NBA Playoffs

Now that College Hoops is officially over, it's time to turn our attention to the ensuing NBA playoffs.

The East playoff picture is set up about right with the teams sorting themselves and shifting positions very little. The West is very volatile and the scenario seems to change every day as far as who might play whom. One thing about the NBA playoffs is that certain shifting of seeds and homecourts will affect sometime unexpected outcomes.

The West belongs to the Lakers. Against over-coached, methodical execution teams they seem to be able to execute and thrive. Against less-coached, more fastbreak, frenzied teams they seem to be able to make them look silly. Spurs without Ginobili not going to beat them, Rockets not going to beat them. Conversely, teams like Nuggets and Mavericks just don't seem to be able to lock in.

The East is up for grabs. The Celtics are just not as good defensively this year and Garnett is far from a given. The Cavs are better because now they are The King and Mo Williams but the other cast of characters is still not proven enough. Even though I'm a huge LeBron fan, I'm going to have to go with the Magic to win the East.

Lakers over Magic in Finals because Dwight Howard can't make a FT.