There are lessons to be learned from this postseason, where the Denver Nuggets and Toronto Raptors were the first teams sent packing on Monday night. Individual players like Kobe Bryant and Dwight Howard are putting a stamp on their team’s success better than they have at any points in their careers.

Homecourt has again been a storyline, but for different reasons in each series. It has been cause for huge momentum swings in the Boston-Atlanta, Washington-Cleveland and Phoenix-San Antonio series, but been stripped away by the Lakers, Magic and Hornets.

We’re also seeing some potential overhauls of playoff teams if they can’t clear first-round obstacles. It could happen in Denver, where one can’t help but question the leadership ability of Carmelo Anthony and coach George Karl. Tracy McGrady hasn’t delivered fourth quarter production, but what does that mean for the Houston Rockets’ future, both in this series and for the team moving forward?

And what if, just what if, the Hawks pull off a miracle and topple the mighty Celtics?

Here are the answers to those questions as well as some other postseason lessons we’re learning.

Kobe Bryant is the closest comparison we may ever see to Michael Jordan. Bryant has made leaps and bounds this season in terms of leadership ability, and he is finally surrounded by a supporting cast that suits his strengths. Results will obviously speak large volumes about this comparison, but the game - Bryant’s will to win, ability to take over in the fourth quarter, and breathtaking finishes in the lane - are all M.J.-esque.

Bryant and the Lakers may not even need center Andrew Bynum, who has missed three months with a kneecap injury, in order to run through the Western Conference gauntlet. They started with Denver, sweeping a 50-win team for the first time in NBA history.

Homecourt is and always will be a big deal in the NBA playoffs. Intensity is high, and momentum swings are huge. Fans are boosting the home team’s energy and confidence and putting the road team on edge. How else would the Atlanta Hawks beat the Boston Celtics and turn a potential series sweep into a 2-2 tie heading back to Boston?

Josh Smith’s length is officially a problem for the Celtics. He swatted seven shots in the Hawks’ 97-92 over the Celtics on Monday and has averaged 3.8 blocks in the series. He was the biggest beneficiary of Atlanta’s home cooking, averaging 27.5 points on 57.6 percent shooting at home and 9.5 points on 26.1 percent shooting in Boston.

The Suns are still alive, despite being down three-games-to-one in the series against San Antonio. Phoenix remains the only real candidate to come back from a 3-1 hole, especially having already dominated the Spurs in stretches on the road. Veteran leadership with Steve Nash and Shaquille O’Neal has helped them maintain confidence and a sense of urgency without showing any signs of panic.

If the Philadelphia 76ers can re-take the series momentum and knock off the Pistons, this could be the end of the Detroit franchise as we know it. With all the talk about the Suns’ window of opportunity closing, the Pistons haven’t been as well recognized as a team with limited time left to make another championship run. This could come in a number of ways, be it Flip Saunders getting the hook or re-tooling around Chauncey Billups and Tayshaun Prince.

Dwight Howard is an uncontrollable force in the paint, that much we’ve already known, but he appears to really like the attention that a big stage brings. He went for 21 points and 21 rebounds in Monday night’s series clincher, his third 20+ point, 20+ rebound performance in five games against Toronto. He also averaged 3.6 blocks and 7.0 offensive rebounds in five games.

The Washington Wizards did more talking than was for their own good. Ruffling LeBron James’ feathers is not the best strategy for throwing him off his game. DeShawn Stevenson, Gilbert Arenas and a couple of female fans in Toronto have all learned that lesson.

Other Opinions …

NBA Triple Threat wonders, can the young Hawks actually pull off an upset?

Pickaxe and Roll’s plea for more passion
from the Denver Nuggets was answered, but the Lakers still finished off the sweep.

Three Strikes and Out likes Josh Childress’ hair.

Benkoo.com loves this year’s NBA playoffs commercials, and I do, too.

Soundbite Back sees a little bit of everything in the split-screen commercials, including some creepiness.

Dustin Hockensmith is editor of ImaginaryHardwood.com. He can be contacted at dhockensmith[at]fantasysports101.net.