First Round Predictions

NBA Playoffs are here. My favorite time of year. This is better than the NFL Playoffs because this is an every night grind. The first two weeks consist of multiple games each night. All the NBA action you can possibly handle.

Some quick predictions for the highly-anticipated first round. I don't see any upsets this round:

West

Lakers vs. Thunder: Lakers 4-1. Experience is the big factor here. Durant will be hard to stop. I love where this OKC team is going. It's just not in the cards this year drawing the Lakers in the first round. Bynum needs to get back out there and start contributing.

Mavericks vs. Spurs: Mavs 4-2. I want to go Mavs in five but will give the Spurs the benefit of the doubt. This is a repeat of last year's first round, except last year's was a 3-6 match-up, with the Spurs having the 3-seed. The Mavs have upgraded much better this year than the Spurs. The Mavs handled them last year in five, and they will handle them again.

Suns vs. Blazers: Suns 4-3. I would have taken the Blazers if Roy hadn't been injured. I'm still not real confident in the Suns. Never have been. Don't trust Gentry, but really like Nash and Amare. Should be a competitive series, but the one I'll probably watch the least of in the Western Conference.

Nuggets vs. Jazz: Nuggets 4-3. George Karl missing this series is going to play a factor. I'd like to take the Jazz, but all of the sudden they caught the injury bug. Kirilenko is out for two weeks and Boozer is a game-time decision for Game 1. The Nuggets have Kenyon Martin back. This should be a good battle, but Denver gets out alive.

East

Cavs vs. Bulls: Cavs 4-0. It's a wrap. Things I'm interested in for this series: How Shaq is used and if Vinny Del Negro tries to fight anymore front office executives.

Magic vs. Bobcats: Magic 4-2. Skip Bayless will have you believe the Bobcats have a legitimate shot. I think they'll put up a fight, but Orlando has its eye on the Finals again. They won't slip up against the Bobcats.

Hawks vs. Bucks: Hawks 4-1. Atlanta will make quick work of the Bucks, who are happy to be here, but are now missing a major piece (Bogut.)

Celtics vs. Heat: Boston 4-3. The Celtics will be able to squeak by somehow. I'm not sure how, but they have so many vets and so much experience that will fight there way into the second round, where they will get killed by the Cavs. Boston is 3-0 against Miami during the regular season.

There you have it. Out on a limb with all the favorites. The best chances for "upsets" are the Heat, Blazers and Jazz. However, in a 7-game series, and this is another reason I love the NBA, the best team almost always wins.

That's why this year's playoffs are so compelling. There are so many great match-ups, it's hard to tell if it would be an upset or not. A 7-game series will tell us who is the better team.