First Round: Lakers vs Nuggets

1. Lakers (57-25) vs 8. Nuggets (50-32)

Regular Season Series: LAL 3-0

Point Differencial: LAL +16.3

A 50 win team must have done some things pretty damn good, right? Even if they are a 8th seed. Welcome to the Western Conference Playoffs

The Nuggets are going to need their entire arsenal to pull the "chocker" and that might even not be enough. The Lakers easily owned the Nuggets in the regular season scoring 118 points per game in three contests. Lesson of the day: Don't try to outrun the Lakers. If you are thinking "Well, if this series becomes a track meet it's advantage Nuggets". You will be wrong. The Lakers can also put up points in the scoreboard in a hurry but, unlike the Nuggets, they can make stops when they need them. Since the Gasol trade the Lakers are as powerful offensevely as any other team in the West.Their defense, ball movement and leadership will set the difference specially at the Pepsi Center where the Nuggets are 33-8 (Only fourth best in the West. Again, welcome to the Western Conference Playoffs) And they have that Kobe fella that can be pretty hard to defend. Kobe will spent a great deal of energy defeding Melo and/or Iverson so he needs to rely in his teammates ( This is in Kobe's hands right now . The rest of the Lakers have prove that they are trust worthy. In the big stage Kobe might regress a little, might not)

The Nuggets can outscore LA make no mistake about it but they will need A) 45-50 points between Melo and Iverson, B) Strong play from the benchaka JR Smith and C) A unbelievable defensive series from KMart and Camby. The likehood of all those factors coming together is quite high. Denver can play at a very high level but their key for them will be stopping LA's ball movement, force turnovers and run like hell.

X Factor: KMart. If he has his bounce back it gives Denver a very effective third option at offense and a defensive presence. Nobody (uninjured) in LA can defend a healthy KMart although his numbers against LA's defense were very poor in the regular season: 8.0 ppg, .451 FG%, 8.3 rpg, 2.0 bpg

Basketball Gods' prediction: LAL 4-2