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The 2011 NBA Playoffs tip off this weekend, but many stars will be forced to watch from the sidelines in street clothes to start.

With the 2011 NBA Playoffs starting on Saturday afternoon, all 16 teams know that health is a key component of being able to win an NBA Championship.

Unfortunately, some of those teams may not be able to compete with a full roster, as many key injuries are forcing teams to regroup and strategize differently than normal.

With that being said, here is a look at some of the biggest injuries that every playoff team is facing this postseason:

Atlanta Hawks

Jason Collins (Center): Collins is questionable for game one against the Orlando Magic with an ankle injury. He has missed the final three games in the regular season.

Boston Celtics

Shaquille O'Neal (Center): O'Neal is questionable with a calf injury in game one against the New York Knicks. He worked out a bit before practice yesterday, so the team is hoping he can play.

Delonte West (Guard): West is probable for game one against the Knicks with an ankle injury.

Chicago Bulls

Ronnie Brewer (Guard): Brewer is probable with a thumb injury for game one against the Indiana Pacers.

Dallas Mavericks

Caron Butler (Forward): Butler has been out since early in the season, and is expected to miss at least the entire first round against the Portland Trail Blazers.

Denver Nuggets

Timofey Mozgov (Forward): Mozgov is doubtful for game one against the Oklahoma City Thunder with a knee injury.

Ty Lawson (Guard): Lawson is questionable with an ankle injury for game one against the Thunder, but is expected to play.

Nene (Center): Nene is questionable with a groin injury, but he expects to play in game one against the Thunder.

Los Angeles Lakers

Andrew Bynum (Center): Bynum is questionable with a knee injury for game one against the New Orleans Hornets. He was injured with a few games remaining, and has had knee problems in the past.

Steve Blake (Guard): Blake is doubtful for game one against the Hornets with an undisclosed illness.

Memphis Grizzlies

Zach Randolph (Forward): Randolph is listed as questionable for game one against the San Antonio Spurs, but he fully expects to play with an elbow injury.

Tony Allen (Guard): Allen is questionable for game one against the Spurs with a knee injury, although he hopes to play.

MUST READ: Playoff Odds For All 16 Teams

Miami Heat

Udonis Haslem (Forward): Haslem has missed most of the season with a foot injury, and is listed as doubtful for game one against the Philadelphia 76ers.

New York Knicks

Shelden Williams (Forward): Williams is questionable with an ankle injury for game one against the Boston Celtics.

Orlando Magic

Gilbert Arenas (Guard): Arenas is probable with a knee injury against the Atlanta Hawks in game one.

J.J. Redick (Guard): Redick is questionable with an abdomen injury for game one against the Hawks. He is hoping to play.

Philadelphia 76ers

Lou Williams (Guard): Williams is listed as probable with hamstring injury for game one against the Miami Heat, but he has missed some time recently.

Andre Iguodala (Forward): Iguodala is listed as probable with a knee injury for game one against the Heat.

San Antonio Spurs

Manu Ginobili (Guard): Ginobili is doubtful for game one against the Memphis Grizzlies with an elbow injury he suffered in the team's final regular season game. The team does not expect him to play.

The 2011 NBA Playoffs tip off this weekend, but many stars will be forced to watch from the sidelines in street clothes to start. 2011 NBA Playoff Predictions: NBA Championship Odds for All 16 Teams

Lisa Blumenfeld/Getty Images

The 2011 NBA Playoffs tip off tomorrow, while many are wondering which two teams would make for the most interesting matchup in the NBA Finals.

The 2011 NBA Playoffs features 16 teams who all have a shot at winning the 2011 NBA Championship. Well, maybe five of them have a legitimate chance, and the other 11 are just along for the ride, no matter how short it happens to be.

Everyone is dreaming of the endless possibilities that we could see in this year's NBA Finals, with one obvious one dominating everyone's mind.

I am of course talking about the Memphis Grizzlies taking on the Indiana Pacers.

What, nothing for that?

All joking aside, no one wants to see that matchup for the title. That would have been like rooting for the Seattle Seahawks to take on the Kansas City Chiefs in this past Super Bowl. Or seeing the San Francisco Giants take on the Texas Rangers in last season's World Series.

Oh, wait. My bad. The second one actually did occur.

But regardless, no one wants to see the Grizzlies take on the Pacers. which really doesn't matter, because it is never going to happen.

So, with that being said, what does everyone want to see most?

MUST READ: Playoff Odds For All 16 Teams

We know what ABC wants to see, and that would be the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics for the third time in the past four years. It is still the most classic championship rivalry in league history.

And while I would never discount the possibility of that matchup taking place once again, maybe this year we will see something different.

If youth was to be served, then those people would be rooting for a Final matchup series between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Chicago Bulls. With young stars such as Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, Derrick Rose and others, that would be an interesting series. 

If you like older teams, I guess you will be pulling for the Lakers, or San Antonio Spurs or Dallas Mavericks to meet the Celtics. While the Celtics could make it, the only one of those three I see getting there from the west happens to also be the Lakers once again, giving ABC their wish.

What about the teams in this postseason who we gave relatively no chance at the beginning of the season? What about a Finals matchup of the New York Knicks against the Portland Trail Blazers? I don't see the Knicks getting out of the first round, but the Blazers are more than capable of upsetting the Mavericks.

Or a series between the more controversial owners of the game? What if Jerry Reinsdorf and the Bulls met Mark Cuban and the Mavs? Who would the nation be pulling for in that one?

Or two of the most despised teams by many - the Heat against the Lakers? Could be a classic for years to come.

Unfortunately, we do not have any say in who advances to the 2011 NBA Finals. But it sure is fun to dream up possible scenarios.

What would your dream matchup be this postseason?

The 2011 NBA Playoffs tip off tomorrow, while many are wondering which two teams would make for the most interesting matchup in the NBA Finals. 2011 NBA Playoff Predictions: NBA Championship Odds for All 16 Teams

Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images

The 2011 NBA Playoffs begin tomorrow, and for some strange reason beyond to me, people seem to feel as if the New York Knicks have a shot against the Boston Celtics.

You have to love right before the NBA Playoffs start. Everyone makes their predictions, throws down their wagers and gets ready to watch their money disappear.

If you would like to be one of those foolish people, then by all means make sure to bet on the New York Knicks to upset the Boston Celtics in the first round of the Eastern Conference Playoffs.

Yes, the Knicks can score. Their offense can be nearly unstoppable at times. But their defense - or lack thereof - is atrocious. They can make any opponent resemble an offensive juggernaut, because they cannot stop anyone.

Amar'e Stoudemire was a great signing, and they were able to trade for Carmelo Anthony at the trade deadline. They still have not played too many games together, and they have not looked that great since the trade was made.

What about the Celtics? 

Sure, they have struggled down the stretch, and trading away Kendrick Perkins was nothing short of moronic, regardless of whether or not they had any intention - or chance - of signing him to a long term contract. But this team makes a habit of playing poorly toward the end of the regular season, only to turn it on in the playoffs.

Why would this year be any different?

MUST READ: Playoff Odds For All 16 Teams

The Celtics have a solid defense, although it has dropped off without Tom Thibodeau on the bench. He brought his defensive knowledge to the Chicago Bulls, thus the reason they are the new No. 1 seed and favorites in the east.

Still, Boston has enough defensive prowess to slow down New York.

According to ESPN and David Thorpe and Anthony Macri of NBA Scouts Inc, the Knicks will need a lot of big plays in order to have a shot at knocking off the mighty Celtics.

"Generally speaking, the shots Boston manages to take are of better quality than those New York will attempt," writes Thorpe and Macri. "Sheer volume (both of attempts and of makes) will favor the Knicks. Like an NCAA Tournament team searching for an upset, the Knicks will probably need to connect on a high number of three point attempts to really have a shot at derailing the Celtics this postseason. They might be able to do so in one or two games, but four times will be much more difficult."

The Knicks will be able to bury a handful of shots from long range, and that may keep them in a couple of games. They may even win one or two. But there is no chance that the Knicks come out of this series on top.

The Jets may have eliminated the Patriots and the Yankees are off to a much better start than the Red Sox, but there is no way that the Knicks can continue the recent dominance of Boston professional sports teams by upsetting the Celtics.

The 2011 NBA Playoffs begin tomorrow, and for some strange reason beyond to me, people seem to feel as if the New York Knicks have a shot against the Boston Celtics. 2011 NBA Playoff Predictions: NBA Championship Odds for All 16 Teams

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

The 2011 NBA Playoffs begin tomorrow, and many people are discounting the Atlanta Hawks because of recent postseason struggles and a late collapse this season.

Last season, the Orlando Magic swept the Atlanta Hawks in the Eastern Conference semifinals. The games were not even really that competitive, and the Hawks were thoroughly embarrassed.

Atlanta has suffered the longest losing streak to end a regular season for a team entering the playoffs in quite a long time. They have looked awful down the stretch, and people wonder if there is any hope for a team who has shown very little in recent postseason performances.

In a way, the hawks are the NBA version of the NFL Seattle Seahawks.

Let me explain.

The Seahawks were given no chance in the NFL Playoffs against the New Orleans Saints. They were one of the largest underdogs in a first round playoff matchup of all time, and no one gave them any chance of winning.

MUST READ: Playoff Odds For All 16 Teams

But then the unlikely happened. The Seahawks got off to an early start and never looked back, defeating the defending Super Bowl champions in relatively easy fashion.

Can the same happen to the other Hawks of the NBA this postseason? After all, they did defeat the Magic in three out of four games in the regular season.

Zach Lowe of SI.com says that if it is going to ever happen for Atlanta, that it may be now or never.

"The most depressing playoff team in the league has a chance to reinvigorate itself with a strong showing against the Magic, the same club that humiliated Atlanta in a four-game sweep last season. Since then, the Hawks badly overpaid Joe Johnson; made a half-hearted commitment to a motion offense that fell flat; failed to develop Jeff Teague; saw rookie coach Larry Drew clash now and then with Josh Smith; lost several awful blowouts at home; and put up a negative overall scoring margin normally associated with a lottery team.

The Hawks are capped out through 2013 as things stand now, and they don’t appear to be going anywhere with this group. Can they show us something now?"

I'm not sure how much the Hawks have, but Lowe brings up some valid points. judging by that, you would have to expect similar results in their first round series with Orlando again this postseason.

But I am not ready to concede victory to the Magic quite yet.

After all, this is the NBA. People make far too much of a big deal out of momentum, especially in professional basketball. After all, it is not as if the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics always carry momentum heading into the NBA Playoffs. Actually, it is generally the opposite.

According to ESPN, David Thorpe and Anthony Macri of NBA Scouts Inc. agree that momentum in the NBA Playoffs is overrated, and they see this series as being tightly contested.

"In the NBA Playoffs, however, how a team performs leading up to the postseason has no necessary correlation on how they will perform once there," Thorpe and Macri write. "In fact, the nature of a playoff series almost prevents a hot team from remaining hot. Keep in mind, a team with momentum has been playing a variety of opponents in an average of two games every 3.5 or so days. In the first round of the NBA Playoffs, however, a team plays a single opponent once every two to four days. This gives opponents more time to gameplan, change approaches, and prepare. It also makes victory in the postseason more about how one team matches up with the other rather than how well a team was performing coming into any given series. 

In the case of the Orlando Magic and Atlanta Hawks, the implications for this reality are obvious. The Hawks barely limped into the postseason, playing under .500 basketball for a stretch coming in, and having lost six games in a row. While the Magic have not exactly been on a tear themselves, their recent results were significantly better than those in Atlanta. However, the way these two teams have matched up throughout the season would suggest an entirely different result. How these competing bits of conventional wisdom interact will yield the winner in this series, one that should be competitive and hotly contested."

I agree that this should be a much closer series than it was last year, but I still remain skeptical that Atlanta can come out on top.

Maybe they are not the Seattle Seahawks. 

The 2011 NBA Playoffs begin tomorrow, and many people are discounting the Atlanta Hawks because of recent postseason struggles and a late collapse this season. 2011 NBA Playoff Predictions: NBA Championship Odds for All 16 Teams

Christian Petersen/Getty Images

The 2011 NBA Playoffs are set, but can the struggling Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers turn things around an meet in an NBA Finals rematch?

Everyone has heard the rumblings. I say rumblings, because they are not exactly whispers. 

The Celtics and Lakers are too old, too beat up, too past their prime to make another run at an NBA Championship.

We have heard it all too often. Around this time of the year, for the past few years now, all of the critics and so-called experts count out the Celtics and Lakers for various reasons, and then they are forced to eat their words. I never discount the chances of either team, and this year is no different.

They have been they before, and they have gotten the job done. Will this year finally be the year where variable factors do indeed catch up with them in the postseason?

MUST READ: Playoff Odds For All 16 Teams

Sure, both teams are older. The Lakers are frustrated and hurt, and so are the Celtics. Kobe Bryant is shouting homophobic slurs at referees over fouls, Andrew Bynum is hurt once again, Phil Jackson doesn't even know what he is allowed and prohibited from talking about, and the Lakers are not winning.

The Celtics have fallen down hard since they foolishly traded away Kendrick Perkins, the defense is a far cry from what it has been in the past without the coaching of Tom Thibodeau, and the team is not winning.

Tell me again why I still think these two can meet in the 2011 NBA Finals?

Zach Lowe of SI.com is not so sure, as he points out some of their shortcomings entering the postseason.

"Switch-flipping is a dicey thing, historically, but the Lakers and Celtics have the pedigree that suggests they can do it," writes Lowe. "Boston finished last season 27-27 before shocking even their own fans by plowing through the East and coming within a few minutes of the franchise’s 18th title. The Celtics went only 10-11 in their last 21 games this season, and though the decision to trade Kendrick Perkins to the Thunder is the easy target here, the real culprit is the team’s offense, which finished just 19th in points per possessions.

Rajon Rondo is barely shooting 40 percent since the start of March, Glen Davis’ jumper has deserted him and the Celtics generally looked helpless against elite Miami and Chicago defenses in games this month. This hasn’t been a good offensive team in two years, but it will have to be better for Boston to seriously contend.

And the Lakers? They lost five of their last seven games and nearly blew their season finale — and the second seed — in Sacramento on Wednesday. But they stumbled late last season, too, and their 17-1 run after this season’s All-Star break is a better indicator of how good this team can be — as long as Andrew Bynum’s bone bruise isn’t a lingering injury."

No one is saying it will be easy. The Oklahoma City Thunder are the trendy pick to represent the Western Conference, while the Chicago Bulls appear poised to return to glory in the Eastern Conference. But both the Celtics and Lakers are far from becoming irrelevant in their own conferences. They are still powerhouses who know what they need to do to win in the playoffs.

That is what makes them so scary, and gives them a great chance to once again meet in the NBA Finals.

Until someone demonstrates otherwise, how could you bet against the Celtics and Lakers playing for another NBA Championship?

The 2011 NBA Playoffs are set, but can the struggling Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers turn things around an meet in an NBA Finals rematch? 2011 NBA Playoff Predictions: NBA Championship Odds for All 16 Teams

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

The 2011 NBA Playoffs start tomorrow, and the Chicago Bulls are the top seed in the Eastern Conference, but they also go 10 deep. Is that too much?

The Bulls earned the No. 1 seed in the NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs, as they were absolutely unstoppable down the stretch. They got the job done against all of the other top teams in the east, and they are clearly the top team in the conference entering the postseason.

But while many people see depth as a huge bonus, do the Bulls need to tighten their bench a bit in order to compete for an NBA Championship?

Zach Lowe of SI.com wonders if the Bulls are perhaps too deep, even though they may have the best team who can play the most matchups.

"Chicago finished with the best record, the second-best point margin and an allegedly 'weak link' offense that crept to the edge of the top 10 in points per possession by the end of the season," says Lowe. "The Bulls will need that offense to continue to improve because they will likely have to go through three of the league’s top 12 defenses just to make the Finals.

One thing to monitor: The Bulls have gone 10 deep all season, and that’s a larger rotation than most coaches prefer in the postseason. Coach Tom Thibodeau can’t lean much harder on Derrick Rose or Luol Deng, but it will be interesting to see how he divvies up minutes among guys like Keith Bogans, Ronnie Brewer, Kyle Korver, Taj Gibson and Omer Asik. All have been crucial parts of Chicago’s rise, and all bring a mix of elite niche skills (Korver’s shooting, Brewer’s defense and cutting) and limitations. Thibodeau has decisions to make, and matchups will be paramount in those decisions."

I understand where Lowe is coming from, but can a team truly ever be too deep? Isn't minutes off the bench what you need to make a deep run in the NBA Playoffs? I certainly see that as more of an advantage than a problem, and would far prefer a deep bench than one that is more shallow.

MUST READ: Playoff Odds For All 16 Teams

The Bulls have a leading NBA MVP candidate in Derrick Rose, a strong frontcourt in Joakim Noah and Carlos Boozer, and great depth in Taj Gibson and Ronnie Brewer. I'm not exactly sure how that can be deemed as a potential flaw in the system.

Chicago has the matchups to destroy the Indiana Pacers in the first round, and then they should be able to take care of either the Orlando Magic or Atlanta Hawks. They would not be able to stop Dwight Howard, but really, who can?

The Boston Celtics and Miami Heat appear destined for a meeting in the second round, and Chicago matches up very well with both of them as well, because both the Celtics and Heat lack big men in the middle.

The Bulls may be 10 deep, and that may not change much in the playoffs. But it is not something that I see becoming a problem or hindrance in any way, shape or form.

The 2011 NBA Playoffs start tomorrow, and the Chicago Bulls are the top seed in the Eastern Conference, but they also go 10 deep. Is that too much? 2011 NBA Playoff Predictions: NBA Championship Odds for All 16 Teams

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The 2011 NBA Playoff seeds are set, but what would they look like if the league based them more on power rankings and votes like BCS Bowl Games?

By now, everyone knows about the pairings for all of the eight first round matchups in the 2011 NBA Playoffs. They are based on records from the regular season. But what if they were not?

What if the NBA was more like college sports, where the seedings are based solely on votes and projected outcomes in the postseason? Would the seeds and matchups be different than they look right now?

Some things would remain the same, especially in the Eastern Conference. The Chicago Bulls would still be the No. 1 seed, and the Indiana Pacers would still face them in the first round as the No. 8 seed in the conference.

But what about the rest? Would things play out a bit differently if we went on votes and rankings and late season play?

Long answer short, yes, they would look at least slightly different, primarily toward the bottom. The Miami Heat, Boston Celtics and Orlando Magic would still occupy the No. 2, 3 and 4 seed, but then we would see some alight alterations.

They way that the Atlanta Hawks have been playing, they would be replaced as the No. 5 seed by the New York Knicks. The two would simply switch spots, with the Philadelphia 76ers remaining as the No. 7 seed.

MUST READ: Playoff Odds For All 16 Teams

The Western Conference would look even more different, especially if you based them at all on the NBA Power Rankings of SI.com writer Britt Robson, who would move the Los Angeles Lakers to the No. 1 overall seed.

"As much as people talk about the championship window closing in Boston and San Antonio, the pending retirement of coach Phil Jackson and the state of L.A.'s core -- aside from Bynum, the top six players are either at or past their peak -- creates urgency for these Lakers, too," writes Robson. "As if any more motivation is necessary, Michael Jordan sent Jackson out as a winner the first time he retired; but only Kobe's crew can truly send the Zen Master out with a flourish."

Even though they have faltered slightly down the stretch, they would still get the top seed based on past performance, sort of like how Wimbledon does things in tennis, or like how Notre Dame generally goes to better bowl games than they should. 

So what about the No. 2 seed in the west? It would still go to the San Antonio Spurs, but they would slightly edge out the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Spurs have been there all season, although if this were the NCAA Tournament Selection Committee, things may go in favor of the Thunder, as the committee would want to lower the Spurs due to the elbow injury of the always durable Manu Ginobili.

That would make the Denver Nuggets the No. 5 seed, based upon how they have played since they traded away Carmelo Anthony to the New York Knicks. Or should I say, for the New York Knicks?

The Nuggets are now a far more complete team, and they would solidify the fourth spot. That would leave them to play the Dallas mavericks, who barely edge the Portland Trail Blazers at No. 6.

Finally, due to the injury of Davis West, the New Orleans Hornets would be forced to the No. 8 seed by the Memphis Grizzlies, who move up even without Rudy Gay, as they have illustrated that they can beat top teams without him, as the even defeated the Spurs twice without Gay.

So, if the NBA Playoffs were re-seeded based upon voting and rankings, would the net outcome remain the same when you all make your predictions?

The 2011 NBA Playoff seeds are set, but what would they look like if the league based them more on power rankings and votes like BCS Bowl Games? 2011 NBA Playoff Predictions: NBA Championship Odds for All 16 Teams

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

The 2011 NBA Playoffs are set to begin tomorrow, and many are predicting that the No. 1 seed San Antonio Spurs will struggle without Manu Ginobili.

The Spurs may have earned the top seed in the Western Conference playoffs, but very few people are predicting that they can reach the NBA Finals. With the Los Angeles Lakers looking for their third straight title, and many projecting the Oklahoma City Thunder to be the dark horse team, few are giving the Spurs much of a chance to represent the west.

They may stand even less of a chance if Manu Ginobili is hurt more than originally feared.

Already, the Spurs guard is expected to miss game one against the Memphis Grizzlies. Ginobili is known as a very tough and durable player. He has been throughout his career. But this elbow injury could alter many portions of his game, thus limiting his effectiveness on the court even after game one on Sunday afternoon.

Tim Griffin of Spurs Nation wonders why Ginobili was even in the game where he suffered the injury.

"The Spurs had hopes of clinching homecourt advantage throughout the playoffs with a victory over Phoenix and a successful coin flip," says griffin. "When Chicago pulled out a dramatic comeback over New Jersey shortly before tip-off, it might have been a signal to reconsider playing key players like Duncan, Tony Parker and Ginobili in the final game of the season."

It is like in the NFL, where many teams sit their top players once they already have everything locked up that is possible. That should have been the case in San Antonio this week.

MUST READ: Playoff Odds For All 16 Teams

But regardless of how effective Ginobili is after the first game, the Spurs will need much more to get past Zach Randolph and the Grizzlies. 

The two teams split their season series at a pair of games apiece, although Memphis won the last two games of the season. The Spurs took the first two by an average of 6.5 points per victory, while the Grizzlies took the last two by an average margin of victory of 11.5 points per contest.

Memphis has done an excellent job of figuring out how to play without the services of Rudy Gay, who has been sidelined since February 22nd. Gay was averaging just under 20 points per game when he went down with a season ending dislocated left shoulder.

Randolph has been a double-double machine for the Grizz, but Mike Conley and O.J. Mayo have stepped up their game in the backcourt. Marc Gasol continues to lead the way up front, and Tony Allen's strong defensive play is making the Boston Celtics regret letting him go last offseason.

The Spurs still have stalwarts Tony Parker and Tim Duncan, and Gary Neal has had a major impact on the team this season. Along with Richard Jefferson, George Hill and DeJuan Blair, San Antonio will not go down without a fight.

In the end - with or without Ginobili - I still like the Spurs. It could take them six games to do so, but I still see San Antonio coming out on top against Memphis in the first round of the 2011 NBA Playoffs.

The 2011 NBA Playoffs are set to begin tomorrow, and many are predicting that the No. 1 seed San Antonio Spurs will struggle without Manu Ginobili. 2011 NBA Playoff Predictions: NBA Championship Odds for All 16 Teams

Harry How/Getty Images

The NBA Playoffs TV schedule is all set for the first round of the postseason, so make sure to check out the following schedule of where and when to catch your favorite team (first four games schedule only, as games five, six and seven would be to be determined).

In the Western Conference, the San Antonio Spurs have once again clinched home court advantage as the top seed, but very people expect them to advance to the 2011 NBA Finals. Whether they can get there or not, they should have very little difficulty getting past the Memphis Grizzlies, unless Zach Randolph can completely take over.

No. 1 San Antonio Spurs vs. No. 8 Memphis Grizzlies

Game 1 Sun. 4/17 @ 1:00 PM - TNT
Game 2 Wed. 4/20 @ 8:30 PM - NBATV
Game 3 Sat. 4/23 @ 7:30 PM - ESPN
Game 4 Mon. 4/25 - TBA

The Los Angels Lakers may not be playing their best ball of the season, but we have seen this before. They take it slow in the regular season and then turn it on come postseason time. They will not have much of a problem getting past the New Orleans Hornets in the first round, especially without David West, but their play here could tell us a lot of what is to come as the playoffs progress.

No. 2 Los Angeles Lakers vs. No. 7 New Orleans Hornets

Game 1 Sun. 4/17 @ 3:30 PM - ABC
Game 2 Wed. 4/20 @ 10:30 PM - TNT
Game 3 Fri. 4/22 @ 9:30 PM - ESPN
Game 4 Sun. 4/24 @ 9:30 PM - TNT

MUST READ: Playoff Odds For All 16 Teams

The Dallas Mavericks had another great regular season, but everyone expects them to also repeat history in the playoffs and possibly suffer a first round upset at the hands of the Portland Trail Blazers. With the strong play of LaMarcus Aldridge and Wesley Matthews, Portland does in fact seem prime for an upset over Dirk Nowitzki and Dallas.

No. 3 Dallas Mavericks vs. No. 6 Portland Trail Blazers

Game 1 Sat. 4/16 @ 9:30 PM - ESPN
Game 2 Tue. 4/19 @ 9:30 PM - TNT
Game 3 Thu. 4/21 @ 10:30 PM - TNT
Game 4 Sat. 4/23 @ 5:00 PM - TNT

Many people are predicting that this could be the year of the Oklahoma City Thunder. Once they traded for Kendrick Perkins and added postseason experience and toughness, the Thunder became a contender. But it will be no easy task in the first round against the Denver Nuggets, who have played much better basketball since trading away Carmelo Anthony, as they are a more complete team now.

No. 4 Oklahoma City Thunder vs. No. 5 Denver Nuggets

Game 1 Sun. 4/17 @ 9:30 PM - TNT
Game 2 Wed. 4/20 @ 8:00 PM - TNT
Game 3 Sat. 4/23 @ 10:00 PM - ESPN
Game 4 Mon. 4/25 @ 10:30 PM - TNT

The NBA Playoffs TV schedule is all set for the first round of the postseason, so make sure to check out the following schedule of where and when to catch your favorite team. 2011 NBA Playoff Predictions: NBA Championship Odds for All 16 Teams

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

The NBA Playoffs TV schedule is all set for the first round of the postseason, so make sure to check out the following schedule of where and when to catch your favorite team (first four games schedule only, as games five, six and seven would be to be determined).

In the Eastern Conference, all roads will lead to Chicago, as the Bulls will begin their run as the No. 1 seed by taking on the Indiana Pacers. Derrick Rose will continue his NBA MVP type season as he takes on the resurgent Pacers led by Tyler Hansbrough.

No. 1 Chicago Bulls vs. No. 8 Indiana Pacers

Game 1 Sat. 4/16 @ 1:00 PM - ESPN
Game 2 Mon. 4/18 @ 9:30 PM - TNT
Game 3 Thu. 4/21 @ 7:00 PM - NBATV
Game 4 Sat. 4/23 @ 2:30 PM - TNT

The Miami Heat are looking to make a run in the postseason now that they have gotten back on track after a very rough start. They are finally beating some of the elite teams, and they should be able to continue their dominance against the Philadelphia 76ers in the first round.

No. 2 Miami Heat vs. No. 7 Philadelphia 76ers

Game 1 Sat. 4/16 @ 3:30 PM - ABC
Game 2 Mon. 4/18 @ 7:00 PM - TNT
Game 3 Thu. 4/21 @ 8:00 PM - TNT
Game 4 Sun. 4/24 @ 1:00 PM - ABC

MUST READ: Playoff Odds For All 16 Teams

The Boston Celtics have fallen on hard times since trading away Kendrick Perkins, but they remain a team who knows how to turn it on in the playoffs. They get to face the New York Knicks, who have not fared quite as well as they would have hoped since acquiring Carmelo Anthony.

No. 3 seed Boston Celtics vs. No. 6 seed New York Knicks

Game 1 Sun. 4/17 @ 7:00 PM - TNT
Game 2 Tue. 4/19 @ 7:00 PM - TNT
Game 3 Fri. 4/22 @ 7:00 PM - ESPN
Game 4 Sun. 4/24 @ 3:30 PM - ABC

In last year's playoffs, the Orlando Magic absolutely destroyed the Atlanta Hawks. The Hawks are on the longest losing streak in a long time for a team as they enter the postseason. That would lead you to think that a repeat may be coming in the first round for Orlando once again.

No. 4 Orlando Magic vs. No. 5 Atlanta Hawks

Game 1 Sat. 4/16 @ 7:00 PM - ESPN
Game 2 Tue. 4/19 @ 7:30 PM - NBATV
Game 3 Fri. 4/22 @ 7:30 PM - ESPN2
Game 4 Sun. 4/24 @ 7:00 PM - TNT

The NBA Playoffs TV schedule is all set for the first round of the postseason, so make sure to check out the following schedule of where and when to catch your favorite team. 2011 NBA Playoff Predictions: NBA Championship Odds for All 16 Teams

Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

The 2011 NBA Playoffs brackets have been set, and the Dallas Mavericks appear the most likely candidate to suffer a first round upset at the hands of the Portland Trail Blazers.

The Mavericks are an excellent regular season NBA team. They have been for years. But in all of the past 10 seasons or so where Dallas has played so well in the regular season, they have only advanced to the NBA Finals once, where they would blow a 2-0 series lead against the Miami heat to lose the championship.

This season will no be any different, and the Mavs appear to be the most likely team who could suffer a first round upset at the hands of the Trail Blazers.

The two teams split the regular season series at two games apiece. But Portland won the last two games, and that was after they acquired Gerald Wallace at the NBA Trade Deadline. They are much stronger now, and Brandon Roy is working his way back to contributing more frequently.

According to CBS Sports and The Sports Xchange, Wallace feels quite confident in his new team's chances against Dallas.

"I think we have a great chance against them," Wallace said. "They're a good team, but we proved the last two times we played that we can beat them." 

If that happens, I truly don't think that the Mavericks stand a chance. The Blazers could beat them in five games.

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I'm not saying that will happen for sure. Dallas was the third best team in the conference throughout the season, and I am not counting them out by any means. But if I had to bet on one team to pull off an upset in the first round as  No. 6 seed or higher, it would be the Trail Blazers.

Lamarcus Aldridge has had a breakthrough season, and he has turned into a dominant big man. Dallas will have an incredibly difficult time stopping him. With Roy and Andre Miller leading the point, and Wesley Mattthews and Nicolas Batum stepping up their game in a major way, the Blazers are rimed for a big upset in the first round.

I like Dirk Nowitzki for Dallas, but he can only do so much. Jason Kidd and Jason Terry will have their moments, but this team will miss the scoring and defensive presence of Caron Butler now more than ever.

Portland takes the series in five games in a bold prediction.

The 2011 NBA Playoffs brackets have been set, and the Dallas Mavericks appear the most likely candidate to suffer a first round upset at the hands of the Portland Trail Blazers. 2011 NBA Playoff Predictions: NBA Championship Odds for All 16 Teams

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The 2011 NBA Playoffs schedule is all set, and while many people are predicting big things from the Oklahoma City Thunder, do they have what it takes to compete for an NBA Championship?

The Thunder have shown dramatic improvements over each of their past three seasons in Oklahoma City. Their wins have increased, their playoff positioning has gotten better, and they have a more well rounded team surrounding Kevin Durant, including the emerging Russell Westbrook and the newly acquired Kendrick Perkins.

Expectations are high for the Thunder, but are they really ready to take the next step in the 2011 NBA Playoffs and win a series or two?

That remains to be seen.

Aside from LeBron James and Dwyane Wade in Miami, Durant and Westbrook may be the most dynamic offensive duo in the game today. Both are capable of dropping over 30 points on any given night, while Westbrook could turn into a triple-double machine as his career progresses.

Perkins finally gives the team an inside presence who brings experience and toughness - two things that the Thunder have been in dire need of for years.

With Serge Ibaka getting more time and having a one man block party almost every game and James Harden giving the team huge minutes in a reserve role, pieces are in place for Oklahoma City to make a run in the postseason.

But looking good and getting the job done are two entirely different beasts.

I do see the Thunder getting past the Denver Nuggets in the first round. This is a team where home court is truly an advantage. The fans are incredibly supportive of their home team. They owned Denver in the regular season, and this is the year they advance past the first round of the NBA Playoffs.

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Playing the San Antonio Spurs in the second round most likely will prove to be a much more difficult task for the Thunder to get to the Western Conference Finals. I think they stand a great chance at upsetting the No. 1 seed out west, but a lot will depend on the guard play.

As great as Westbrook is, he turns the ball over far too often. If he does it against the Spurs, they will make him pay for it more often than not. 

But it depends on the health of San Antonio's backcourt. Manu Ginobili may miss game one of their series against the Memphis Grizzlies, and if his injury is worse than initially feared, the Spurs could be in for a bit of trouble.

Many people are making the Thunder the trendy pick to advance to at least the conference championship, and even perhaps the NBA Finals. While I would love to see that happen for such a young team, I am not sure if they will be able to take that next step forward.

Especially if that means getting past the Los Angeles Lakers in the semifinals. I know they gave them a run for their money last season in the first round, and adding Perkins helps, as he is very familiar with the Lakers, and does not attempt to hide his feelings of hated toward them.

But like they say, in order to be the champs, you must beat the champs. I'm just not sure that the Thunder are ready to beat the champs quite yet.

The 2011 NBA Playoffs schedule is all set, and while many people are predicting big things from the Oklahoma City Thunder, do they have what it takes to compete for an NBA Championship? 2011 NBA Playoff Predictions: NBA Championship Odds for All 16 Teams

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The NBA Playoffs schedule is out, and we could be looking at a very interesting second round matchup in the Eastern Conference between the Miami Heat and Boston Celtics.

It is the original "Big 3" against the new "Big 3." Which team has the edge?

We all know how the series started. Boston defeated Miami on opening night, and then took the next two meetings after that. But in the last game between these two, with the No. 2 seed much at stake, it was the Heat who toppled the mighty Celtics.

But does that mean that they can beat Boston in a seven game series in the second round?

Boston has more experience. They know how to win close games in the playoffs. They have won championships before, and they can turn it on in the postseason when everyone else leaves their chances for dead.

The Heat are still learning how to play together. Dwyane Wade and LeBron James are still figuring out how to get Chris Bosh involved while still getting their own shots. It is still a work in progress.

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The Celtics know how to play together as a cohesive unit. Rajon Rondo is the catalyst who sparks Ray Allen, Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett. They have a huge advantage at the point guard position, where Miami has no true floor general in the starting five.

I still feel as if the Kendrick Perkins trade will catch up with Boston and coming back to haunt them eventually. But that should not happen against the Heat. Zydrunas Ilgauskas and Jamaal Magloire are not exactly huge inside threats on either end of the floor. I'll take a relatively healthy Shaquille O'Neal and undersized Glen Davis over both of them.

If you want to go to the coaching matchup next, feel free. Doc Rivers has an NBA Championship and another appearance in the NBA Finals. Erik Spoelstra almost seemed destined not to make it through this season at so many different times.

Are you starting to see a pattern develop?

Boston has so many edges that this may not even be that close of a series. Sure, Miami has home court advantage, but you can barely call it a big one. This is the same team who had to put on the internet how to be a true fan and when to cheer for their team.

Seriously. You can't make this stuff up if you tried.

Both teams still have to take care of a little bit of business first. Miami has to beat the Philadelphia 76ers in the first round, which should be no problem, and Boston has to defeat the New York Knicks. While many people say that will be the best series in the first round, Boston will still come out on top in either five or six games.

So when Boston meets Miami in the second round, go ahead and remember what I have clearly illustrated.

The Celtics will once again cool off the Heat and advance to the Eastern Conference Finals, where they will meet the Chicago Bulls.

The NBA Playoffs schedule is out, and we could be looking at a very interesting second round matchup in the Eastern Conference between the Miami Heat and Boston Celtics. 2011 NBA Playoff Predictions: NBA Championship Odds for All 16 Teams

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The 2011 NBA Playoff brackets have been set, and a classic rivalry looms for two storied franchises as the Boston Celtics will take on the New York Knicks.

The Celtics are too old. They have too many injury question marks. The team is wearing down. The players don't have the heart anymore.

Is any of this sounding familiar?

It should, because we hear it almost every year around this time. The Celtics know how to put things into cruise control and then turn it on once the postseason rolls around. The Los Angeles Lakers do the same thing, and people also get all over them as well.

It is called experience, people. They say that youth will be served, but experience has won out over the past three or four years.

Age will not affect the Celtics. Neither will a losing streak. What will catch up to Boston at some point will be their lack of size inside, especially as the playoffs progress.

I am not one to question Celtics general manager Danny Ainge, who after taking heat for many years while saying he had a plan, but this great squad together and basically began talk of "The Big 3" throughout the league.

But when he traded Kendrick Perkins to the Oklahoma City Thunder at the 2011 NBA Trade Deadline, I knew it would catch up to them at some point in the postseason. It may not be against the New York Knicks or Miami Heat. It may not even hurt them if they are able to meet the Chicago Bulls in the Eastern Conference Finals.

But if Boston is fortunate enough to advance to the 2011 NBA Finals, and especially if they run into a rematch with the Lakers, it will once again be lack of size and depth inside that dooms their hopes of winning an 18th NBA Championship.

MUST READ: Playoff Odds For All 16 Teams

But don't count out the Celtics quite yet. Rajon Rondo is still one of the most talented point guards in the playoffs. he is still surrounded by Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce. If they can get some bench minutes out of Jeff Green and if Shaquille O'Neal can give them anything, this is not a team who will go down quietly.

According to Greg Payne of ESPN, Pierce is ready for the first round series with the Knicks, and it could be the type of spark they need to make another run to the championship.

"It's going to be a very interesting series," said Pierce. "I know everybody's going to tune in to watch it. I know this is going to be as exciting as probably that series versus the Lakers last year, or even the series we had [two years ago] versus the Bulls. I think it's going to be very exciting for the fans to watch."

It could be an interesting series to start the first round. But it will end like most series in the Eastern Conference playoffs for the Celtics in recent years.

In victory.

The 2011 NBA Playoff brackets have been set, and a classic rivalry looms for two storied franchises as the Boston Celtics will take on the New York Knicks. 2011 NBA Playoff Predictions: NBA Championship Odds for All 16 Teams

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The NBA Playoffs start for many teams tomorrow, and the Los Angeles Lakers have to find a way to quickly turn things around if they expect to make a run at another NBA Finals.

The 2011 NBA Playoff brackets have been set, and although they have been struggling mightily as of late, it appears as if the Los Angeles Lakers may have the easiest matchup in the first round, as they take on the New Orleans Hornets, who will be without David West.

Chris Paul is good, but even Houdini himself could not imagine a scenario in which the Hornets could sting the Lakers badly enough to pull off the upset of upsets.

The Lakers are a frustrated bunch right now. Kobe Bryant has more verbal on the court, and his poor choice of words just cost him $100,000 for directing a homophobic slur at a referee. Phil Jackson is talking about things that he shouldn't be, and that won't even concern him if he does indeed retire, and Andrew Bynum is hurt once again right as the playoffs are about to start.

The Lakers are a team in turmoil once again with the postseason looming.

But what else is new?

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Doesn't this happen almost every season? The Lakers struggle, everyone says that they are all through, and then they hold a parade toward the end of June celebrating another NBA Championship. I think we have seen this before.

So why does everyone worry about them so much? If you are a fan of the Lakers, you should relax. You have got to be used to this by now. If you root against them, you need to realize that you cannot get too excited. They do this more often than not.

If you want one simple reason why Bryant and the Lakers are ready to defend their crown once again, just listen to what ESPN reporter Arash Markazi said happened to the Lakers' star the other day at practice. He met Rudy Ruettiger - yup, that Rudy - the man who is the real life story behind the movie Rudy. It changed his life.

"Bryant was a sophomore at Lower Merion High School when he first saw the movie "Rudy" in 1993," Markazi reported. "He would see it at least a handful of times in theaters and by his estimation, "a hundred" times on tape. Bryant said the film motivated him to work harder than he ever had before and continues to inspire him to be the first one at the practice facility and the last to leave."

Bryant is now once again fueled to carry the Lakers to an NBA title, all because he met the real life Rudy.

Obviously, I'm kidding about the motivation.

The bottom line is that the Lakers don't need any added motivation. Bryant and the rest of his teammates do not need any extra incentive.

Holding another NBA Finals trophy is more than enough motivation and incentive.

The NBA Playoffs start for many teams tomorrow, and the Los Angeles Lakers have to find a way to quickly turn things around if they expect to make a run at another NBA Finals. Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers: Their Top 15 Current Myths