(3) SAN ANTONIO SPURS VS. (6) PHOENIX SUNS
Series: Spurs lead 1-0*
Regular season: Suns, 3-1
Series has the sexiness of: Fittingly, Eva Longoria
What will happen: It may not be the NBA equal to Yankees-Red Sox in major league baseball or Cowboys-Eagles in the NFL, but Spurs-Suns is a series of two teams that genuinely do not like one another. Phoenix boasts a bevy of All-Star caliber talent in Steve Nash, Amare Stoudemire and newly acquired Shaquille O'Neal, but the Spurs counter that with Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili.
Expect this series to be the tightest of all the first-round playoff series, with the key being the first two games. If the Spurs can hold home court, look for them to advance to Round 2. If the Suns can steal a game in the AT&T Center, it could go the other way. Spurs in 7.

(1) LOS ANGELES LAKERS VS. (8) DENVER NUGGETS
Series: Lakers lead 1-0*
Regular season: Lakers, 3-0
Series has the sexiness of: A 1996 Bea Arthur
What will happen: The Nuggets have scorers in Carmelo Anthony (25.7 points-per-game) and Allen Iverson (26.4), but the Lakers field the best player in basketball with Kobe Bryant in the lineup. L.A. has little in common with the 2007 choke artist Dallas Mavericks and will be too focused and determined to let this one slip away. Lakers in 5.

(2) NEW ORLEANS HORNETS VS. (7) DALLAS MAVERICKS
Series: New Orleans leads 1-0*
Regular season: tied, 2-2
Series has the sexiness of: A horned-rim glasses wearing Tina Fey
What will happen: Hornets had the best record in the West for most of the season, yet they lack playoff experience. The Mavericks have underachieved all season, yet remain dangerous. Look for Dallas to somewhat redeem itself and knock off the Hornets to setup a second-round series vs. the Spurs. Dallas in 7.

(4) UTAH JAZZ VS. (5) HOUSTON ROCKETS
Series: Utah leads 2-0*
Regular season: Jazz, 2-1
Series has the sexiness of: Chloe Sevigny of the HBO series “Big Love”
What will happen: Houston hasn't won a playoff series with star Tracy McGrady in the lineup, and it won't this year either with a nasty pairing against the Jazz. Utah stole home-court advantage, and what an advantage it is, as the Jazz stormed to a league-best 37-4 record at Energy Solutions Arena. Utah in 6.

AND IN THE EAST, LOOK FOR .....

(1) Boston Celtics over (8) Atlanta Hawks in 4.
(2) Detroit Pistons over (7) Philadelphia 76ers in 6.
(3) Orlando Magic over (6) Toronto Raptors in 6.
(4) Cleveland Cavaliers over (5) Washington Wizards in 7.

*Series records are as of press time.

Chuck Blount | 210SA contributor