The NBA's Most Exciting Potential Conference Semifinal Matchups

With the first round round halfway over and many teams in commanding control of their series, we cannot help but look ahead at possible conference semifinal matchups.

Many of the higher seeds are up 2-0 in their respective series and should, barring a surprisingly collapse, move on. At this point they'll likely have their scouts out to see possible second round matchups.

We jump on board by looking ahead to five of the most exciting possible second round matchups.

5. Los Angeles Lakers v. San Antonio Spurs

The Lakers are up 2-0 in their first round matchup with the Oklahoma City Thunder. Meanwhile, the Spurs got a win to even their series with the Dallas Mavericks. There is still much to be decided in the latter series, but a matchup of the Western Conference's most successful teams of the last decade still has plenty of cachet and appeal to it.

Kobe, Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, Ron Artest, Pau Gasol. The Spurs may be waning, but this series still has star appeal and good matchups on both ends of the court to make for an entertaining and deep series.

4. Orlando Magic v. Altanta Hawks

The Magic are still a favorite to reach the NBA Finals while the Hawks appear to be an emerging team looking to take the next step. Both teams are up 2-0 in their respective series and look ready to hook up in the conference semifinals.

Both sides possess electrifying players in Josh Smith and Dwight Howard. Both sides have very capable point guards and both are young, hungry teams looking to take the next step.

The only thing keeping this series down on the list is that their regular season matchups were not exactly the closest games. The Hawks earned a narrow two-point victory over Orlando late in the season, but the Magic won the first three matchups by a combined 67 points.

3. Dallas Mavericks v. Phoenix Suns

Both the Mavericks and Suns are locked in 1-1 series ties, but this possible second round matchup could be the most electrifying series in the NBA postseason. These two teams are no strangers in the playoffs and what usually ensues in a zero defense game with scores in the 110-120 point range.

It would be a very exciting stand alone series that could go six or seven games deep. The biggest question coming out of such a series is whether or not the victorious team still has the legs for the Conference Finals.

2. Cleveland Cavaliers v. Boston Celtics

The Cavaliers are the sexy pick to finally climb the NBA mountaintop, but in their way stand the older Celtics who still want to squeeze one more title out of their trio of Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen.

These two teams have met in the playoffs before, their regular season battles are just that-battles-and they are two teams that simply do not like each other.

There are concerns that the Celtics do not have the legs to hang with the Cavaliers. Either way, this should be a gritty, tough, and at times ugly series to see who advances to the Eastern Conference Finals.

1. Los Angeles Lakers v. Denver Nuggets

The Nuggets dipped to the fourth spot in the Western Conference late in the season, but this potential matchup still takes the top spot. It features two of the biggest starts in the league. The Lakers and Nuggets feature arguably the most talent on the court of any two teams.

Their regular season matchups were rarely close, but in the heated race of a seven games series this should be the most compelling series short of the NBA Finals.