washington has played good team basketball all season and has integrated Gilbert Arenas back into the rotation off the bench, even after missing 90% of the season, without damaging their flow. So the Wizards have a very formidable core with Arenas, the vastly underrated Caron Butler and Antawn Jamison. But they are a mediocre rebounding team, so to pull off an upset, they must keep the Cavs off the offensive glass. I want to see the Wizards win this series more than anything so we can smack Charles Barkley in the mouth - stupidest team in NBA history, my a**... Get a life, you old, washed up, has-been. Don't you have a T-Mobile "My Fav Five" commercial to do or something? Idiot...
Difference Maker: Gilbert Arenas. Arenas could be the X-factor in this series. The Cavaliers didn't face him at all this season and no longer have Larry Hughes to defend him one-on-one. No team in the playoff field has a weapon like Arenas coming off the bench. As long as his surgically repaired knee holds up, Arenas should be in for a big series because the Cavaliers have nobody to defend him.
Bottom Line: Wizards in 6
Western Conference
[1] Los Angeles Lakers vs. [8] Denver Nuggets
Why the Lakers can win: With Kobe Bryant's MVP-caliber performance this season, the Lakers came out on top of the greatest Western conference race ever and won the Pacific Division for the first time since Shaq was traded. Andrew Bynum remains out with a knee injury, but the Lakers are 22-5 without him and with Pau Gasol in the lineup. They are 3-0 against Denver this season, winning by an average of 16.3 points.
Why the Nuggets can win: They score more points and have some of the best talent in the NBA. Carmelo Anthony and Allen Iverson are the highest-scoring duo in the league, combining for 52.1 points per game. Marcus Camby led the league in blocked shots and reserve J.R Smith has been a revelation in the second half, providing a constant jolt of offense, whenver it is needed.
Difference Maker: Carmelo Anthony. After being arrested for suspicion of DUI this week, Anthony will have to block out the distractions and focus on the task ahead. He hasn't played particularly well against the Lakers, averaging just 20.7 points - five below his season average.
Bottom Line: Lakers in five.
[2] New Orleans Hornets vs. [7] Dallas Mavericks
Why the Hornets can win: Chris Paul has blossomed into an all-star and MVP candidate in his third year, but he certainly hasn't done it alone. David West joined Paul at the All-Star game, and Tyson Chandler has helped make them one of the better defensive teams in the league. The Hornets don't have much postseason experience, but Coach Byron Scott has been to the NBA Finals twice.
Why the Mavericks can win: The Mavericks have much more playoff experience than New Orleans, and they have finally returned to a more comfortable role as underdog. Despite a 16-13 record since acquiring Jason Kidd, reigning MVP Dirk Nowitzki is playing more freely and enjoying the union. If any team knows that a lower seed can pull of a playoff upset, it's Dallas, which lost to eighth-seeded Golden State last year.
Difference Maker: Jason Kidd. The Mavericks didn't trade for Kidd just to make the playoffs: they did it because they thought he would be the part to get them over the top. Kidd will be matched up against Scott, his former coach in New Jersey, and Paul, one of the best point guards in the league - much quicker and versatile than the aging Kidd.
Bottom Line: Mavericks in six.
[3] San Antonio Spurs vs. [6] Phoenix Suns
Why the Spurs can win: The defending champion Spurs have never lost in the first round with Tim Duncan in the lineup. They have defeated Phoenix in the playoffs two times in the past three years. Duncan is still the foundation of everything San Antonio does, but Manu Ginobli has estabished himself as the go-to guy this season, averaging a team-high 19.5 points.
Why the Suns can win: The Suns are 3-1 against San Antonio this season. The Spurs are the only Western conference team that Phoenix has a winning record against. After initially struggling to incorporate senior citizen Shaquille O'Neal into the Suns' run 'n' gun tempo, Phoenix finished the season 15-5 with him in the lineup.
Difference Maker: Shaquille O'Neal. Phoenix acquired Shaq Diesel with the intention of getting past Duncan and the Spurs. It just had no idea the team would meet so early. O'Neal is 2-0 against Duncan as a member of the Suns, averaging 15 points and 12.5 rebounds in those games.
Bottom Line: Spurs in seven.
[4] Utah Jazz vs. [5] Houston Rockets
Why the Jazz can win: As playoff novices, Carlos Boozer and Deron Williams led Utah to the conference finals last season. The run began when they defeated Houston in the first round, when the Rockets had home-court advantage - and Yao Ming. Boozer and Williams both improved this season and expect to go further this season.
Why the Rockets can win: Houston has home-court advantage and the Jazz have a terrible road-record (17-24). The Rockets are short-handed without big man Yao Ming, but they have surprisingly gone 19-7 in his absence, including winning the first 10 without him during their improbable franchise-record 22-game win streak. The Rockets have found a way to win games without relying on All-Star Tracy McGrady alone, and Coach Rick Adelman has pushed the right buttons all season.
Difference Maker: Luis Scola. The Rockets have gone 31-7 since the 27-year old rookie became the starting power forward on January 29. He averaged 12.8 points, 7.4 rebounds, and shot 53.4% from the field in those contests.
Bottom Line: Rockets in seven.
