Heat guard Dwyane Wade (right) drives on Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki during a regular-season game in 2010. (GETTY IMAGES)

The Dallas Mavericks are back in the NBA Finals, a feat very few people outside of Texas considered a possibility.

Dirk Nowitzki will get another opportunity to win that elusive ring, and he’ll have to go through Dwyane Wade and the Miami Heat yet again. This time, Wade has some good company. He’s got wingmen LeBron James and Chris Bosh along for the ride. James and Nowitzki are six regular-season MVPs who’ve never won an NBA championship. One of them will breakthrough this season.

Here are five things to watch in the 2011 NBA Finals:

Mavs try to exorcise their demons from 2006
Five full seasons have already gone by and yet Dirk still gets asked what happened in the 2006 NBA Finals when his Mavericks were up 2-0 and lost the next four to the Heat. If the Mavs lose again to the Heat, Dirk will never be able to live down his failures, which is probably unfair because he’s a future Hall-of-Famer and maybe the best shooting 7-footer the league has ever seen. It’s quite obvious the loss in The Finals in ’06 still stings. Owner Mark Cuban hasn’t gotten over it, Dirk brings it up seemingly every year, Donnie Nelson said the Mavs need to “exorcise demons” and even former coach Avery Johnson becomes bummed whenever the subject of the ’06 Finals comes up. The best way to overcome a fear is to come face-to-face with it and deal with it. When Game 1 of the 2011 NBA Finals tips off on May 31, the Mavericks will be facing their worst fears in the form of the Miami Heat and it’s either they run away from it or overcome it.

Dallas’ bench mob
It’s safe to say that the Mavs wouldn’t be in The Finals if not for the great play of their bench, led by point guard J.J. Barea, Jason Terry and Peja Stojakovic. Terry and Stojakovic have been lights out from 3-point range,  while no one has been able to contain Barea on pick-and-rolls. Just ask Andrew Bynum and Lakers. Barea has made Roddy Beaubois an afterthought, and his energy off the bench is the perfect complement to the walk-it-up style of veteran Jason Kidd. The Heat will counter with Mario Chalmers, but it is highly doubtful he’ll be able to check Barea. Throughout the Western Conference playoffs, the Mavericks killed teams by raining 3-pointers at a record rate. They averaged almost nine 3-pointers made each playoff game and much of their 133 threes came from the fingertips of Terry, Barea and Stojakovic. One way Miami can take control of this series to run Terry and Stojakovic off the 3-point line and make them shoot off the dribble. As for stopping Barea? This may be Miami’s biggest challenge (other than stopping Nowitzki) on defense because Barea is capable of scoring off the dribble or spotting up behind the 3-point arc.

Who will guard LeBron?
Shawn Marion should get the assignment, but don’t be surprised if Mavs coach Rick Carlisle calls DeShawn Stevenson’s number to guard LeBron. It won’t matter. LeBron should dominate this matchup. Right now, James has his jumper working, which is a bad sign for Dallas. James is getting better with his mid-range shot, and has shown a post-up game.

Who will guard Nowitzki?
Ditto for the Heat. Expect Bosh will start on Dirk and then Haslem, who did a decent job on the Mavs superstar in the 2006 Finals. Then, in the fourth quarter, Heat coach Erik Spoelstra should assign LeBron to put the clamps on Dirk – something no one has been able to do in the playoffs. Nowitzki is playing the best basketball of his life, and LeBron and Co. will have their hands full.

Heat vs. Mavericks’ zone defense
The Heat will play their usual air-tight man-to-man defense, but the Mavericks will try to slow down the LeBron, Wade and Bosh using a matchup zone defense. The zone was extremely effective against the Lakers and Thunder, so look for Carlisle to use it against the Heat as a change-of-pace scheme and also to force the Heat to make jump shots and prevent LeBron and Wade from getting to the paint. The Sixers, Celtics and Bulls were unable to keep LeBron and Wade from getting to the free throw line as the Heat made 349 free throws in the Eastern Conference playoffs. One way to keep the Heat from getting to the foul line is keeping LeBron and Wade from driving to the basket and make them make tough jump shots. Expect Spoelstra to use 3-point specialists James Jones, Mike Miller and Mike Bibby to attack the Mavs’ zone defense and space the floor, helping create driving lanes for his two superstars.

Prediction: Heat in six.

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Los Angeles Lakers center Andrew Bynum (right) goes up for a shot against Dallas Mavericks center Tyson Chandler. Bynum and the Lakers were swept by Chandler and the Mavericks in the second round of the Western Conference playoffs. (US PRESSWIRE)

Two words come to mind after the Lakers were swept by the Mavericks in the 2011 Western Conference semifinal series: heartless and classless.

The Lakers, the two-time defending champions and the model franchise for the past three decades in the NBA, did not display the heart of champion nor the poise of a champion in Game 4 at Dallas. The Mavericks eliminated the Lakers in spectacular fashion, dropping seemingly endless 3-pointers in a 122-86 win, ending the Lakers’ reign and sending Phil Jackson into early retirement.

What compounded the embarrassment was the way the Lakers reacted in the fourth quarter. With the game out of reach and with just nine minutes to play, Lakers forward Lamar Odom gave Mavs All-Star Dirk Nowitzki a hard shoulder check 23 feet from the basket. Odom’s flagrant foul resulted an ejection.

But that wasn’t enough. Moments later, Lakers center Andrew Bynum joined Odom in the locker room after he intentionally threw an elbow to the ribs of J.J. Barea as Barea drove to the basket, sending the Mavs guard to the floor hard. It was a dangerous move that could have ended Barea’s season. Mike Tirico called it “bushleague,” and Hubie Brown, one of the most respected men in the game, said “amen” to Tirico’s claim. It was a despicable act by a player who totally lost his cool and didn’t know how to accept defeat. It’s a loser’s mentality.

The cheap shots did not sit well with the Maverick, as well Laker legend Magic Johnson. Johnson said, “In Game 4, the Los Angeles Lakers embarrassed the organization by getting blown out by the Dallas Mavericks. Classless acts on physical and hard fouls by Lamar Odom and Andrew Bynum. That should have never happened. You have to show class when you win, and you have to show class when you lose. And the Lakers did not show class in Game 4.”

Two games prior to Game 4, Ron Artest delivered a forearm shot to Barea’s head during the final moments of a Laker loss at Staples Center. It resulted in a one-game suspension for Artest, as he had to sit out Game 3.

Those three incidents have no place in basketball. Magic is completely right in saying that the Lakers were classless in defeat, which is a shame because it showed poor sportsmanship from all three players involved. There’s a different between hard fouls in the heat of the moment during a series when the games are still within reach, and cheap shots. Those were clearly cheap shots. There are unacceptable and it shows the true character of a person. It’s easy to ride the wave of emotion when things are going well, but it’s hard to swallow a bitter defeat. However, losing doesn’t give anyone the green light to start get violent against the competition.

Odom said he did what he did because he was embarrassed. Bynum said he wasn’t disappointed in himself for nearly sending Barea to the hospital. Well, if Bynum is not disappointed in himself then it is extremely disappointing to hear his response.

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Blazers All-Star guard Brandon Roy had a major breakthrough in Game 4 of the Western Conference first-round series against the Mavericks. (US PRESSWIRE)

Just a few days removed from his postgame meltdown in which he questioned his coach for not giving him enough minutes, Brandon Roy is officially back as an NBA superstar.

With his surgically repaired knees holding up just fine, Roy delivered one of the greatest fourth-quarter performances in playoff history when he carried the Trail Blazers to a come-from-behind win against the shell-shocked Mavericks, 84-82.

Roy, who was 9-of-13 from the field in 24 minutes, scored 18 of his 24 points in the fourth, a quarter in which the Blazers – who trailed by as much as 23 points in the second – outscored the Mavs 40-15.

“After what I’ve been through this year, there were times when I didn’t know if I’d ever play basketball again,” Roy said after the game. “When we were down 20 points, I had to step up my play. I had nothing to lose. It was a special night, and I’ll remember it forever.”

With 39.2 seconds left, Roy made a go-ahead bank shot over Shawn Marion that gave the Trail Blazers an 84-82 lead. Dallas had an opportunity regain the lead, but Jason Kidd’s wide-open 3-pointer sailed wide right and didn’t draw iron. Portland became the third NBA team in the shot clock era to win a playoff game when trailing by 18 points or more heading into the fourth quarter. The series is now tied at 2 apiece.

“Brandon just did a great job of being poised,” said Blazers coach Nate McMillan. “There is nobody, including Brandon Roy, that wants to see him on the floor as much as I do. We all up here in Portland know what he’s capable of doing, and tonight was the Brandon Roy of old. I mean he took the game on his shoulders and carried the team, willed the team, to a win.

“In the fourth quarter, I saw the Brandon of old. I mean he wasn’t passing the ball. He was gonna take the shot and he was gonna live with the result.”

McMillan added: “You could just see it in his eyes that he was going to take control of this game.”

Roy’s incredible performance wasn’t lost on his peers.

Chris Paul posted on his Twitter page: “Too happy for B.Roy! Really good dude and unstoppable when he’s feeling good… He deserves the spotlight. True Leader!”

Quentin Richardson tweeted: “S/O to B-Roy!! Dude did his thing out there tonite. Especially after what he’s gone thru wit the injuries. He was amazing out there tonite!

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Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol have reached the NBA Finals three consecutive years. Can they make it a fourth this season? (GETTY IMAGES)

Since the L.A. Lakers acquired – or stole, depending on how you interpret the historic heist – Pau Gasol from the Memphis Grizzlies in 2008, the Lakers have been to the NBA Finals three consecutive years. They lost to the Celtics in 2008, defeated the Magic in 2009 and outlasted the Celtics in seven brutal games in 2010.

As the 2011 NBA playoffs is about to begin, the Lakers are once again heavy favorites to reach the NBA Finals. This will be their fourth consecutive trip into June, which is unchartered territory. Not since the Showtime Lakers (1982-85) has an NBA team logged so much playoff mileage. It’s equivalent to almost two full regular seasons. So, the biggest question facing the Lakers in the 2011 playoffs is this: Do they have enough left in the tank to advance past the Western Conference and reach a fourth straight NBA Finals? The answer lies in the legs of Andrew Bynum. If Bynum stays healthy, the Lakers should be back in the Finals. If not, and Bynum has shown to be vulnerable to knee injuries (he hyperextended his right knee recently against the Spurs) then the West is wide open.

FIRST ROUND

(1) San Antonio Spurs vs. (8) Memphis Grizzlies
The Spurs shot out like a cannon and ran away with the best record in the West, but they didn’t exactly finish the race strong. Gregg Popovich carefully managed the minutes of Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker to save their legs for the playoffs. Now that the playoffs are here, it will be interesting to see if San Antonio reverts back to its methodical approach or maintains its uptempo, 3-point attack. Ginobili injured his right arm in the regular-season finale, and if this latest injury turns out to be serious the Spurs’ title hopes could be dashed. The Spurs split their season series with Memphis so the Grizzlies will be a tough out. Prediction: Spurs in 6.

(4) Oklahoma City Thunder vs. (5) Denver Nuggets
Nuggets coach George Karl publicly wanted a matchup with the Mavericks because he thinks his speedy squad will be negated by the extremely fast and athletic Thunder, who now has a defensive anchor in Kendrick Perkins. This series will be a track meet, with speedsters Ty Lawson and Raymond Felton in one lane, and Russell Westbrook and Eric Maynor in another. Prediction: Thunder in 5.

(3) Dallas Mavericks vs. (6) Portland Trail Blazers
This will be the best first-round matchup. The Blazers, bolstered by the addition of Gerald Wallace, will give the Mavs all they handle and then some. LaMarcus Aldridge will probably draw Tyson Chandler because Dirk Nowitzki won’t be able to guard Aldridge in the post. The key to the series will be guard play, and the Blazers have an advantage over the smaller guards of Dallas. And if Portland can get 20 quality minutes per game from Brandon Roy then the Mavs are in deep trouble. Prediction: Blazers in 6.

(2) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (7) New Orleans Hornets
The Lakers swept the Hornets during the regular season and they should sweep the Hornets again in the postseason. The Hornets simply do not have enough size to compete with L.A.’s formidable frontline, and Chris Paul needs to play out of his mind just to eek out a game against the defending NBA champs. Prediction: Lakers in 4.

CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS

(1) San Antonio Spurs vs. (4) Oklahoma City Thunder
A classic battle of The Old & the Beautiful” against “The Young & the Very Restless.” The Spurs swept the Thunder during the regular season, but their last contest was in February and the Thunder have since retooled their starting lineup and now have Perkins to protect the basket, grab rebounds and set hard screens. Perk also brings a nasty streak to the mix, something the Thunder sorely needs. Originally, I had the Spurs winning this series in seven hard-fought games. But Ginobili’s sprained right arm could be troublesome for Gregg Popovich and Co., and without a healthy Manu the Spurs become extremely ordinary. The Thunder pushed the Lakers to limit last year, and this year they push the Spurs out of the playoffs. Prediction: Thunder in 6.

(2) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (6) Portland Trail Blazers
The Lakers-Blazers rivalry reached a fever pitch in 2000 and 2001 when the Blazers, led by Scottie Pippen, Rasheed Wallace and Brian Grant, gave the Lakers all they can handle but just couldn’t get over the hump. It’ll be the same story this season as the Blazers will make this a very competitive series with their depth and defense, and may even push this thing to the limit. But in the end, the Blazers’ perimeter players will have no answer for Kobe and their frontcourt won’t  be able to keep up with the Hollywood Hills (Gasol and Bynum). Too bad Roy is a shell of himself these days because the Blazers really need the old Brandon Roy to knock off the champs. Prediction: Lakers in 7.

CONFERENCE FINALS

(2) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (4) Oklahoma City Thunder
This series features two teams from polar opposites of the basketball spectrum. In one corner you have the two-time defending NBA champs with a history full of superlatives. The Lakers are led by one of the all-time greats in Kobe Bryant and L.A.’s three-headed frontcourt of Gasol, Bynum and Lamar Odom is unrivaled in the league. In the other corner you have a franchise that originated in Seattle, but is still very much in its infancy stages. OKC is led by a couple of 22-year-olds: Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. It’s Youth vs. Experience. Power vs. Speed. The Rebel Alliance vs. the Evil Empire. Durant, the young Jedi knight, vs. Kobe, the Jedi master. If the Lakers-Thunder sequel is anything like last year’s epic struggle, basketball fans are in for a treat. Despite getting significantly bigger with the acquisition of Perkins, the “Fast & Furious” Thunder still can’t measure up to “The Big Lake Show.” Prediction: Lakers in 7.

Joel Huerto is the editor and publisher OneManFastBreak.net. Follow him on Twitter at: twitter.com/onemanfastbreak.

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Despite all the hoopla in South Beach, the road to the NBA championship still runs through the Los Angeles Lakers. Size still matters and, last time I checked, the two-time defending champions still boasts the best frontline in basketball.

As good as Kobe Bryant is – and he’s in the Michael Jordan conversation should he win another championship ring – the Lakers’ greatest weapon is their length. Seven-footers Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum (when healthy) form the best twin towers since Olajuwon and Sampson. Then, you add 6-10 Lamar Odom into the mix and you have arguably one of the best and deepest frontlines in league history.

Oh, and the Lakers have a guy name Kobe on their team. I hear he’s pretty good. Bryant remains the most feared clutch player in the league and nobody closes a game better than the Black Mamba. He did it six times last season. Six times! LeBron James doesn’t have six game-winners for his career. And when Kobe is covered, the Lakers can always turn to Derek Fisher. The Lakers’ co-captain is one of the best big-game players in the Association (see Game 3 against the Celtics in the NBA Finals), but his importance stretches beyond the basketball court. Bryant, oftentimes, leans on D-Fish, who is the ONLY player on the Lakers’ roster who has Kobe’s ear – and that includes the assistant coaches.

Phil Jackson insists that this will be his last year. The Zen Master would love nothing more than to close out his Hall-of-Fame career with a 12th NBA championship and his fourth 3-peat. Can’t wait for Phil’s next book. It could titled “The Dirty Dozen,”  and “dirty” in a good way.

The Lakers are the clear-cut favorites to win the West again, and the rest of the conference will be playing for spots 2-8. The last four playoff positions probably wont’ be determined until the last day of the season. Holdovers San Antonio and Denver will be fighting off Portland, Houston, Phoenix, Sacramento and Memphis all season for the fifth and sixth seeds, but the final two berths could come down to the Blazers, Rockets, Suns, Kings and Grizzlies.

OneManFastBreak.net publisher and editor Joel Huerto predicts the eight teams that will make the Western Conference playoffs:

1. LOS ANGELES LAKERS (Projected record: 60-22)
Kobe Bryant has basically accomplished everything in his illustrious career. Should he win another title, it would be his sixth and that would tie him with his idol Michael Jordan. Kobe would have to go through, most likely, Miami or Boston to win his sixth ring and beating LeBron James and Dwyane Wade in The Finals certainly is more impressive than Jordan beating John Stockton and Karl Malone. A sixth championship definitely puts Kobe in the same conversation – dare I say – with The Great MJ, and cements Bryant as the best player of his generation. With a healthy Andrew Bynum, the Lakers boasts the best six-man rotation in the Association: Fisher, Kobe, Ron Artest, Gasol, Bynum and Odom.

Derek Fisher, Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom are all back to defend their NBA title. (REUTERS)

2. OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER  (Projected record: 59-23)
Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook will benefit from their experience in the FIBA World Championship, and the Thunder will make that leap from pretenders to contenders. Oklahoma City gave the Lakers a run for their money during last year’s playoffs, extending the series to six games on pure youthful exuberance. Now, with another year under their belts, Durant and Co. should win the Northwest Division and challenge for homecourt in the Western Conference. Speaking of KD, the reigning NBA scoring champion showcased his clutchness during the FIBA Worlds, as he almost single-handedly carried Team USA to the gold medal. Many experts are picking Durant to win the MVP, and hard to disagree with that prediction. Here’s another bold prediction: OKC will play the Lakers in the Western Conference finals.

3. UTAH JAZZ  (Projected record: 57-25)
Am I the only one in the basketball who thinks that Al Jefferson is an upgrade over Carlos Boozer? Most observations believe that the Jazz took a step back when the All-Star power forward left town and headed for Chicago. I disagree. When healthy, Jefferson is a very underrated post player, probably one of the five best in the West. He’s a 20-10 player who is taller (6-10 vs. 6-8) than Boozer, who struggled mightily against the Lakers’ lengthy big men during the playoffs. The Jazz are also more versatile with Jefferson, who can play center on occasion, and this allows high-energy guy Paul Millsap more court time. With Boozer gone, there is no doubt that Deron Williams is now the face of the franchise. D-Will is up to the challenge and he should be good enough to lead his team to 55 wins.

4. DALLAS MAVERICKS  (Projected record: 55-27)
The new-look Mavs gave a very weak performance in the first round and got bounced by their nemesis, the San Antonio Spurs. Head coach Rick Carlisle pressed the panic button a little bit during that series and he probably cost his team the series when he failed to insert Roddy Beaubois earlier than he did. Owner/president/head coach/general manager Mark Cuban has publicly pushed for Carlisle to use the lightning-quick Frenchman, who could turn into a major player and make the Mavs more dynamic on offense. He has shown flashes of brilliance, but injuries have derailed his progress. Dirk Nowitzki is a year older, but he continues to play at a very high level. He has more help now with Caron Butler and Shawn Marion, and the addition of center Tyson Chandler will bolster the frontcourt but not enough to overcome the Lakers and the Thunder in the West.

5. DENVER NUGGETS  (Projected record: 53-29)
Having George Karl back is huge for the Nuggets. The players like him and he knows this team better than anyone. All the trade talk that surrounds Carmelo Anthony will disappear should the Nuggets start winning. The addition of Al Harrington provides more firepower to an already potent offense. The health of Nene is key because he gives the Nuggets a legitimate low-post scorer. Chauncey Billups may be a year older, but he remains one of the best point guards in the league. Karl will try to minimize Billups’ minutes by expanding the role of Ty Lawson. The wild card here is J.R. Smith. When Smith is hot, the Nuggets become a special team. When he’s  cold,  the Nuggets become ordinary.

6. SAN ANTONIO SPURS (Projected record: 52-30)
Gregg Popovich is one of the best coaches in the league, and he’ll need all his managerial skills to keep his aging team from falling completely off the playoff chart. Tim Duncan came into training camp in good shape, but it is hard to ignore all the mileage TD has on his odometer. Manu Ginobili signed an extension last year and he rewarded the Spurs with one of his best seasons as a pro. Ginobili remains the X Factor for the Spurs because no one on the roster can duplicate what he can do on the court. This is a contract year for Tony Parker so he’ll be motivated to play well. If the Spurs struggle, don’t be surprised if they trade Tony P. before the deadline. George Hill and DeJuan Blair emerged as big-time contributors last season, and their roles should expand this season. The addition of Tiago Splitter allows Duncan to move to his preferred power forward slot and gives San Antonio a better option at center.

7. PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS  (Projected record: 51-31)
At times, the Trail Blazers seem a little dysfunctional. Brandon Roy wants more touches, Andre Miller is not happy with his role, Rudy Fernandez is homesick and wants to return to Europe, and head coach Nate McMillan can’t seem to find the right combination on the court. But somehow, Portland always manages to get in the playoffs and it’ll be the same story this season. The X factor is Greg Oden. If he can stay upright, which is a big IF, the Blazers could move up in the standings. The odds are stacked against  him, though. The Curse of Sam Bowie is very much alive.

8. HOUSTON ROCKETS  (Projected record: 50-32)
Doctors have told the Rockets to limit Yao Ming’s court time to 24 minutes so, as an insurance policy, Houston picked up Brad Miller. This may be one of the best acquisitions during the offseason. Miller is very familiar with Rick Adelman’s Princeton offense and one of the best passing big men in the league. Kevin Martin and Aaron Brooks gives the Rockets a very explosive backcourt. Both can create their own shot and are fearless. With Trevor Ariza gone, Shane Battier moves back into  the starting lineup. Luis Scola recently signed a long-term deal to stay in Houston and his presence should not be underestimated.

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Kobe Bryant should have no problem leading the Los Angeles Lakers back to the NBA Finals.

Last June, the Los Angeles Lakers were humiliated by the Boston Celtics by 39 points in Game 6 of the NBA Finals at the new Boston Garden. That drubbing is still fresh in the minds of Kobe Bryant and Phil Jackson. Both future Hall of Famers are chomping at the bit to get back to the Finals and redeem their legacy.

No team in the Western Conference has the size nor the strength to push the Lakers. The Lakers run the most explosive and efficient offense in the NBA, and Kobe and Co. play enough defense to get stops late in games. Bryant is determined to win a championship without Shaquille O’Neal and Jackson is determined to move ahead of Red Auerbach in number of championships won by a coach.

Portland is the only team that can match up with the long and lengthy Lakers, but the Trail Blazers are probably a year away from seriously contending for a title.

Manu Ginobili is out with an injured ankle and the wear and tear of all those playoff games are finally getting to Tim Duncan. Despite the fact that Coach Gregg Popovich limited his minutes all season, Duncan’s knees were flaring up so bad that Popovich had to shut him down the last three weeks of the season. The Spurs are old and beaten up. Tony Parker is the only real starter under the age of 30. We could be watching the final stand of a great champion.

Denver, the No. 2 seeded team in the West, is a far better team with Chauncey Billups at the point than with Allen Iverson. But can Coach George Karl count on Carmelo Anthony in a big game? We shall see. Denver faces a formidable foe in New Orleans in the first round, and even though the Hornets have not been playing their best ball lately they still have the best point guard in the league in Chris Paul.

OneManFastbreak.net analyzes and predicts the winners of the Western Conference playoffs:

FIRST ROUND

(1) L.A. Lakers vs. (8) Utah Jazz – This was the easiest series to predict. Jazz are not athletic enough to stay with Kobe and are not tall enough to deal with 7-footers Paul Gasol and Andrew Bynum. LAKERS IN 5.

(2) Denver Nuggets vs. (7) New Orleans Hornets – Before Billups arrived, the Nuggets were a borderline playoff team. With Mr. Big Shot, the Nuggets have a shot at the conference semifinals. NUGGETS IN 7.

(3) San Antonio Spurs vs. (6) Dallas Mavericks – If Devin Harris was still in Dallas, Mavs would be a cinch. But Harris is in New Jersey and Dallas is stuck with Jason Kidd. SPURS IN 6.

(4) Portland Trail Blazers vs. (5) Houston Rockets – In three head-to-head matchups, the home team won each time. It will be no different in the postseason. BLAZERS IN 7.

CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS

(1) L.A. Lakers vs. (4) Portland Trail Blazers – Good news is, the Blazers are good enough to beat L.A. in Portland. Bad news is, the Blazers are not good enough to win in L.A. LAKERS IN 7.

(2) Denver Nuggets vs. (3) San Antonio Spurs – Denver has never advanced past San Antonio in the Duncan era. Billups is poised to show the Nuggets how it’s done. NUGGETS IN 6.

CONFERENCE FINALS

(1) L.A. Lakers vs. (2) Denver Nuggets – After going through a tough series with Portland in the semifinals, the Lakers catch a break and are rewarded with a cakewalk in the conference finals against overmatched Denver. Too much Kobe, Gasol and Bynum. LAKERS IN 5.

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