The dust from the regular season battle has already settled and the NBA is in for bigger wars, more intense rivalries and more cardiac finishes with the 2008 edition of the NBA playoffs. There are a lot of side-stories to this playoff series. The league has been engaged in one of the closest Western Conference races in NBA history and I’m really glad that the Lakers have come out on top of the crowded and erstwhile roller-coaster Western Conference. Their prize is home-court advantage for the entire duration of the Western Conference playoffs. That’s big for a young Laker team who is trying to make a post-season run in the Post-Shaq era. It means a lot for them and for the fans.

Meanwhile, the East has been as boring as fuck. The Celtics and the Pistons have been steamrolling past Eastern Conference opponents and the lower seeds have been inferior as compared to the lower seeds in the West. The #8 seed in the East has less than 40 wins to brag and they are in the playoffs, compared to the Golden State Warriors, who finished at 48-34, who are out of running. It really has created a stir from league officials, executives, and fans lately, saying that the playoff format should be changed to the top 16 teams in terms of team standings should enter the playoffs. They have a point. The Warriors were screwed by the playoff system. And the Atlanta freaking Hawks, as lucky as they are to enter in the playoffs, are not deserving to be in the post-season.

But nevertheless they are there. And so is the rest of playoff contenders are in. A quick peek at all of the matchups:

EAST

[1] Boston vs [8] Atlanta - Although I want the Hawks to upset the Celtics in the first round, that is a fucking longshot. Fucking impossible. Want to hear more expletives about how unfair this series is? I’ll give Atlanta 1 game at the best. Okay, 2 games because somewhat, I believe in miracles. But there is no way Atlanta can deny Boston of this series. The best they can do is put up a very good showing and avoid to be totally blown out.

[2] Detroit vs [7] Philadelphia - The Pistons and the Sixers are having a youth movement with their respective benches, but let me tell you this. The Pistons reserves can start and actually beat the Sixers’ starters. Trust me. That’s how deep the bench of the Pistons are. Detroit might just consider playing their reserves first to keep the game close and just enter in the dying minutes a close game. It’s more competitive that way.

[3] Orlando vs [6] Toronto - The Raptors have their steady point guard play with Calderon and Ford but the question for them is could they stop Dwight Howard? Chris Bosh, anyone? Maybe. Rasho Nesterovic? You wish. Jorge Garbajosa? Hell fucking no. The Raptors definitely need a hell lot more than Jamario Moon’s spectacular dunks to have a shot of beating Orlando. I do think though that the series will end in 6 games.

[4] Cleveland vs [5] Washington - New year, old rivalry, new advantage: Washington. The absence of Gilbert Arenas has done wonders for the Washington Wizards. Several Wizards had their career years. Bench players stepped up. They beat the Boston Celtics 3 out of their 4 meetings. The trade that LeBron has requested is not working out wonders. LeBron might need to dig deeper once more to beat the Wizards.

WEST

[1] LA Lakers vs [8] Denver - What a year it has been for the Lakers. No one imagined that they will be sitting on top of the West 5 and a half months ago. Now they have home-court advantage for the rest of the West Playoffs. It’s really big. They play a Denver team who is accustomed to running and gunning. And also to not playing that much defense. Should be a relatively easy series for the Lakers to handle.

[2] New Orleans vs [7] Dallas - Why the fuck everyone is counting on Dallas to beat New Orleans is no surprise at all. As good as Chris Paul is, he is a playoff virgin. Tyson Chandler doesn’t have enough experience. Peja Stojakovic and Mo Peterson are chokers. Signs are actually pointing at a Dallas win this year because of their past playoff experience but I would not count out the Hornets yet. Should be a great series.

[3] San Antonio vs [6] Phoenix - Easily the best series in the First Round. These teams have been at it since 2005 and I expect nothing but the same intensity and excitement (the Spurs are exciting!) from these two teams. The Suns though, have a new weapon called Shaquille O’Neal aside from Nash and Amare. San Antonio still brings their old weapons - Duncan, Parker, Ginobili. And somebody’s going home early.

[4] Utah vs [5] Houston - Reminder. Houston has the home-court advantage in this series. The question that everyone has been asking since 2000: Can T-Mac get out of the first round? There must have been some barrier that prevents T-Mac from entering the second round. Can the Jazz make it two years in a row? Can T-Mac finally lead a playoff team to a second round appearance? A series worth watching for.

Let’s enjoy NBA Action and brace ourselves for the April-May-June Madness. Screw the March Madness!