On Saturday night the journey begins. Some say the NBA playoffs are to long. Maybe a 2 1/2 month playoff is a bit long like the directors cut of Lord of the Rings but, it is one of my favorite sporting spectacles. Between TNT, ABC and ESPN there is a double header every night (and you usually pay double for that kind of action)! In the past I would simply give my round by round picks at the beginning and never revisit them, unless they make me look good. So this year I will give you a preview of each match up. I will go on the record of picking The Orlando Magic to beat the Dallas Mavericks in 6 games to win the NBA title. Not a popular pick but a pick none the less. We will start in the West...

Lakers v. Thunder
Interesting match up here. The duranchula in his first playoff series versus the champs. The Lakers are struggling as the playoffs begin. Kobe is banged up, Bynum will be a non factor if he even plays, and what is Ron-Ron doing with his hair? Phil Jackson has already started on the refs saying Durant gets to many calls. This will be a high energy entertaining series. But the Lakers will win in the end. Kobe is still Kobe but will be tested. The Lakers have a bunch of question marks but will escape in 6. Thunder would beat a lot of teams in these playoffs, just not Kobe. OKC is a team on the rise and will be a major factor in years to come.

Jazz v. Nuggets
The west gives us another great first round match up. Two great point guards with D-Will and some guy named Chancey. The Nuggets are the tougher team with guys like K-mart and Nene. Utah can fill it up with the best of them, and we all know when you play the (Carlos) Booze you lose! Normally Id take the defensive team with the former NBA champ point guard but....the Nuggets are also a team that can get out of control with the Birdman flying around out there. So Ill go with the slight upset, Utah in 7. Great series. Don't forget that Utah always gets beat by the Lakers in the playoffs and went to the Western Finals 2 years ago. Another disappointing playoff appearance by Melo. The lose of George Carl is to much to over come.

Suns v. Just-Blaze
Great story here with the Suns. Amare was out the door to Cleveland and the rebuilding process was to begin in PHX. Trades fell through and before you knew what hit ya the Suns are the 3 seed. I feel like Nash gave a "Major League" like speech, "Lets just win the whole f#cking thing" at some point in the season. Steve Nash with another MVP like season and Amare is one of the best 5 players in the league. The X-factor is the development of the bench. The Suns don't have the best parts but are one of the best and hottest teams at the end of the season. I cry for the Blazers. No Brandon Roy or Greg Oden and they still make the playoffs.I love there young talent and if they were healthy Id pick em in a second. But like Sam Bowie, the Blazers will be sitting at home watching Durant push the Lakers to the limit. Maybe next year Portland. I fell for ya. Suns n 5.

Dallas v. Spurs
I love Dallas this year. Adding guys like Sean Marion and Caron Butler to a second round team were the best moves all year. The Mavericks have everything you want in a team to make a run to the Finals. There arch rivals are there to welcome them in the playoffs and a lot of experts are putting the Mavs on up-set alert. I disagree big time! The Spurs are leaning on past successes. The Mavs have retooled and don't have that haze hanging over them from the D-Wade/Warriors years. Mavs spank the Spurs in a sweep.

Unlike the top to bottom greatness of the west, the east is chalk. The top 4 teams in the east are really good but the rest....not so much. Off to the East...

Cavs v. Bulls
LeBron and Shaq aren't messing around here. Just a better team top to bottom than the Bulls. Bulls pushed the Celtics to 7 last year in one of the great all time playoff series. But this year, no Ben Gordon to make the big shots. Bulls give it a good effort but get swept. Just not much to analyze here. Classic 1 v. 8 seed mismatch. Looking forward to Shaq back in the playoffs!

C's v. Heat
No doubt about it, this is the hardest to read series in the east. Are the Celtics really done that quickly after winning the title? On paper Miami doesn't have a chance. But much like the Spurs, Boston living on past successes here. If D-wade returns to his Finals self, Heat win. But like the sitcom "Joey" I just don't like the supporting cast and D-Wade will wait till next year when he gets a Chris Bosh to run with. Rondo with a few aging stars have just enough. C's in 7

ATL v. Fear the Deer
The ATL is a scary team for anyone to face in the playoffs. The most young talent in the league and now they have a few playoff years under there belt and home court. The Deer are excited to just be here. The injury to Boget was harder on the team than it was to watch ( and it was ugly). ATL in 5. Hawks are scarier than any Freddy Kruger remake.

Magic v. Bobcats
Well I have the Magic winning the NBA title so of coarse I have them beating the Bobcats. Charlotte is a fun team to watch but its just not happening. Magic aren't the one seed but are just as good as Cleveland. Ill give Larry Brown and MJ a game, Magic in 5.