FIirst round series-by-series glance

FIRST ROUND SERIES-BY-SERIES GLANCE

Here's NBA writer Jerry Zgoda's take on the playoffs, from the first round through the NBA Finals:

WESTERN CONFERENCE

NO. 1 LOS ANGELES LAKERS (57-25) VS. NO. 8 DENVER (50-32)

Season series: Lakers 3-0.

Good luck at setting the over-under line on these games. The Lakers' reward for claiming the top seed with a late-season surge? The 50-victory Nuggets, who lost all three games in the season series before the Lakers acquired Pau Gasol. The Kobe Bryant-Allen Iverson story line will get the attention, but Gasol just might be the player for which the porous Nuggets defense has no answer.

Did you know? Iverson scored 51 points in a Dec. 5 loss to the Lakers, but Carmelo Anthony was held to a 20.7-point average in the three-game series.

Zgoda's pick: Lakers in five.

NO. 2 NEW ORLEANS (56-26) VS. NO. 7 DALLAS (51-31)

Season series: 2-2.

A year after Golden State stunned the 67-victory Mavericks in the first round, Mark Cuban's guys are now the underdogs against a Hornets team that wowed in the regular season but lacks playoff experience. Jason Kidd has the savvy in his marquee matchup with MVP candidate Chris Paul, but not the legs. Watch out for Dirk Nowitzki, who had three 30-point games in April after returning from injury.

Did you know? The Hornets beat the Mavs 104-93 in Jason Kidd's Dallas debut, but the Mavs won 111-98 at home in the season finale when Kidd delivered his 100th career triple-double. The teams split a pair of games after Kidd arrived from New Jersey.

Zgoda's pick: Mavericks in seven.

NO. 3 SAN ANTONIO (56-26) VS. NO. 6 PHOENIX (55-27)

Season series: Suns 3-1.

A series worthy of the Western Conference finals, but in the first round? The teams meet in the playoffs for the fourth time in six years and for the second consecutive season, with the Suns theoretically remade for success now that they've added big Shaquille O'Neal. No better test than Tim Duncan right away, huh? The Suns were 2-0 against the Spurs with O'Neal and won twice in San Antonio (one with Shaq). The series features the two best sixth men in the land: Manu Ginobili and Leandro Barbosa.

Did you know? Duncan shot 15-for-40 in two games against Shaq and the Suns. O'Neal averaged 15 points and 12.5 rebounds in those games.

Zgoda's pick: Suns in six.

NO. 4 UTAH (54-28) VS. NO. 5 HOUSTON (55-27)

Series series: Jazz 2-1.

The Rockets are the lower seed but have home-court advantage, just as they did last season against the Jazz when they led the series 3-2 and lost in seven games. That was their second first-round playoff exit in the Tracy McGrady-Yao Ming era. The Rockets, who lost Yao for the season in February, went 9-7 after compiling that 22-game winning streak, second-longest in NBA history. Rockets point guard Rafer Alston is likely to miss the first two games because of a strained hamstring, an absence that could push reserve guard Bobby Jackson, the former Gopher, center stage. The Jazz owns the league's best home record, 37-4.

Did you know? The Rockets are one of only four teams to beat the Jazz in Salt Lake City, and they did it with McGrady scoring 47 points way back on Nov. 1.

Zgoda's pick: Jazz in six.

EASTERN CONFERENCE

NO. 1 BOSTON (66-16) VS. NO. 8 ATLANTA (37-45)

Season series: Celtics 3-0.

ESPN recently asked the two most ridiculous questions ever posed. No. 1: Can't get enough of Mike Tirico (a promo for their podcasts)? No. 2: Can the Hawks spring the upset (a website poll)? The Hawks haven't played a playoff game since 1999, the league's longest active absence. The Celtics recorded the single greatest turnaround in NBA history, from 28 victories last year to a league-best 66. The Hawks average 24.8 years and less than four seasons of NBA experience, while Paul Pierce is the youngest of the Celtics' Big Three at 30. The Celtics, aiming for the franchise's 17th championship, held the Hawks to 89 points or fewer in all three games.

Did you know? The difference between the No. 1 and 8 seeds in the West was seven victories. In this East matchup, it's 29.

Zgoda's pick: Celtics in four.

NO. 2 DETROIT (59-23) VS. NO. 7 PHILADELPHIA (40-42)

Season series: Tied 2-2.

Philadelphia's Maurice Cheeks would be Coach of the Year if his team had won more than 40 games. He took a team nobody thought had a chance at the playoffs and led it there. The Sixers, recovered from last season's Allen Iverson trade, went 22-11 since early February and won their past two meetings with Detroit, 83-82 at Detroit on March 12 and 101-94 at home on April 9. Pistons coach Flip Saunders says his team is prepared. It had better be: His job could be on the line if the Pistons don't play into June.

Did you know? The Pistons have reached the Eastern Conference finals each of the past five seasons but last reached the NBA Finals when they lost in seven games to San Antonio in 2005.

Zgoda's pick: Pistons in six.

NO. 3 ORLANDO (52-30) VS. NO. 6 TORONTO (41-41)

Season series: Magic 2-1.

Two of the better three-point-shooting teams in the league, but this one might come down to the player who prevails on the inside: Orlando's blossoming center Dwight Howard or Toronto forward Chris Bosh, who averaged 33 points in three games against the Magic before missing the last meeting. The Magic lacks a real power forward; Rashard Lewis is as close as it gets. But Howard, the league's best center, will prove to be even more of a nightmare for poor Rasho Nesterovic.

Did you know? Howard shot 71 percent (27-for-38) in three games against the Raptors.

Zgoda's pick: Magic in five.

NO. 4 CLEVELAND (45-37) VS. NO. 5 WASHINGTON (43-39)

Season series: Tied 2-2.

The teams meet in the first round for the third consecutive year; the Cavs have won the past two meetings. The Wizards expect Gilbert Arenas, out since November, back for today's opener. The Cavs finished the season 15-13 after shaking up their team with that big trading-deadline deal that sent Larry Hughes and Drew Gooden to Chicago and brought Ben Wallace, Joe Smith, Wally Szczerbiak and Delonte West in return. TNT analyst Charles Barkley called the Wizzes "the dumbest team in the history of civilization" in a conference call with reporters.

Did you know? LeBron James averages 27.3 points, 8.1 rebounds and 7.1 assists in 33 playoff games. No one in NBA history who played at least 20 games had surpassed 25 points, seven rebounds and six assists.

Zgoda's pick: Cavaliers in seven.

SECOND ROUND

Western Conference

Lakers over Jazz, seven games

Suns over Mavericks, six games

Eastern Conference

Celtics over Cavaliers, five games

Pistons over Magic, six games

CONFERENCE FINALS

West: Lakers over Suns, seven games

Eastt: Celtics over Pistons, six games

THE FINALS

Celtics over Lakers, six games

L.A. LAKERS VS. DENVER

Sunday: at L.A. Lakers, 2 p.m.

Wednesday: at L.A. Lakers, 9:30 p.m.

Next Saturday: at Denver, 4:30 p.m.

April 28: at Denver, 9:30 p.m.

If necessary

April 30: at L.A. Lakers, TBA

May 2: at Denver, TBA

May 4: at L.A. Lakers, TBA

NEW ORLEANS VS. DALLAS

Today: at New Orleans, 6 p.m.

Tuesday: at New Orleans, 6 p.m.

Nex t Friday: at Dallas, 7 p.m.

April 27: at Dallas, 8:30 p.m.

If necessary

April 29: at New Orleans, TBA

May 1: at Dallas, TBA

May 3: at New Orleans, TBA

SAN ANTONIO VS. PHOENIX

Today: at San Antonio, 2 p.m.

Tuesday: at San Antonio, 8:30 p.m.

Next Friday: at Phoenix, 9:30 p.m.

April 27: at Phoenix, 2:30 p.m.

If necessary

April 29: at San Antonio, TBA

May 1: at Phoenix, TBA

May 3: at San Antonio, TBA

HOUSTON VS. UTAH

Today: at Houston, 8:30 p.m.

Monday: at Houston, 8:30 p.m.

Thursday: at Utah, 9:30 p.m.

Next Saturday: at Utah, 9:30 p.m.

If necessary

April 29: at Houston, TBA

May 2: at Utah, TBA

MAY 4: AT HOUSTON, TBA

Boston vs. Atlanta

Sunday: at Boston, 7:30 p.m.

Wednesday: at Boston, 7 p.m.

Next Saturday: at Atlanta, 7 p.m.

April 28: at Atlanta, 7 p.m

If necessary

April 30: at Boston, TBA

May 2: at Atlanta, TBA

May 4: at Boston, TBA

DETROIT VS. PHILADELPHIA

Sunday: at Detroit, 5 p.m.

Wednesday: at Detroit, 6:30 p.m.

Next Friday: at Philadelphia, 6 p.m.

April 27: at Philadelphia, 6 p.m.

If necessary

April 29: at Detroit, TBA

May 1: at Philadelphia, TBA

May 3: at Detroit, TBA

ORLANDO VS. TORONTO

Sunday: at Orlando, 11:30 a.m.

Tuesday: at Orlando, 6:30 p.m.

Thursday: at Toronto, 6:30 p.m.

Next Saturday: at Toronto, 2 p.m.

If necessary

April 28: at Orlando, 6:30 p.m.

May 1: at Toronto, TBA

May 3: at Orlando, TBA

CLEVELAND VS. WASHINGTON

Today: at Cleveland, 11:30 a.m.

Monday: at Cleveland, 6 p.m.

Thursday: at Washington, 7 p.m.

April 27: at Washington, noon

If necessary

April 30: at Cleveland, TBA

May 2: at Washington, TBA

May 4: at Cleveland, TBA