1ST ROUND PREDICTIONS... THE WEST

Blog by Haz Bey

WESTERN CONFERENCE

1 Spurs vs 8 Grizzlies (Spurs in 6)

The Grizzlies will give the Spurs problems especially with Manu's current injury, but the Spurs are still an elite team & the will overcome.  Look for Zach Randolf to have a huge series in a highly competitive 6 game series, with the Spurs on top.


2 Lakers vs 7 Hornets (Lakers in 4)

The Lakers are the 2-time defending champs.  The Hornets have no David West & a slightly injured Chris Paul.  No way, no chance.  Bring out the brooms, period.

3 Mavericks vs 6 Blazers (Blazers in 6)

This is the worst possible match-up for the Mavs outside of L.A. in the West.  Portland may be too athletic for Dallas to deal with defensively with the addition on Gerald Wallace who will get in Dirk's face & make him feel so uncomfortable on the offensive end.  Andre Miller might be huge in this series & it will be up to Jason Kidd to match him.  I got a bad feeling about this one, so I going with Portland to wrap up the series in 6 at home.

4 Thunder vs 5 Nuggets (Thunder in 7)

I can't wait to watch this series.  High scoring, plenty of rim-rattling highlights & hopefully plenty of drama.  Durant, Wesbrooke & Harden will have to outscore a new & "IMPROVED" Nuggets team who will go 10 deep to try to overtake them.  After stealing half of the New York Knicks in the Carmello Anthony deal, the Nuggets are still the number 1 scoring team in the league & are much better defensively.  Denver also plays extremely well at home & will force a game 7, but Kevin Durant & Russell Wesbrooke will be too much handle down the stretch of an elimination game.  Thunder squeeze by this series in 7.