NBA West Playoffs: Lakers, Spurs, or Hornets?

It's pretty easy to predict the East, so we'll start in the West.

The first one is easy—almost as if it were an Eastern Conference, first round match-up:

1. L.A. Lakers vs. 8. Denver Nuggets

The Nuggets just don't really stand a chance here. Sure they can score, but that's only half of a ballgame.

Kobe and the Lakers advance.



Now, onto the real match-ups:

2. New Orleans Hornets vs. 7. Dallas Mavericks

Lots of people have been claiming that the Mavs’ "playoff experience" will be too much for the bees. However, as a few more perceptive people have noticed, the regular season for the West might as well be the playoffs.

Chris Paul's lack of "playoff experience" did not exactly show in his first game.

Paul lit up the Mavs with 35 points, 10 assists, and four steals to just one turnover.

With Paul in the driver seat, the Hornets will advance.

3. San Antonio Spurs vs. 6. Phoenix Suns

Now we get to see if the Shaq trade will pay off.

The Spurs are a little old now, but the Suns adding Shaquille O’Neal is also a little old. The difference maker is Amare Stoudemire.

Suns advance, and getting Shaq pays off.


4. Utah Jazz vs. 5. Houston Rockets

An intriguing match-up no longer, as the Jazz—being the higher seed—should feel wronged for having to travel for this one.

Props should go out to Utah, however, for taking it to Houston on the road.

It appears that Utah may sweep a very strong Rockets team, and being that they're winning on the road now too, I'd be scared of the Jazz.

 

The Second Round

1. L.A. Lakers vs. 4. Utah Jazz

L.A. is just too good for Utah. The Lakers will not have much trouble dispatching the Jazz.

2. New Orleans Hornets vs. 6. Phoenix Suns

Nash vs. Paul will be interesting, as well as Stoudemire and O’Neal against Chandler and West.

Barbosa, Bell, and Hill facing Peterson, Stojakovic, and Pargo will be just as intriguing.

The match-up of these teams mean a great contest. The Hornets win it in 7.

The Showdown

1. L.A. vs. 2. New Orleans

This will be as epic as the race for the No. 1 seed, but with a different outcome.

This time Chris Paul will win out over Kobe Bryant and represent the West.