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April 14, 2011
by Dan Feldman
Midseason trades transformed both the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Denver Nuggets for the better. That should result in a competitive, entertaining opening-round series.
by Bradford Doolittle
In the eyes of many, the Heat underachieved in the regular season. The Sixers, on the other hand, accomplished far more than was the preseason consensus. Does Doug Collins' upstart crew actually stand a chance?
by Kevin Pelton
Everyone in the Western Conference seemed to want to play the Dallas Mavericks. The Portland Trail Blazers will get that opportunity. Can they parlay it into a first-round upset?
June 1, 2010
by Kevin Pelton
Breaking down the matchups as the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers get set to square off in the NBA Finals, while also wondering just how much the regular season now tells us about these two teams.
May 16, 2010
by Kevin Pelton
After finally excising rival San Antonio, the Phoenix Suns will look to continue their run in the Western Conference Finals while the L.A. Lakers look for a third consecutive conference crown.
by Bradford Doolittle
Orlando and Boston hook up in a re-match of a terrific playoff season last season, but this time, both teams have their full rosters with which to work.
May 5, 2010
by Bradford Doolittle
Can the Hawks overcome Orlando's dominant defense? Regular-season evidence suggests not.
May 3, 2010
by Kevin Pelton
The matchup between the Suns and the Spurs is loaded with playoff history, but since both teams have changed the personnel around their cores, those past series may not tell us much about what will transpire this time around.
May 2, 2010
by Kevin Pelton
For the third time in as many seasons, the Utah Jazz and L.A. Lakers will face off in the playoffs. This time, Utah had the better regular-season point differential, but advantageous matchups and home-court advantage should make the difference for the Lakers.
May 1, 2010
by Bradford Doolittle
A lot of star power will be on display, as the Cavaliers and Celtics hook up for the big postseason series we thought we were going to get last season.
April 17, 2010
by Kevin Pelton
As Texas rivals square off in the opening round for the second consecutive year, the Spurs boast the superior point differential but Dallas holds home-court advantage. Which edge will prevail?
by Bradford Doolittle
The losers in the mad scramble for good seeds in the West will try to make the best of things in a series that may come down to the respective health of the teams.
April 16, 2010
by Bradford Doolittle
The Cavaliers have been pointing to the postseason ever since they lost last season's Eastern Conference finals to Orlando. Conversely, the Bulls had to battle injuries and adversity right to the end of the regular season just to keep playing. Will Derrick Rose have anything left for LeBron and company?
by Kevin Pelton
The league's youngest team faces the defending champs, but the Lakers and the Thunder are a lot closer statistically than their reputations would lead you to believe.
by Bradford Doolittle
The Hawks may have climbed over the Celtics to land a surprising three-seed in the East, but the Bucks' rise was even more eye-opening. Milwaukee won its most games in nine years, but now enters the playoffs without its best player.
by Bradford Doolittle
All season, the Celtics have been saying they'll be ready for the playoffs. They'll get a chance to prove it against a Miami team that was playing great basketball at the end of the regular season.
by Kevin Pelton
The NBA's two best defensive teams get together as the Magic faces the Bobcats in the first round, but Orlando's superiority on offense gives the Magic the edge.
April 15, 2010
by Kevin Pelton
It's a mismatch of styles as the run-and-gun Suns take on the slow-paced Trail Blazers in the first round. Can Portland overcome the possible absence of Brandon Roy and pull the upset?
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Playoff Preview: Oklahoma City-Denver