2010 NBA Playoffs: Can We Expect Any Shocking First-Round Upsets?

Finally, the NBA season is over, and the usual suspects have once again reigned over the 82-game schedule, the Cleveland Cavaliers and Los Angeles Lakers.

Amongst their dominance, something feels different about this year's impending postseason.

The Lakers stumble into the playoffs having lost four of their last seven and are only 4-6 in their last 10 games. Cleveland has lost five of their last seven and are also 4-6 in their last 10 games.

Both teams spent most of April without their star players, Kobe Bryant and LeBron James, but their inconsistency may hurt them entering the playoffs.

The Cavaliers have played their last five games without James and lost four of them, so his presence is sure to catapult that offense back to elite status.

Kobe and the Lakers on the other hand haven't fared so well whether their superstar guard was in the lineup or not.

In three disappointing losses at the end of March to Oklahoma City, New Orleans, and Atlanta, Kobe and his teammates looked lost, disinterested, and looking ahead to the playoffs.

April may not be a very nice place for the Lakers if they don't get it together. To Bryant's credit, he's been injured, and due to his rest to finish the season, he will be fresher than in recent games.

Phil Jackson proved that the Lakers are a bit concerned about Kevin Durant's Thunder by calling him out in his usual fashion this week about favoritism from referees despite being a young budding star.

Durant's mistake was actually responding to that drivel out of frustration, a knee-jerk reaction from a young player.

That may or may not have an effect on his psyche, but will the Lakers and Cavs season-ending slides have an effect on their's?

Can the Thunder pull a Golden State and upset the 1 seed? Who else will be on upset watch next week?

Here are five series to watch for potential upsets, ranked in order of chance of upset based on matchups and momentum.

5. No. 8 Oklahoma City Thunder Over No. 1 L.A Lakers

Many people will not agree with this, and maybe it is a crazy assertion, but when you look closely there's a basis to this seemingly far-fetched premise.

As aforementioned, the Lakers have struggled lately and looked more vulnerable than ever. Durant and Russell Westbrook will be smelling Laker blood and after their win over L.A in March with Kobe, they'll have some confidence.

Jeff Green has been playing extremely well, and has extended his range to the three-point line, and is a really good defender who will mix it up with Ron Artest.

Nick Collison plays hard down low for the Thunder, and will make Pau Gasol work for what he gets. The problem is Collison won't make Gasol work on the defensive end because he's no scoring threat.

Collison will challenge for offensive rebounds and Durant will either match or outscore Bryant.

The key X-factors for both teams will be Lamar Odom and James Harden. Derek Fisher has looked old, and if Harden and Westbrook can exploit Fisher, Jordan Farmar, and Shannon Brown, watch out.

Odom is always a matchup problem, but his inconsistency hurts him. My friend, what we have here is a game Thunder squad that actually has a chance here. Believe it.

4. No. 5 Utah Jazz Over No. 4 Denver Nuggets

When you're talking a five seed over a four, that's usually not a huge upset, but in this situation it definitely is.

Denver raced out this season as high as the two seed, and looked poised to be the team that could dethrone the mighty Lakers come playoff time.

Unfortunately, the loss of coach George Karl to receive treatment for throat cancer, injuries to key guys like Carmelo Anthony and Kenyon Martin, and the emergence of other West teams have crippled them.

The Jazz enter the playoffs on an embarrassing loss to the Phoenix Suns at home with the three seed on the line, but Carlos Boozer was inactive for that game if there's any consolation.

Booz will be back for game one, and the tandem of he and Deron Williams will be the key to the series for the Jazz.

Williams' matchup with Chauncey Billups will go a long way in determining the outcome of this series, and Andrei Kirilenko and C.J Miles' defense on Melo is an obvious concern for the Jazz.

To win this series, the Jazz must defend the three-point line from J.R Smith, Melo, Billups, and Arron Afflalo, and shoot a high percentage.

Denver may be in deep snow in the Rockies.

3. No. 5 Miami Heat Over No. 4 Boston Celtics

This is another four-five matchup that isn't supposed to be an upset, but will be due to the team that is in the fourth slot.

Boston was a champion just two seasons ago, and the aged big three of Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Ray Allen look as old and slow as they ever have.

The acquisition of Rasheed Wallace has been an epic fail, and nobody besides Rajon Rondo has offered any meaningful production to assist the big three.

Dwyane Wade has been himself, and again, has had an amazing season, willing his team to a playoff appearance.

The question is, "Can he do it alone one more time?"

We've all seen what Wade can do by himself, and Michael Beasley actually gave the Heat a respectable 15 and six per game. Unfortunately, that may not be enough.

If Allen is making three's, Pierce is getting to the line, and K.G is hitting that patented jumper, the Heat may be in trouble. Throw in a side of Rondo and the Celts could win this series fairly easily.

Or, Wade could average 35 PPG, Beasley can up his average to about 20, Udonis Haslem could hustle and bustle his way to offensive second-chances, and Jermaine O'Neal could be a presence down low.

Don't count out the Heat.

2. No. 7 San Antonio Spurs Over No. 2 Dallas Mavericks

Okay, the only reason the Spurs have a chance in this series is because their status as seasoned NBA champions and veterans.

On paper, this seems to be a potential sweep for the Mavericks, but who cares about what the paper says?

When you have Manu Ginobili, Tim Duncan, and Tony Parker healthy, you're not quite out of a series.

If Richard Jefferson can find consistency, and the second unit of Dejuan Blair, George Hill and Matt Bonner can spell the veterans with quality minutes, the Spurs will challenge the Mavs competitively.

Of course, the Mavs have the man that is Dirk Nowitzki, the best seven-foot shooter of all-time, Caron Butler, and the veteran Jason Kidd.

Oh, don't forget about Jason "the Jet" Terry and Shawn Marion.

Dallas poses matchup problems for just about anybody, but the Spurs have the experience to balance that out and make it tough on the Mavs.

If Duncan can find the fountain of youth for one series, Ginobili can put up huge numbers, and Parker can be consistent, they will offer up quite a scare for Dirk and the boys.

If not, this series could be over before the Baltimore Orioles win another game. Don't bet your fantasy team on it.

1. No. 6 Portland Trail Blazers Over No. 3 Phoenix Suns

With the departure of Terry Porter and appointing of Alvin Gentry as Suns head coach, Phoenix has dropped an atomic bomb on the Western Conference.

Phoenix was 23-6 after the All-Star break and ended the season as a three seed, far exceeding any expectations for them at the season's outset.

Will any of it matter if they lose to the Blazers in round one? No.

Can they lose to a Brandon Roy-less Blazer squad? Yes.

The Suns have been applauded for playing better defense this season, but that has tailed off with the injury to Robin Lopez.

They've given up over 100 points in six of their last 10 games, and lost the season series to Portland.

Steve Nash is still kicking at the ripe age of 36, but has always been a defensive liability. LaMarcus Aldridge and Amare Stoudemire will battle it out and be the key matchup of the series.

Marcus Camby is a prolific rebounder and his work on the glass and shot-blocking can bother Phoenix. Andre Miller will challenge Nash in the post and driving the basketball.

Phoenix has many X-factor type players such as Grant Hill, Jason Richardson, Leandro Barbosa, and Channing Frye who can beat you on any given night.

The Suns live and die by the three-point shot, but they are at their best when they're making shots from there and inside with Stoudemire and Nash on the pick-and-roll.

Without Roy, the Blazers lose scoring punch, but Rudy Fernandez, Nicolas Batum, and Jerryd Bayless have to get going to make up for it. If they do, the Blazers have a chance.

Because of their open style of play, the Suns are always susceptible to an upset. If they are at their best, they will blow by the Blazers.

If not, and the Blazers role players step up, the Suns may find it rather hot in the first round.

Watch these first-round matchups for potential upsets. With the feeling of parity all throughout the air this season, potential upsets loom everywhere. Well, except for in Cleveland.

Hey, LeBron James versus Joakim Noah should be fun.