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

Are you ready?

I was supposed to write this post at the beggining of the week but I didn't had time hence I'm doing a short maybe more intersting version

Take a look at the stadings, drive your glance to the West conference and enjoy the madness. This last 30 something games are really going to be something that any NBA fan is going to love. Seriously, they are only 5 games between the first seed and the 9th seed and if you believe in Portland's dream then it will be 10 teams fighting for everything from the number one position to be the poor souls outside looking in

For me this are the keys for each team:

• Hornets: Can they keep calm once that every game is played at full intensity? I mean Chris Paul is a true MVP (top 3 in my opinion) but they have never play with those conditions.

• Suns: Shaquille. He is going to slow them down. He is going to be in foul trouble a great deal of time. They are going to miss Shawn Marion. How does D'Antoni and Nash handle this? If they can pull it off I'll tip my hat to them.

• Lakers: Bynum's and Bryant's health. If they recover nicely they are the number one choice for the title.

• Utah: They need to find a way to win outside Utah. It's imperative.

• Mavs: If they get Kidd they will need to mesh pretty quick. If they stay put they Avery Johnson is the key. He needs to put some fire in this team. Somehow.

• Spurs: Finley, Barry, Bowen and Horry shot. Their title hopes depend a lot on those guys open jump shots.

• Nuggets: Believe it or not, K-Mart is the key here. He could be a great offensive and defensive weapon. They'd have so much versatility in both ends of the floor that they would be complicate matchup for anybody.

• Houston: Defense. It they play defense they know how to win. No matter if TMac is playing or not (Or he's traded or not)

• Warriors: Biedrins and Monta. When this two play their best they are an unbelievable team. Seriously. Warriors' fans know what I'm talking about.

• Blazers: Remember the magic. It wasn't only Roy's magic or Alridge's magic. Was a team's magic. Just remember it.