The NBA regular season has come to an end and the playoffs have just begun. The rankings have been sorted out and great match ups are lined up. I’ll be taking you through a look of the playoff picture and giving you my game by game predictions from Round 1 to the Finals.

Let’s start with the first round of the playoffs in the East.

Game 1: #1 Cleveland Cavaliers vs. #8 Chicago Bulls

The Cavaliers started planning for this years playoffs the second the Orlando Magic took them out of last years playoffs. They did everything from bringing in the other superman, Shaquille O’Neal, to trading long time center Zydrunas Ilgauskas for veteran forward Antawn Jamison, to bringing back Big Z. Not to mention, they still have this Lebron James guy running the show and averaging 29 points, 7 assists, and 7 rebounds a game. The Cavs got off to a rough start this season, but have since righted the ship and lead the way to the best record in the league.

The Bulls started the season slow, but finished the regular season strong passing the Raptors for the final 8^th seed in the playoffs. All-Star Derek Rose has summoned his inner Michael Jordan leading his team in points and assists and looks to help guide his team back to a Bulls dynasty.

Prediction: Cleveland Cavaliers (4-1)

I see this series going 5 games with the Cavs going to the next round.

The Cavs have too good of a defense and too strong of an offense for the Bulls to stop. I see the Bulls possibly taking 1 game with a perfect game by Rose and possibly a last second shot, but King James will not be contained. James and the gang have one goal in mind and that’s the title. The Bulls just happen to be their first victims.

Game 2: #2 Orlando Magic vs. #7 Charlotte Bobcats

All-Star “Super” Dwight Howard will look to fly his team through the playoffs and back to the Finals with All Star “Vinsanity” Vince Carter now at his side. Carter was brought in to help the Magic offensively because of his ability to create shots on his own and the ability to give them a go to guy when it gets down to the last seconds.

For the Bobcats, it’s the team’s first playoff appearance in existence. Head Coach Larry Brown has done a great job turning this franchise into a playoff team and Gerald Wallace has become one of the leagues most consistent players averaging 18 points and 10 rebounds a game. The addition of Stephen Jackson also brings more toughness to the Bobcats defense to go with his sharp shooting scoring abilities.

Prediction: Orlando Magic (4-0)

I see the Magic sweeping the Bobcats taking all four games straight.

Howard and his super friends will show to be more of a powerful presence for the Bobcats who just don’t have the kryptonite to stop them. Howard will dominate on the inside and the league leading team in 3-pointers will make it rain.

Game 3: #3 Atlanta Hawks vs. #6 Milwaukee Bucks

The Hawks look sharp. All Star Joe Johnson can score at ease and the addition of Jamal Crawford gives them another scoring threat coming off the bench. The Hawks showed more growth and maturity this year and with the season sweep of the Boston Celtics, they showed that they can also beat the elite teams in the East.

The Bucks lead by rookie guard Brandon Jennings, have done a great job in turning this ball club into a winner. Guard/Forward John Salmons has turned into the teams leading scorer and Carlos Delfino brings a surprising toughness and edge to the team.

Prediction: Atlanta Hawks (4-0)

The Bucks are heading into this series without their starting center Andrew Bogut who could have been the teams X-Factor against the Hawks.  The Hawks have too many weapons on both sides of the court and they will use them to fly on the offensive side and to lock down on the defensive side.

Game 4: #4 Boston Celtics vs. #5 Miami Heat

The Celtics have had a rollercoaster ride of a season this year. They have dealt with multiple injuries to possible trade rumors, but what they still have is a championship team. Doc Rivers is still the mind controlling the team. Paul Pierce is still the captain leading the charge. Ray Allen is still the sharpshooter hitting all marks. Rajon Rondo has become the vision guiding his teammates through the lanes. And Kevin Garnett is still the heart and soul that keeps them together.

Dwayne Wade and his Miami Heat have caught on fire and picked a good time to do so. The Heat won 12 out of 15 games in March and have won 11 out of 12 games to close the season. Wade has carried this team on his back as usual, but look for Michael Beasley to step up and possibly have a breakout series in this matchup.

Prediction: Boston Celtics (4-3)

Wade and the Heat will put up a good fight, but the Celtics will get everything together and show that they are still a championship quality ball club.

Now let’s take a look at the first round in the West.

Game 1: #1 Los Angles Lakers vs. #8 Oklahoma City Thunder

Kobe Bryant and the reigning NBA championship Lakers look to repeat and bring title number 17 back to LA. The Lakers add veteran Ron Artest to a starting lineup that won 57 games this season and center Pau Gasol has answered Bryant’s challenge for great play and more effort by improving his numbers from a year ago.

Oklahoma City lead by this years scoring champ Kevin Durant caped of a long season by locking in the 8^th seed. This young, but very talented team can run with the best of them and Durant can score from anywhere he wants. The improved play of Russell Westbrook paired with Durant gives the Thunder a dynamic duo that the league should not overlook.

Prediction: Los Angles Lakers (4-2)

The Thunder look young and hungry and will give the Lakers a tough fight. I see each game in this series being close. Durant will have amazing numbers, but Bryant will show why he’s arguably the best player in the league.

Game 2: #2 Dallas Mavericks vs. #7 San Antonio Spurs

The Mavs played great basketball all year, but the best move they could have done was to ship Josh Howard out of town to bring in Caron Butler. Butler brings playoff experience paired with defensive toughness and an offensive ability to score inside or out. Jason Kidd has shown that age hasn’t slowed him down as his numbers in points and assists have gone up from last season. And let’s face it, they still have Dirk Nowitzki who is still one of the elite players in the league.

The Spurs are always a playoff threat as long as they have Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginobili on the team. Duncan is a consistent leader and Parker and Ginobili can each put up big numbers on any given night. The Spurs also bring in a great defender and slasher in Richard Jefferson and have been able to get great production out of veteran Antonio McDyess and Rookie DeJuan Blair.

Prediction: Dallas Mavericks (4-2)

The Mavericks are playing with a lot of fire and passion right now going 23-6 since the trade for Butler and I don’t believe that the Spurs can stop them. Nowitzki will dominate this match up and lead the Mavs into the next round.

Game 3: #3 Phoenix Suns vs. #6 Portland Trail Blazers

Steve Nash and the Suns have gotten back to playing high tempo run and gun basketball and Amare Stoudemire had an amazing April closing the season averaging 26 points a game.

Head Coach Nate McMillan has kept his team on track and despite over coming multiple injuries to key players, they still secured the 6^th seed. The Trail Blazers add veteran point guard Andre Miller and veteran center Marcus Camby, but it’s been the surprising play of LaMarcus Aldridge and Nicolas Batum that has kept the team in the hunt.

Prediction: Phoenix Suns (4-0)

The recent injury to All-Star Brandon Roy takes away any shot of the Trail Blazers advancing to the next round. Nate McMillan has done a great job working past all the injuries, but it’s harder to do that in the playoffs and without your team captain.

Game 4: #4 Denver Nuggets vs. #5 Utah Jazz

The Denver Nuggets have shot out of the gates in a blaze. Carmelo Anthony has become the driving force of this club averaging a career high 28 points a game and has helped lead this team to a 53-29 record. Chauncey Billups has been consistent and has lived up to the title of Mr. Big Shot, but the Nuggets have also gotten extra production out of swingman J.R. Smith and rookie guard Ty Lawson.

The Jazz aren’t the flashiest team in the league, but Head Coach Jerry Sloan has his team playing perfect executed team basketball. Deron Williams is a natural floor general and Carlos Boozer is a tough big man. They also are getting great production coming off the bench with Paul Millsap who is averaging 11 points and 7 rebounds a game.

Prediction: Utah Jazz (4-3)

The Nuggets have too many off court issues weighing on their minds while the Jazz are as focused as ever. I do see this series going 7 games, but the Nuggets do not close out match-ups too well and they won’t have Head Coach George Karl on the sidelines calling plays.

So via my predictions, let’s see who will be advancing to the next round.

Conference Semi-finals: East

Game 1: #1 Cleveland Cavaliers vs. #4 Boston Celtics

Game 2: #3 Atlanta Hawks vs. #2 Orlando Magic

Conference Semi-finals: West

Game 1: #1 Los Angeles Lakers vs. #5 Utah Jazz

Game 2: #3 Phoenix Suns vs. #2 Dallas Mavericks

Stay Tuned for my Conference Semi-finals predictions that will be posted following the completion of the first round of the playoffs. Feel free to post your thoughts on my predictions or post your own predictions in the comments box.