In the opening rounds, the only upset that will occur will be the Suns (17) knocking off the Pacers (16). Most of the stronger NBA teams will have no problem defeating the lower ranked teams, and the Spurs and Celtics will use their first round byes to rest their old bodies. As for the Lakers (5), they will face-off with the young Minnesota Timberwolves (28), but the Staples Center crowd should work to their benefit.
In the second round, the Lakers will see a familiar foe walk onto the Staples Center floor. The new-look Denver Nuggets will press their luck and they will be looking to complete the first major upset in the tournament. However, much like the 2009 Western Conference Finals series, the Lakers will prevail in an intense and high octane game.
The other highlighted game in the West bracket will be the Knicks (12) traveling to Orlando to take on Superman and the Magic (8). Despite their loss to the Magic earlier in the season, this newly talented Knicks team is fully capable of stunning the world. Just like the early 1990s, the Knicks and Bulls will battle each-other in the post-season. After beating the Magic, the Knicks’ next opponent will be the high talented, Chicago Bulls (4).
Next: East Bracket