NBA Playoffs: Predicting the Matchups and Winners

It's never too early to take a look at the NBA playoff picture.

The lockout-shortened season has boasted more than its fair share of sloppy basketball, leaving the door wide open for just about anything to happen, including in the playoffs.

While some teams have settled into their niches, others are poised to remain in limbo until the last possible game.

With a little more than a month to go before the start of the postseason, let's attempt to shed some light on how the postseason landscape will shape up and how we can expect it to pan out.

Eastern Conference First Round: (1) Heat vs. (8) Celtics

Series Prediction: Heat in five.

Derrick Rose's groin injury is a blessing without a disguise for Miami.

The Bulls will not be able to maintain the league's best record without Rose, leaving LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and company free to assume the top spot in the East.

Despite the Celtics' struggles with age and injuries, Rajon Rondo will be able to lead them into the postseason.

Unfortunately, their postseason journey is one that will begin—and end—against Miami.

Boston's experience and grit should allow it to avoid the series sweep, but South Beach's finest are too athletic and efficient for the Celtics' aging core and thin supporting cast to keep pace with.

Western Conference First Round: (1) Thunder vs. (8) Trail Blazers

Series Prediction: Thunder in four.

Oklahoma City is not the most cautious of teams, but its explosive offense is enough to ensure its turnover transgressions will not cost it the West's top seed.

While the bottom of the Western Conference is anything but sorted out, Portland has a slightly easier schedule than both the Suns and Jazz. Kyle Lowry's absence also opens the door for the Blazers to sneak past the Rockets.

Even without Gerald Wallace and Marcus Camby, the Blazers boast an impressive set of talent. Raymond Felton is a fighter, and Jamal Crawford has always been a streaky scorer. The team, as a whole, will buckle down and find a way to win games down the stretch.

That being said, the Blazers stand no chance against the Thunder. Oklahoma City has the edge at every position except power forward, where a battle between Serge Ibaka and LaMarcus Aldridge is far from predictable.

Expect to see anything but an upset here.

Eastern Conference First Round: (2) Bulls vs. (7) 76ers

Series Prediction: Bulls in six.

Despite impressive victories against Miami, Orlando and Philadelphia, Chicago will be unable to claim the East's first seed if Derrick Rose continues to sit.

That said, while Rose's status may continue to be uncertain for the rest of the regular season, regardless of the circumstances, he will take the floor come playoff time.

As impressive as Philadelphia has seemed all season, the 76ers will ultimately fall out of the top spot in the Atlantic Division, leaving them to take on the Bulls in the first round.

Philadelphia's ability to force opponents to play defense for a full 24 seconds will wear Chicago down enough to steal perhaps two games, but that's it.

The 76ers have struggled all year against the NBA's elite, and the Bulls aren't about to allow that to change.

Western Conference First Round: (2) Spurs vs. (7) Mavericks

Series Prediction: Spurs in seven.

San Antonio will go unchallenged for the West's second seed as it looks to avoid a first-round upset for the second consecutive year.

Dallas hasn't fared well in defending its NBA title, but it should manage to squeak through into the postseason, where Dirk Nowitzki is at his best.

While the Mavericks actually match up well against the seasoned Spurs, Tony Parker has the ability to create plays for his teammates that Jason Kidd, Jason Terry and Rodrigue Beaubois simply don't.

That will prove to be the difference, as these two veteran teams engage in a battle of epic proportions, one that ends with the reigning NBA champions being sent home early.

Eastern Conference First Round: (3) Magic vs. (6) Hawks

Series Prediction: Magic in six.

The Magic have played dominant basketball at home all year, and their rekindled hope for retaining Dwight Howard long-term will propel them to a strong finish.

One of the biggest surprises all season has been the Hawks. They've played consistent two-way basketball with a limited number of proven players and will end up in the middle of the pack easily.

Al Horford could be back in time for postseason action, but even he will not be enough to lock down Howard.

The Magic's inconsistencies will prevent them from running away with the series, but they will not fall to the Hawks for a second straight year.

Last year's postseason matchup between these two teams was one to forget for Orlando, as Atlanta came out on top in six. This time around, though, it will be the Magic who finish ahead.

Western Conference First Round: (3) Lakers vs. (6) Grizzlies

Series Prediction: Lakers in six.

Los Angeles may not be having the finest of seasons, but with some newly acquired youth in Ramon Sessions, the Lakers have the necessary pieces to ensure a third-place finish.

The Grizzlies will come into this series as an underdog, but in a completely different context from last season. They will no longer be the eighth-seed wonders, but rather, a deeper than advertised team, expected to give the Lakers a run for their money.

And give the Lakers a run for their money they will.

Memphis has the luxury of possessing one of the few perimeter defenders capable of containing Kobe Bryant, at least somewhat, in Tony Allen. The combination of Marc Gasol, Zach Randolph and Marreese Speights also has the potential to fare well against Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol.

However, Bryant is the ultimate postseason weapon, and despite the Grizzlies having additional weapons in Mike Conley and Rudy Gay, the Lakers will prevail here.

Eastern Conference First Round: (4) Knicks vs. (5) Pacers

Series Prediction: Knicks in seven.

The Knicks will not finish with the fourth-best record in the Eastern Conference, but they will overtake the 76ers and claim the Atlantic Division, along with the fourth seed.

Mike Woodson is not completely responsible for New York's recent surge, but his presence—or perhaps the absence of Mike D'Antoni's—has instilled an overdue sense of urgency that will push this team to, at least, broach its potential.

The Pacers will most likely have a better record than the Knicks, but that's the only edge they'll wind up having.

The Knicks will not cruise through the first round, but their depth will be too much for the Pacers in the end.

Western Conference First Round: (4) Clippers vs. (5) Nuggets

Prediction: Nuggets in six.

The Clippers are barely hanging on to the West's fourth seed as it is, but barring another significant injury, they should be able to maintain their position.

The Nuggets have had their share of trials and tribulations as well, but now, at full strength, they are poised to gain some ground in the playoff race.

Los Angeles' roster is laden with household names, but that simply won't be enough to push it past a scrappy Denver team.

All season long, the Clippers have had problems putting lesser opponents away. They've had even more issues defeating playoff-bound teams on a consistent basis.

The Chris Paul and Blake Griffin pairing will prove to be great down the road, but for now, Lob City is headed toward a first-round exit.

Eastern Conference Semifinals: (1) Heat vs. (4) Knicks

Series Prediction: Heat in five.

The Knicks will surprise everyone by winning the Atlantic Division, and surprise even more by advancing through the first round, but that's as far as they'll go.

Jeremy Lin simply isn't ready to lead an offense against a defense like the Heat's, and it's teams like these that bring Amar'e Stoudemire's and Carmelo Anthony's shortcomings to light.

New York has the star power on paper to rival Miami, but on the court, there's little that can be done to hang with LeBron James and Dwyane Wade for an entire series.

Western Conference Semifinals: (1) Thunder vs. (5) Nuggets

Series Prediction: Thunder in five.

The Nuggets' perpetual unselfishness will allow them to keep pace with the speedball tendencies of the Thunder, but only for a limited time.

Oklahoma City has become infamous for unnecessarily competitive contests, so expect many of those here. However, the team has also proven it can come out on top, regardless of how efficiently or poorly it's playing.

Denver is on the cusp of a terrific team dynamic, but most of its roster has only a year of playoff experience under its belt.

It's going to take more than that to derail Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and company. 

Eastern Conference Semifinals: (2) Bulls vs. (3) Magic

Series Prediction: Bulls in six.

At times, the Magic look like an NBA powerhouse, capable of downing even the most talented of squads. On other nights, though, they resemble the Bobcats.

While Orlando's deficiencies will not be enough to prevent it from reaching the Eastern Conference semifinals, it will be enough to keep the Magic from advancing past the Derrick Rose-led Bulls.

Chicago is one of the most consistent teams in the league. Its offense runs like clockwork, and its defense, especially when in the zone, is damn near impenetrable.

Dwight Howard and company will be able to keep the series interesting, but consistent execution prevails in this one.

Western Conference Semifinals: (2) Spurs vs. (3) Lakers

Series Prediction: Lakers in seven.

The Spurs have had a more impressive season than the Lakers, but by this point, Los Angeles' offense will have reached new heights with the incorporation of Ramon Sessions.

Sessions also gives the Lakers someone to keep Tony Parker in check.

Parker thrives off step-back jumpers and taking his man off the dribble, but Sessions' quick hands and feet will force the opposing point guard out of his element more often.

Combine that with Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol and the improved play of Andrew Bynum, and you have a core that provides a tough matchup for San Antonio.

That said, the Spurs have played precision basketball all season. They possess a level of depth the Lakers thirst for and have been absolute road dogs all year long.

That's why this series will come down to the final game—perhaps even the final possession. 

In the end, though, Bryant's two-way impact will push the Lakers through to the next round.

Eastern Conference Finals: (1) Heat vs. (2) Bulls

Series Prediction: Bulls in six.

It cannot be stressed enough how strong the Bulls are with Derrick Rose in the fold.

At full strength, Chicago has the necessary depth to push Miami to the brink every night.

The Heat's interior defense has been less than flattering, a shortcoming that Rose and company will look to exploit possession after possession.

LeBron James and Dwyane Wade are near impossible to defend, but the Heat have been inconsistent this season in their ability to put teams away all year, and the Bulls are a team that will capitalize on such transgressions.

Chicago fell to Miami in five games last year, but by the end of this season's Eastern Conference finals, the tables will have turned.

Western Conference Finals: (1) Thunder vs. (3) Lakers

Series Prediction: Thunder in six.

The Thunder will essentially cruise into the Western Conference finals, while the Lakers will come in exhausted.

Not only is Oklahoma City younger, but the path to get this far will have been far less challenging than Los Angeles'.

Kobe Bryant and company should be able to find the energy to put up a respectable fight, but their defensive ties are not enough to contain the Thunder's plethora of offensive weapons.

Coming in, the Lakers will be able to taste another NBA Finals appearance, yet they will ultimately fall short at the hands of the Kevin Durant-led Thunder.

NBA Finals: Thunder vs. Bulls

Series Prediction: Thunder in seven.

A Bulls-Thunder NBA Finals matchup presents the opportunity to see some of the greatest young basketball minds face off against each other on an almost nightly basis.

The Thunder will have taken a much easier path, by their standards, to make it to the championship round, while the Bulls will come in fresh off two difficult series against the Heat and Magic.

Derrick Rose against Russell Westbrook will be the individual matchup to watch in this one, as Chicago's point guard attempts to solidify his argument as the league's best point guard.

The Bulls defense will be put through the ultimate test, as the Thunder have a knack for breaking down any set that is thrown their way.

Chicago will prove to be Oklahoma City's toughest matchup of the postseason, and while the Bulls will push the Thunder to the brink of disappointment, Kevin Durant will lead his team to an NBA title.

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