With the NBA playoff picture now set, there is plenty of speculating to be done. In the Eastern Conference, can anyone topple the Boston Celtics? Meanwhile, out in the Western Conference, which team will survive the brutality and make it to the NBA Finals?

EASTERN CONFERENCE

The most intriguing first-round match-up in the East is the Cleveland Cavaliers versus the Washington Wizards. This is the third straight year these teams have faced each other in the first round, and Gilbert Arenas is out for blood. Cleveland remains vulnerable because they lack a reliable second scorer to back up LeBron James. Ultimately, Arenas, along with Caron Butler and Antawn Jamison, will get their revenge and take down the Cavaliers in six games. 

Meanwhile, the other Eastern Conference tussles won’t be nearly as entertaining. The Atlanta Hawks are playing solid basketball, entering the playoffs with 11 wins in their last 18 games, but they will be no match for the Celtics. Similarly, the Detroit Pistons and Orlando Magic should have no problems with the Philadelphia 76ers and Toronto Raptors, respectively. There is just too much talent on the top three seeds’ teams for them to flame out in the first round. 

After the first round, I believe the chalk will advance all the way to the NBA Finals. The Celtics-Pistons match-up in the Eastern Conference Finals will be one of the highlights of the postseason, but there is too much at stake for the aging Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen for them not to make it to the championship round. The Celtics advance to the Finals in six games. 

WESTERN CONFERENCE

In what could be the most exciting first round in NBA history, any of the eight teams in the West could make it to the NBA Finals. No match-up will be a complete walkover, but of all the teams, the Los Angeles Lakers have the easiest first-round series, drawing the Denver Nuggets. The Nuggets squeaked into the playoffs during the last week of the season, but outside of Marcus Camby, they do not play defense and will not be able to hold Kobe Bryant in check. The Lakers win in five. 

All of the other three series are virtual tossups. The Phoenix Suns-San Antonio Spurs series will rival any other series throughout the entire playoffs. Everyone wants to know if the Suns made the right move in acquiring Shaquille O’Neal; the answer is yes. The rejuvenated big man will help the Suns take down the defending champions in an epic seven-game classic. 

In the other two series, I like the Utah Jazz and the Dallas Mavericks to advance, each in six games. Utah will move on simply because the Houston Rockets are without Yao Ming. Tracy McGrady will once again miss out on the second round. Meanwhile, Dallas will beat the New Orleans Hornets because the Hornets don’t have enough experience. It was a hell of a year for the franchise, but it won’t last much longer. 

Moving forward, the Lakers will take down the Jazz in five games and the Suns will dispose of the Mavericks in six, setting up the Bryant-O’Neal match-up everyone wants to see. O’Neal, out to cement his place in NBA history, will play like the Shaq of 10 years ago, and the Suns will make it to the NBA Finals after six games. 

NBA FINALS

The Suns-Celtics series will certainly showcase an exciting brand of basketball, but in the end, the Suns will be hoisting the Larry O’Brien trophy. Amare Stoudemire will neutralize Garnett, and Allen and Paul Pierce won’t have enough to overcome O’Neal, Steve Nash, Leandro Barbosa and co. The Suns take home the championship in six games.