Round One Riot: (1) Mavericks vs. (8) Warriors

Say what you want about the regular season, but the first round slate of playoff matchups are nice. While we tap our feet in anticipation of postseason joy, the FanHouse NBA crew is happy to take you by the hand and lead you into the postseason with our first round playoff previews.

Biggest Reason You Should Watch: Golden State hasn't been in the playoffs since 1863, and they play an entertaining brand of basketball that you probably haven't had a chance to see much this year. Yes, they'll probably get crushed, but ... it won't be dull.

Golden State Can Win If: They can't, but let's play along. The Warriors can win a game if they're shooting lights out. For them, the best shot is the first one available, and if they're falling, anything can happen. They'll keep the Mavericks on their toes defensively, if nothing else. They're capable of a 40-point quarter at just about any time.

Dalls Can Win If: They show up. Listen, I know that Golden State swept the Mavericks this year, but I also know that Avery Johnson is an outstanding coach that will not allow any slack in either attitude or attention to detail. Dallas is who they are because Avery Johnson took Don Nelson's creation and improved on it. Nelson's Warriors are what the Mavs were before Avery turned them into Mavs 2.0, and the Warriors aren't even as good as Mavs 1.0.

Stud of the Series: Josh Howard. Al Harrington's probably going to guard Erick Dampier, with Steven Jackson guarding Dirk. The Warriors like to front the post and deny, but if that doesn't work, they swarm the guy with the ball. Josh Howard and Jason Terry are going to have shots for days.

Biggest Liability: I hate to harp on it, but the Warriors defense. Their philosophy on D is "go for steals, and hope for the best." But the Mavericks only turn it over 13.2 times per game, 3rd best in the NBA. And they're a smart enough team to control the tempo and exploit what the defense gives.

FanHouse Prediction: Mavericks in 5. It seems like I'm killing the Warriors here, and I hate to do that, because I respect what they've accomplished this year. Grabbing that 8-seed in a deep conference was not easy. But Dallas won 67 games for a reason. They're not going to trip up against an 8-seed.