The all anticipated Western Conference playoffs are finally here. On what has been a tight race from beginning to end, there isn’t one team (1-8) that is significantly that much better than the other.

Let’s begin in Hollywood (1 vs. 8) where the Los Angeles Lakers take on the Denver Nuggets. Series scheduled as follows:

Game 1: Sun. April 20, at Staples Center (LA), 3:30 pm ET (ABC).

Sportsbetting.com has the Lakers –8 ½ against Nuggets +8 ½ (-105 juice) with O/U at 224 total pts.   

Game 2: Wed. April 23, at Staples Center; 10:30 pm ET (TNT).

Game 3: Sat. April 26, at Denver, 5:30 pm ET (TNT)

Game 4: Mon. April 28, at Denver, 10:30 pm ET (TNT)

NBA Prediction: LAL –8 ½

The 2 vs. 7 match-up is nothing to sneeze at, as it’s the New Orleans Hornets vs. Dallas Mavericks. This series features two teams that are on complete opposite sides of the spectrum when it comes to playoffs experience.

For NO, no one could have ever predicted the success they’ve enjoyed this season. The downside of that is a team with 0 playoffs experience (except for coach Byron Scott). In contrast, Dallas has been not only in the playoffs, but also in contention virtually every year since Mark Cuban acquired the team.

Series Schedule:

Game 1: Sat. April 19, at NO, 7 pm ET (ESPN)

Sportsbetting.com has Hornets –4 ½ against Mavericks + 4 ½ (-105 juice) with O/U at 193 total pts.     

Game 2: Tue. April 22, at NO, 7 pm ET (TNT)

Game 3: Fri. April 25, at Dallas, 8 pm ET (ESPN)

Game 4: Sun. April 27, at Dallas, 9:30 pm ET (TNT)

NBA Prediction (if Dirk plays): DAL + 4 ½

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