Round 1

#1 Lakers vs. #8 Nuggets

Prediction = Lakers in 5

The Lakers got off to a quick start taking the first two games at home which is no surprise. Prior to the series I thought maybe Camby could hold down Gasol, Martin could make some noise down low, and the scoring duo of Iverson and Melo could out score Kobe and Lamar convincingly. If the above mentioned come to pass then perhaps the Nuggets could Take this series to a game 7. After the first two games we've seen Camby can't contain Gasol who has a total of 54 points and 26 rebounds in Two games. Martin only has 15 points in both games and while melo and Iverson have been doing their job offensively, Kobe has erupted for 81 points in two games. We knew the Nuggets had no D but to give up 250 points in the first two games, come on guys it's the playoffs, step up!! I figure the Lakers should have this series in 4 but you never know Iverson and Melo could go off so I'll Give the Nuggets a pity game, Lakers in 5

#2 Hornets vs. #7 Mavericks

Prediction = Mavericks in 7

Mavericks in 7 might sound like a bold prediction after we've seen Chris Paul single handedly beat the Mavs in the first two games at New Orleans, but remember a series dosen't start until someone wins on the road. Right now Avery Johnson is letting his Mavs have it while he is figuring out a way to stop Chris Paul. Expect the veteran Maverick team to hold down home court as they did so well in the regular season and when it comes down the a decisive game 7, J. Kidd and a big game from Dirk will lead Dallas to round 2. Expect last years upset by Golden State act as a catalyst to a much more grittier Maverick team in the upcoming games. Mavs in 7 baby

#3 Spurs vs. #6 Suns

Prediction = Spurs in 7

I consider this the best match up in the first round. The reining champs against maybe the most talented team the last few years. Spurs did their job at home taking the first two which is why I believe the Spurs will take this series. Before the series started I thought the Suns would pull the upset but they needed to snag a game in San Antonio. Expect the home team to win each game in this series. And when Game 7 rolls around make sure you clear your schedule because it is going to be a dog fight. But as we saw in Game one the Spurs always seems to find a way to win.

Duncan will continue to dominate, while Ginobli will break the Suns heart in 4th Quarter. Don't worry Nash, with a ever improving Stoudimire and the big Aristotle on your side maybe next year. Spurs in 7

#5 Rockets vs #4 Jazz

Prediction = Jazz in 4

All I can say about this series is: The Rockets lost the first two at home and now their getting ready for the next two at Utah where the Jazz lost 4 games all year. Not ever the nostalgia of a 22 game win streak and a determined T-mac can dig the Rockets out off this hole. Jazz in 4

A Look at the East

#1 Celtics vs. #8 Hawks

Prediction = Celtics in 4

No Comment

#2 Detroit vs. #7 Sixers

Prediction = Pistons in 6

Well I have to give it to Philly stealing a game at the Palace, well done. Unfortunately, you awoke a sleeping beast. The Pistons are a great team when they want to be and after losing at home to the Sixers, trust me they want to be. The Sixers have a future but their not going to be able to get past Detroit this year. Taking a game at the Palace is an accomplishment itself for a very young .500 team that probably should'nt even be in the playoffs. Expect the Sixers to win one in front of the home fans before they are sent to the offseason. Pistons in 6

#3 Magic vs. #6 Raptors

Prediction = Magic in 5

Eveyone seems to be excited about the Chris Bosh, Dwight Howard matchup. And as we seen in Games 1 and 2 Howard is just to much for Bosh. Toranto need to do something to contain Howard he's a mad man averaging over 20 points and 20 rebounds thus far, thats just plan silly. Howard will continue to own the Raptor and will win this one decisively. Magic in 5

#4 Cavaliers vs. #5 Wizards

Prediction = Wizards in 6

Deep down inside I truly believe the Cavs will take this series, I just can't except it. Lebron is an animal and the Wizards have just given him more to play for which was not a good idea. He has dominated in the first two games while the Wizards offense has just been awful. But expect Agent zero, Butler, and Jamison to pick up the slack and make some serious improvments at home, and keep the momentum into game 5 at Cleveland were they could perhaps steal a game and steal the series. They won't be able to stop Lebron but the big three of Washington will just be to much for Cleveland.

Round 2

#1 Lakers vs #4 Jazz

Prediction = Lakers in 6

This one could be fun to watch. Beating the Jazz at home is never an easy task and the Lakers are going to have to find a way (Kobe dropping 50). This series will be decided during game 6 when the Lakers steal a game at Utah and win the series 4-2. Kobe will be Kobe and Jazz will just not have enouh fire power to hold off the High-Octane Lakers. Lakers in 6

#7 Mavericks vs. #3 Spurs

Prediction = Mavericks in 6

I'm going to ride my Darkhorse ll the way to the conference finals. Expect the Mavericks to catch a very worn out Spurs team off guard in game one and hold down home court and take this series in 6 games. Paker has been talking a lot about his supremacy over J.Kidd and this is where Proves himself to still be an elite point guard in an NBA filled with young stars. Also keep in mind this is familiar territory for the Spurs while the Mavs will thrive off of Dirk's insatiable need for a title. Mavs in 6

East

#1 Celtics vs. #5 Wizards

Prediction = Celtics in 5

The math here is simple the big three of the celtics are better, more experienced, and more determined then the big three of the Wizards. Celtics in 5

#2 Pistons vs. #3 Magic

Prediction = Magic in 7

Expect this to be a great series. A lot of people are assuming the east will end up being Pistons vs. Celtics but the Magic are for real. Nelson is coming into his own while Howard as been as close to unstoppable as anyone in the NBA. While Detroit has expriance on their side and trust me I'm a huge fan of experience, I just think the magic are a better team. Turkolu is having a career year, Lewis adds a nice scoring touch with some nice leadership, the Maic are the real deal and will beat the Pistons this year, The pstons are on the way down while the Magic are up their way up. Magic in 7

Round 3

#1 Lakers vs. #7 Mavs

Prediction = Lakers in 5 maybe 6

This is where the Mavs run ends. By this time Bynum should be back into the rotation and the Duo of Bynum and Gasol will be to much for the Mavs to Handle. And if the series does come close, Kobe will make sure the Mavs will be watching the Finals at home. Lakers in 5-6

#1 Celtics vs. #3 Magic

Prediction = Celtics in 5

Howard will finally meet his match when he runs into the defensive player of the year KG. And with Howard being contained the Magic will have a tough time winning any games this series. Allen and Pierce will out play Turkolu and Lewis and the defense of the Cltic should stop the Magic in their Tracks. Celtics in 5

Finals

#1 Lakers vs. #1 Celtics

Prediction = Lakers 7

Finally a NBA finals worth watching. KG in his first finals appearance and Kobe trying to win without Shaq, not to mention the rebirth of one of the best rivalries in sports. It just don't get any better then this. So lets break it down. Lakers high octane offense and great bench against Boston's stifling defense and of course the big 3. But don't forget LA has a big big 3 of thier own in Kobe, Lamar and Gasol. While KG will outplay Gasol, allen and pierce will have a tough time with Kobe and Lamar. Allen and Kobe will be fun to watch, but tis will come down to the bench where Sasha, Farmar, Turiof, will be the x-factor not to mention how Bynum plays after injury. The only worries for the Lakers is if the series goes to 7 they will hav to deal with the Boston faithfulls, but Kobe thrives on adversity and he wants this championship mre then anyone and if it comes down to game 7 in Boston, Kobe will absolutely play like the greatest player on the planet that he is and the Lakers will come out as Champs. Lakers in 7

MVP = The man himself KB24

Until the trade deadline came near Boston stayed in the dominate position for the NBA championship, until a series of western teams picked up cash prizes. The biggest name traded as of late was Shaq daddy moving back out west to Phoenix. The Suns had to give up Shawn Marion, but Shaq can help Stoudemire force a lot of pressure in the paint. This trade was definitely a bit risky with Shaq's age, but with his playoff experience maybe he can help get rid of the monkey on Steve Nash's back.

Pau Gasol's move to LA has already made a strong statement coming down the stretch of the season. He's already averaging 20 points a game, and has been a strong asset to Kobe Bryant. The Lakers are sitting pretty with an already shocking performance by Andrew Bynum, after off season remarks made by his captain (Kobe). Bynum has been averaging 10 rebounds a game, and contributing 13 points a game.

Another blockbuster trade that went almost unheard of was the acquisition of Ben Wallace, Wally Szczerbiak, and Delonte West to give King James just enough to surge into the playoffs with a powerful line up. Lebron brought a less talented team to the championship last season, and this trade definitely puts Cleveland into a position to compete with the Celtics, Pistons, and Magic.

Jason Kidd made his way back to Dallas, where he began his career. Not only is Kidd a triple-double machine, but he also brings a lot to the table to help Dirk Nowitzki. The Mavericks look hopeful for a post season push, but don't get your hopes up. The pick up of Kidd was a great move, but Dallas sits in 6th place in the west right now, with two solid teams placing behind them. Not only would Dallas need to play phenomenal basketball to earn a decent seed in the playoffs, but wouldn't be guaranteed anything with how the west could match up.

The east has four teams that could work wonders in a championship, but the west is where all the action is happening. A Lakers team that looked mundane at the seasons start now looks like a force to be reckoned with. Phoenix has a great offensive plan and are more than likely to put up 100 points a game, but their defense calls for some concern. Hopefully Shaq can clean up the garbage in the paint and Nash can play the role of Houdini on offense. The Mavericks are always a team that can cause concern for their opponents in playoff action, and with Kidd in the mix they could do some serious damage in the west. Although the Spurs haven't been heavy with transactions they still have the best overall team in basketball, not the sexiest team to watch but they get the job done. Houston has been playing great lately and could be a team that slips under everyones radar come tourney time. Denver and Sacramento sit on the outside in the 9th and 10th spot, but could sneak their way into the playoffs. The will come down to the four most dominant teams, the west is a toss up between any of the 8 teams granted into the playoffs.

In the midst of a 16-game win streak, and boasting a league-best 50-9 record, the Mavs and Mark Cuban are dismantling the competition.

Not since the Bulls of "96 has the league seen a team continue to dominate regular season play.

The Mavs are so good of late that in the last 38 games they"ve beaten their opponents by an average of 10 points and outrebounded them by five, while going 37-2.

But can the Mavs stand up to the glare of hype that comes from an invincible regular season record?

And can Nowitski make good on recent comments between him and Heat guard Dwayne Wade - that the Finals came down to luck and that the Mavs could just as easily have won the crown?

Well for starters, Nowitski has been putting up mouth-shutting MVP-type numbers, scoring 25.4 a game while nailing a career best .508 from the floor, and nearly 91% on freebies. Dirk's also getting his 10 boards and 3-and-a-half assists-per-game, showing that the big-little man's game is in full swing.

All this is coming in only 36.7 minutes-per-contest, nearly two down from recent years, which could only mean that the Mavs have gotten strong enough to grab the W even with Dirk on the sidelines.

Of course the fourth is where Nowitski has and must shine for Dallas to finally push over the top. The strides he made in leadership and taking over last year were definitely on display in the tough Western Conference Finals match up with the Suns.

Countless times Nowitski lulled defenders into a comfort zone by making them defend his jump shot then he would display his jaw-dropping-for-a-7-footer driving ability and take it right to the cup. This sort of fearless play made many believers out of the German star who many thought to be in the mold of the skilled-but-soft Euro big men.

Of course, what separates Nowitski from the norm is his heart, which he has used wholly this season. Watch any of his regular season contests and you can see the killer that led his team to the Finals.

This day-in-day-out dedication rubs off on guards Jason Terry and Josh Howard, the latter having a career year that spells trouble for Western defenders like Ginobili and Diaw, who are likely to face Howard in a second or third-round battle.

Terry, who should be a perennial all-star, is the ying to Nowitski's yang, and more than capably handles the position that was in dire question when Nash was traded several years ago. JT's game is so confident and so clutch that he, like Nowitski, is able to win a

playoff battle by himself. On a potentially Finals-bound team, this could make all the difference.

As the number one seed the Mavs should blow by the first-round and face either the Lakers or Rockets, who they should handle rather easily as well.

The greatest thing about this Mavs unit is that they have all grown up, and last year's lessons have given them teaching prowess on the rest of the league.

Yes, the Mavs are showing NBA teams (excluding the Spurs and Suns) how to play, and are the first legitimate team - at this point in the season - in the last 10 years to vie for a shot at that seemingly untouchable 72-10 record.

Nowitski now stands as the headmaster, the professor emeritus of a squad which, if they do return to the championship round, will no doubt school the other team in a lesson of perserverence and proficiency.

No other team deserves the title more this season.