NBA Predictions: March 20

There are so many storylines in the NBA this season: the Bobcats' run for the playoffs with MJ at the helm, the Hawks' incredible season, the Nets' awful season, and the Celtics holding on to the third seed in the East despite injuries.  These are just a few of them.  When it's all over, though, who will have fought hard enough to make the playoffs, and who will fall a little short?

EAST

1. Cleveland Cavaliers

2. Orlando Magic

3. Boston Celtics

4. Atlanta Hawks

5. Charlotte Bobcats

6. Miami Heat

7. Milwaukee Bucks

8. Toronto Raptors

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9. Chicago Bulls

10. Detroit Pistons

11. Philadelphia 76ers

12. Indiana Pacers

13. New York Knicks

14. Washington Wizards

15. New Jersey Nets

WEST

1. Los Angeles Lakers

2. Dallas Mavericks

3. Denver Nuggets

4. Oklahoma City Thunder

5. Phoenix Suns

6. Utah Jazz

7. San Antonio Spurs

8. Portland Trail Blazers

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9. New Orleans Hornets

10. Memphis Grizzlies

11. Houston Rockets

12. Sacramento Kings

13. Los Angeles Clippers

14. Golden State Warriors

15. Minnesota Timberwolves

PLAYOFFS - ROUND ONE

1. CLE vs. 8. TOR: Cavaliers in 5

2. ORL vs. 7. MIL: Magic in 5

3. BOS vs. 6. MIA: Celtics in 7

4. ATL vs. 5. CHA: Bobcats in 7

1. LAL vs. 8. POR: Trail Blazers in 7

2. DAL vs. 7. SAS: Mavericks in 7

3. DEN vs. 6. UTA: Nuggets in 5

4. OKC vs. 5. PHX: Thunder in 7

PLAYOFFS - ROUND TWO

1. CLE vs. 5. CHA: Cavaliers in 4

2. ORL vs. 3. BOS: Celtics in 7

2. DAL vs. 8. POR: Mavericks in 6

3. DEN vs. 4. OKC: Thunder in 7

PLAYOFFS - ROUND THREE

1. CLE vs. 3. BOS: Cavaliers in 6

2. DAL vs. 4. OKC: Mavericks in 7

FINALS

1. Cleveland vs. 2. Dallas: Cavaliers in 7

Shaq turns out to be the key missing piece that LeBron needed to finally get that ring. The Mavs make a series of it, but in the end the high-powered Cavalier offense is too much for them to handle. Dirk and Kidd will have to wait at least another year to entirely complete that run. 

FINALS MVP: 23 F LeBron James