NBA Western Conference Playoff Matchups and Predictions

The playoffs start this Saturday, this is one of my favorite times of the year.  Every now and then you get some excellent matchups in the playoffs (like the Bulls and Celtics a few year's back).  This year there is one first round matchup I am looking forward to and it happens to be in the Western Conference:

San Antonio Spurs (61-21) vs. Memphis Grizzlies (46-36) - One versus eight matchups should be a slam dunk.  This one won't be any different.  The Grizz will give the Spurs fits (especially down low with Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph), other than that though it should be a five game series.  It may get interesting if Manu is out for any length of time.  I say Spurs in 5 all the way.

 

Los Angeles Lakers (57-25) vs. New Orleans Hornets (46-36) - Not much to write about here.  Bynum will play, so this should be a sweep.  The Hornets minus David West and with Chris Paul not playing his best ball lately don't really have a shot.  The Hornets will give effort, but I think the Lakers will be too much here.

 

Dallas Mavericks (57-25) vs. Portland Trail Blazers (48-34) - This is my upset pick.  I have lost faith in Dallas in the playoffs.  As far as the Blazers go, have you seen LaMarcus Aldridge lately.  They appear to be healthy now (minus Greg Oden) and they now have Gerald Wallace.  I see Portland winning in 6 games and will go on to face the Lakers in the second round.

 

Oklahoma City Thunder (55-27) vs. Denver Nuggets (50-32) - This is the first round matchup I am most looking forward to.  The Nuggets have been a much improved ball club since trading Carmelo Anthony and Chauncey Billups (who would of thought that).  The Nuggets GM should get GM of the Year for how he has constructed this team.  With that being said the OK City Thunder have a lot of talent (Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, Kendrick Perkins, Serge Ibaka, James Harden) and they are big time players in the West.  I think this will be a seven game series with OK City winning due to homecourt advantage.  They will go on to face the Spurs.

 

I will do a break down of the second round once we get there.  However, as of now I believe the West will come down to OKC vs. the Lakers.  I will go out on a limb and say OKC to the finals in an upset of the Lakers.  This of course will depend on Andrew Bynum.  Tomorrow, I will break down the Eastern conference first round tomorrow.