J.K. Rolling NBA Playoffs

Author: Jeff Klein

One disappointing basketball tournament has ended and a new one is beginning: the NBA playoffs are almost upon us. This year a bunch of teams have a realistic shot at the title. Here are my predictions for Saturday:

East

No. 1 Pistons vs. No. 8 Magic: Once again, the Pistons are the favorite to get out of the East. They feature an impressive lineup that doesn't have many weaknesses. Chauncey Billups has shown the composure and leadership necessary to perform under playoff pressure, Tayshaun Prince is both a pesky defender and a scoring threat and Rip Hamilton always shows up with 20.1 points per game. For Orlando, Dwight Howard simply doesn't have enough help to pull the upset. Prediction: Pistons in five.

No. 2 Bulls vs. No. 7 Nets: The Bulls really impress me this year. They showed how successful a team can be when it plays "team" basketball. They share the rock - four players average double-digits in scoring - and they play solid team defense, allowing only 93.9 points per game. The Nets have also impressed me, but I still see the Bulls prevailing with relative ease. Prediction: Bulls in six.

No. 3 Raptors vs. No. 6 Wizards: This matchup features two teams going in completely opposite directions. The Raptors have been the feel-good story of the season. Nobody expected them to even contend this year, but Chris Bosh has led his team to a division title and home-court advantage for the first time in team history. The Wizards, meanwhile, have lost Gilbert Arenas and Caron Butler to season-ending injuries. Prediction: Raptors in five.

No. 4 Heat vs. No.5 Cavaliers: This is a series loaded with superstar talent. With D-Wade vs. LeBron, could it get better? Well, hold on a second. Wade was sidelined for six weeks with a dislocated shoulder and LeBron is a turnover machine who misses free-throws in crucial situations. Look for Shaq to lead Miami one step further to defend its title. Prediction: Heat in six.

West

No. 1 Mavericks vs. No. 8 Warriors: The Mavs are on a mission to avenge their defeat in last season's championship. Dirk Nowitzki will not let his team down again. Golden State is actually leading the season series against Dallas 2-0 (pending Tuesday night's result) and could cause the Mavs some trouble, but Dallas will not be denied. Prediction: Mavericks in five.

No. 2 Suns vs. No. 7 Lakers: Can the Suns win a championship with the style of basketball they play? Their defense is porous, and we all know that defense wins championships. Still, the Lakers have relied too much on Kobe to carry the team. Prediction: Suns in five

No. 3 Spurs vs. No. 6 Nuggets: Boy, these two teams are hot right now. The Spurs have been absolutely torrid over the last few months, posting a remarkable 25-3 record since Feb. 13. The Nuggets have also been on fire, winning eight games in a row before losing last week to Memphis. I'm tempted to pick the upset here, but you can't argue against San Antonio's history of clutch postseason play with the group that they have. Prediction: Spurs in seven.

No. 4 Rockets vs. No. 5 Jazz: After being the surprise of the league earlier in the season, the Jazz have struggled mightily, losing 12 out of their last 17. They have clinched the Northwest division title, but they will have their hands full with the Rockets, who feature a killer one-two punch in T-Mac and Yao. I like the Jazz and admire their team style of play, but I can't see them winning this series. Prediction: Rockets in six.