MY CRYSTAL BALL

The moment of truth is finally here as the battle for the Larry O’Brien trophy gets underway for 16 NBA hopefuls.

And as a yearly tradition, herewith are my first round playoff predictions according to my crystal ball:

EASTERN CONFERENCE

 CLEVELAND (1) VS. CHICAGO (8)

Both the Cavaliers and the Bulls won two games apiece in their regular season series. The LeBron James-led Cavs has become lethal with the addition of Antawn Jamison while the Bulls struggled to nail the last playoff spot in the East. It will be another walk in the park for Cleveland, 4-0.

 ORLANDO (2) VS. CHARLOTTE (7)

The Magic easily took three out of their four regular season outings against the Bobcats. Not even the presence of “His Airness” can help propel Larry Brown’s charges to the next round. Charlotte has no answer for Orlando’s big man, Dwight Howard. The Magic will end the series in five games.

 ATLANTA (3) VS. MILWAUKEE (6)

The Hawks won the season series, 2-1, despite the presence of Andrew Bogut. Now with the injured Bogut out of the Bucks playoff roster, the Hawks will eat them alive. Atlanta looms as the darkhorse in the Eastern Conference. It will be the Hawks via a 4-0 sweep.

 BOSTON (4) VS. MIAMI (5)

LeBron James once said that the Celtics looks bored playing in the regular season. For sure, the men in green plays with more savvy in the post-season. Boston swept the Heat in three games during the regular season wars. And the opening round verdict goes to the Celtics in six games.

WESTERN CONFERENCE

 LA LAKERS (1) VS. OKLAHOMA CITY (8)

The Tinseltown outfit won three games to one in the season series against the upstart Thunder. The Lakers struggled towards the end of the regular season campaign while the Thunder finishes as one of the hottest teams in the league during the same span. Experience though will carry the Lakers to the next round but not after surviving a big scare from OKC in seven games.

 DALLAS (2) VS. SAN ANTONIO (7)

There is more at stake in this series other than just an opening round match-up. The prestige of being the better Texas squad is up for grabs. The Mavericks won the season series against the Alamo outfit, 3-1. But with the Spurs playoff experience, Dallas will find it more difficult this time. But still, Mark Cuban’s fair-haired boys will come out victorious in six pulsating games.

 PHOENIX (3) VS. PORTLAND (6)

The Trailblazers will live and die with Brandon Roy. But with Roy suffering a serious injury towards the culmination of the regular season campaign, his absence in this opening round series could spell the big difference. Phoenix in five games.

 DENVER (4) VS. UTAH (5)

The Nuggets won the season series against the Jazz, 3-1, but it will be a lot tighter this time around. This is the series to watch in this opening round. It’s anybody’s series but I can still smell a Denver victory in seven games (George Karl will be the rallying point for the Nuggets).

Thoughts for the second round are being reserved for future discussions.