NBA Playoffs

This will be quick too. At least for the first round.

East

1. Cleveland Cavaliers vs. 8. Chicago Bulls

The Bulls should consider themselves lucky to be in the playoffs after Chris Bosh had his face broken. And they should enjoy it while they can because it ain't gonna last long. They have now chance to defend LeBron, Shaq, Jamison etc and no inside game at all. This will be a sweep and I think every game will be decided by the end of the 3rd quarter.

Cavs in 4

2. Orlando Magic vs. 7. Charlotte Bobcats

As much as I would love to see Larry Brown outcoaching Stan Van Gundy be the difference in this series it won't be. Dwight Howard will be because he is the best player on the court. Charlotte will make them work though.

Magic in 6

3. Atlanta Hawks vs. 6. Milwaukee Bucks

This would have been a hell of a lot more interesting if Andrew Bogut had not got hurt. Atlanta is a very good young team that defends well and attacks the basket. Without Bogut the young Bucks can't defend them.

Hawks in 5

4. Boston Celtics vs. 5. Miami Heat

This will be interesting. The Celtics are really just a .500 team over the last 4 months and look done. It's actually astonishing how bad they have been and how lethargic they have looked. This is their last real chance and even at that I think they are going to get destroyed by the Cavs in the 2nd round - if they make it that far. Dwayne Wade is the 3rd best player in the league and is fully capable of carrying the Heat to winning this series. I think their is enough Celtics pride left though to stop him when it counts.

Celtics in 7

West

1. Los Angeles Lakers vs. 8. Oklahoma City Thunder

The Lakers just don't look right right now but I foolishly believe they will correct things in the playoffs. They don't need to fix everything to beat the young Thunder though. As great as this team is going to be, the lakers are too much for them this year.

Lakers in 5

2. Dallas Mavericks vs. San Antonio Spurs

The Spurs are scary as hell on paper but not in reality. A lot of their vets have not played that well down the stretch and Richard Jefferson never fit in for some reason. The Mavs are also a lot tougher than previous years with the addition of Caron Butler. We'll see how much tougher later.

Mavs in 6

3. Phoenix Suns vs. 7. Portland Trail Blazers

This series would have been great if Brandon Roy was healthy for the Balzers. Without him Portland just does not have the end of game threat they need to bounce the Suns. And hats off to Steve Nash for having a hell of a year. He even coaxed Amare Stodamire into playing a little bit of defence.

Suns in 5

4. Utah Jazz vs. 5. Denver Nuggets

Both these teams looked like they were capable of pulling together a great playoff and getting to the Finals about 10 weeks ago. Then George Karl went into cancer treatment and the Nuggets lost a lot of energy having to watch their coach go through that and the Jazz lost Andrei Kirilenko and now neither team will get by round 2. Too bad. It would have been great to see one of them go against the lakers at full speed.

Jazz in 7.

I like the Lakers over the Mavs in the Western Final and the Cavs over the Magic (who will rue the day they signed Vince Carter) in the East. I still think the Lakers will knock off the Cavs in the Finals but don't hold me to it.