NBA playoffs preview

Here are the breakdowns for the other seven first round series besides Mavs-Spurs.

West

1. Los Angeles Lakers(57-25) vs. Oklahoma City Thunder(50-32)
Season series: 3-1 Lakers

Prediction: Lakers in 6. The Lakers enter the playoffs not playing their best basketball and with Andrew Bynum's status in doubt. However their championship experience along with a coach who has lost only one series when his team had home court advantage should be enough to move on. The Thunder however will not be a pushover as their young talent should push the Lakers more than an ordinary 8 seed would.


3. Phoenix Suns(54-28) vs. 6. Portland Trail Blazers(50-32)
Season series: 2-1 Blazers
Prediction: Suns in 5. Portland gave the Suns a lot of trouble during the regular season, but with Brandon Roy out and the Suns on a serious hot streak, Portland just does not have the firepower to keep up with Suns.


4. Denver Nuggets(53-29) vs. 5. Utah Jazz(53-29)
Season series: 3-1 Nuggets
Prediction: Nuggets in 7. This is a hard series to make out with Denver missing their coach and Utah's uncertain health of Boozer and Kirilenko. The Nuggets though get a slight edge due to the homecourt and winning the season series.

East


1. Cleveland Cavaliers(61-21) vs. 8. Chicago Bulls(41-41)
Season series: Tied 2-2

Prediction: Cavs in 4. This is obviously the biggest mismatch of the first round with the Cavs having the league's best record and Chicago making the playoffs on the regular season's last day. The Bulls might be able to take a game in Chicago but that will probably be it.

2. Orlando Magic(59-23) vs. 7. Charlotte Bobcats(44-38)
Season series: Magic 3-1

Prediction: Magic in 5. Orlando decided not to rest its starters late in the year as they gained plenty of momentum entering the postseason. They should make Charlotte's first playoffs appearance a short one.

3. Atlanta Hawks(53-29) vs. 6. Milwaukee Bucks(46-36)

Season series: 2-1 Hawks
Prediction: Hawks in 5. Milwaukee has overachieved all year, but will be hampered by the loss of Andrew Bogut. The Hawks superior roster should be too much for the Bucks tenacity and grit.

4. Boston Celtics(50-32) vs. Miami Heat(47-35)

Season series: 3-0 Celtics

Prediction: Celtics in 7. The Celtics have struggled the entire calender year while the Heat finished up strong and have the series best player. Boston can hope that their season series sweep and home court advantage will be enough to barely squeak by.