NBA Playoff Race in West Preview

For anyone who claims that the NBA is boring, predictable or too drawn out, this year's playoffs should be your remedy. This season has been the most exciting in years. We've seen superstars transform teams, deadline deals gain an edge on rivals and one of the most debated MVP races in decades. On top of that, this year's playoff race - especially in the West - invokes in fans a sense of March Madness.

The West bracket is loaded with elite teams: the eighth-seeded Denver Nuggets have 50 wins, whereas in the East, only the top three seeds have topped 50 this season. The 1-8 matchup pits the red-hot Los Angeles Lakers at home versus the Nuggets, an intriguing first round that will boast more than a handful of All-Stars.

Kobe Bryant leads the Lakers against a high-powered Denver offense anchored by Carmelo Anthony and Allen Iverson, the league's third- and fourth-highest scorers, respectively. Kobe's supporting cast, consisting of swingman Lamar Odom and mid-season acquisition Pau Gasol at center, will create a lot of problems for a Denver defense which surrendered an average of 107.0 points per game this season. The Lakers' balance of high-scoring offense and stellar defense, along with Phil Jackson at the helm, will create a serious first-round obstacle for Iverson and Anthony.

The second-seeded New Orleans Hornets were the biggest surprise this season, losing the Western Conference crown by only one game. Anchored by point guard Chris Paul, who will get votes for MVP, the Hornets will face the battle-tested Dallas Mavericks, who bring their playoff experience and veteran leadership to the Big Easy.

Every year, Dirk Nowitzki and the Mavericks come into the playoffs with a great deal of promise only to fall short, much to the dismay of their animated owner Mark Cuban. Nowitzki's numbers are down since last year, and the Mavericks as a team have not performed to expectations all season long. Although the deadline acquisition of Jason Kidd has helped manage the team's offense, the Mavericks' age may prove to be their kryptonite against New Orleans' run-and-gun offense.

Paul has put up some of the best point guard numbers in years, averaging 21.1 points, 11.6 assists and 2.7 steals per game. He has also lifted his teammates to their highest potential, as Tyson Chandler, Morris Peterson and Peja Stojakovic have all had career years. Look for the Hornets to win their first playoff series since 1993 and move on.

The 3-6 matchup is probably the most highly anticipated in this year's first round as the Phoenix Suns and San Antonio Spurs go to battle once again. Last year, the Spurs defeated the Suns in six games to advance to the Western Conference Finals, but the series was highly competitive and the teams played hard-nosed physical basketball. This year, Steve Nash has two dominating presences in the middle, as Shaquille O'Neal and Amare Stoudamire are healthy and will provide a serious test for Tim Duncan.

Duncan is a force to be reckoned with himself, however, and also has a formidable supporting cast. Point guard Tony Parker and swingman Manu Ginobili are suited for the task of defending against the Suns' seemingly unstoppable offense. The Spurs are painfully efficient on defense, but Nash should be able to pick apart the ins and outs to advance the Suns to the next round. And the winner of this series could be in for a long postseason run, as each of the last nine NBA Finals has featured either Shaquille O'Neal or Tim Duncan.

Finally, the fourth-seeded Utah Jazz and fifth-seeded Houston Rockets will battle to face the winner of the Lakers-Nuggets series. The Jazz, who finished at 54-28 and were the Northwest Division champions, are young and energetic, led by stellar point guard Deron Williams in the backcourt and All-Star power forward Carlos Boozer. Williams averaged 18.8 points per game and 10.5 assists per game and has the leadership ability of Chris Paul on the court. Boozer averaged a double-double this season, with 21.1 points per game and 10.4 rebounds.

Without Yao Ming, the Rockets will have trouble with the Jazz inside, but they can counter that with their perimeter play. Tracy McGrady led the Rockets to 22 straight wins this season, most of them without Yao, and has the capability to take over a game at any point.

The Jazz have no definitive answer for the big play ability of McGrady, but their point guard play and inside presence will get them into the second round.

This year's West bracket is as unpredictable as it's ever been. An eight-seed has knocked off a one-seed only three times in NBA history, but the Nuggets are fully capable of turning the trick.

The potential matchups in the later rounds make any NBA fan salivate: Kobe vs. Shaq (the former teammates), Kobe vs. Paul (the top two MVP candidates), or maybe even a matchup between Paul and Williams (the league's top two young point guards). The bracket is littered with All-Stars and future Hall of Famers, and the possibilities are endless. Each round will be a battle, and whoever comes out of the West will have a great chance at the NBA championship.

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