Los Angeles vs. Denver — Game 1, Sunday (3:00p EDT)

As Johnny Ludden noted, do the Nuggets have the defensive wherewithal to stand up to the potent Lakers and make a series out of it? Yeah, but don’t expect it to happen.

Knowing that the Lakers used to fall asleep defensively, the Nuggets are going to try and win this one with offense, and because you know that Allen Iverson and J.R. Smith are hardly the most efficient scorers on the block, you also know that the Nugs will fall short.

Anyone else want the Lakers to drop a game or two in order to give more rehab time to Andrew Bynum? What I wouldn’t give to see a healthy Bynum working with Kobe and Pau right now ...

Lakers in six.

*****

New Orleans vs. Dallas — Game 1, Saturday (7:00p EDT)

I just think the Mavericks are too big, too long, and too offensively-potent to lose this one. They just match up too well with New Orleans.

It has nothing to do with the Hornets being relative playoff neophytes. That idea means [blippity-bloop]-all once the ball is thrown up. It has everything to do with the length and help defense that renders Chris Paul’s ability to get past Jason Kidd moot, a lack of a rebounding edge on New Orleans’ part, and Avery Johnson’s newfound smack of reality that has led him to choose Brandon Bass over re-treads like Malik Allen or Juwan Howard.

Don’t sleep on these Mavs. They could win a title, and nobody should be surprised.

Mavericks in six.

*****

San Antonio vs. Phoenix — Game 1, Saturday (3:00p EDT)

Phoenix’s defense is worse off than last season, the offense is still the best in the NBA but not quite up to the 2004-07 standards, and Grant Hill’s groin is going to have to prove to me that it will let Grant get up and down the court. On top of that, the Spurs are the champs.

But I don’t see San Antonio scoring enough to pull out a series win. Even against that mediocre Suns defense (ranked 16th in the NBA in defensive efficiency). If Tim Duncan comes out of nowhere to put up huge gobs of numbers, and the Suns can’t stay in front of Mssrs. Parker and Ginobili (somebody’s going to miss Shawn Marion, real soon), then the Spurs have a chance.

Then again, those things will likely happen as it is, and San Antonio could fall short. As it’s been all year, the play and perimeter ability of guys like Mike Finley, Brent Barry, Ime Udoka, and Bruce Bowen will make or break San Antonio’s chances.

Suns in seven.

*****

Utah vs. Houston — Game 1, Saturday (9:30p EDT)

The Jazz are clearly the better team. But they’ll also put teams on the free throw line way too much, defer to Mehmet Okur’s left-elbow three-pointer way too much (I can’t blame them, I think it’s going in every time too), and the Rockets are a defensive robot that won’t let up. They’re like a video game team – the context doesn’t matter, Houston’s defensive ability is there, and the effort never stops.

So give Houston two wins. Maybe three. Talent will out, but the Rockets will make damn sure talent has to work its tail off to pull the "out" off.

Jazz in seven.

(Skeets' hurried addendum, via the public library: Lakers in six, Hornets in seven, Suns in seven, Jazz in six and my hi-speed Internet service provider in zero. Bah. Enjoy the NBA playoffs, everyone!) 

Related: 2008 NBA Playoffs