NBA Power Rankings: Playoff Edition

After a long 82-game grind, the playoffs are finally upon us. And no offense to the wonderful 14 teams that didn't make it, but we just don't care about you anymore -- hey, those are the breaks. So follow us into the Playoff Power Rankings, where we'll try to figure out who has the best chance to advance, as the initial field of 16 whittles itself down to a single champion this June.

1. Lakers (65-17) | First Round: (1) vs. (8) Jazz
Yes, I'm aware that the Lakers didn't finish the season with the league's best record, and, should they get to the Finals, they'll open on the road if they should meet the Cavs. But that's a lot of ifs, and L.A. did sweep Cleveland and Boston during the regular season. Now, Orlando? That's another story.
2. Cavaliers (66-16) | First Round: (1) vs. (8) Pistons
Cleveland could easily be at the one spot, but I think the East is tougher right now than the West in terms of the road to the Finals. Don't believe me? The Pistons won't be pushovers, Dwyane Wade in the second round could be a seven game series, and then there's Orlando or Boston to deal with. Good thing these guys have home court advantage throughout -- looks like they might need it.
3. Magic (59-23) | First Round: (3) vs. (6) Sixers
Dwight Howard in the middle, 3-point shooters all around -- it's worked pretty well so far. The critics say in the playoffs you can't rely on jump shots to get you through, but guess what? If they aren't falling, it doesn't suck to be able to go to the most dominant big man in the playoffs inside. With the KG question mark, Orlando appears to have the inside track to get to the conference finals.
4. Celtics (62-20) | First Round: (2) vs. (7) Bulls
The news that Kevin Garnett could be out for the rest of the year is devastating to the Celtics' title chances, but not so much in the earlier rounds of the playoffs. The defending champs aren't likely to be upset in round one by an inexperienced Bulls team run at the point by a rookie, and something tells me that the longer they manage to stay around, the more likely it is that Mr. Garnett will make a guest appearance at a later time. I'm not ready to count these guys out just yet.
5. Nuggets (54-28) | First Round: (2) vs. (7) Hornets
Just an amazing year for the Nuggets, who certainly got the best of the Chauncey Billups for Allen Iverson deal. Even though they've struggled to get out of the first round recently, they have a favorable matchup playing a New Orleans team that is really a shell of the club that took the Spurs to seven in the second round last year. Nene's resurgence, Billups' leadership, and Carmelo Anthony's ... something should have Denver advancing at least to round two.
6. Blazers (54-28) | First Round: (4) vs. (5) Rockets
An argument can be made that the Blazers are the second best team in the West right now, and they're certainly one of the hottest. Coming into the playoffs by winning nine of their last 10, Portland appears to be peaking at the right time. Only problem? They drew the worst possible first round matchup in the Rockets, a team that seems to have had their number all season. Still, home court is big, and if the Blazers can take advantage and advance, no one will want to see them in the second round -- including the Lakers.
7. Rockets (54-28) | First Round: (5) vs. (4) Blazers
If the Blazers getting the Rockets was a bad matchup for them, then it must be a good one for Houston. And it is -- the Rockets make Brandon Roy work for everything he gets (8-for-20 and 10-for-23 shooting the last two meetings), and they seem to be able to do their thing offensively. The toughest thing for Houston will be to steal one on the road, but if they can, this one will be over in six.
8. Heat (43-39) | First Round: (5) vs. (4) Hawks
Anyone feel confident about taking on Dwyane Wade 2.0 in the playoffs? Anyone? Didn't think so. Wade has been playing out of his mind this season, and really is side-by-side numbers-wise with LeBron James. Wade's not going to win the MVP, but he can continue his crusade by keeping his team alive in the playoffs long enough to battle Lebron in the second round. For the sake of basketball and all that is holy, we should pray that this happens.
9. Mavericks (50-32) | First Round: (6) vs. (3) Spurs
It's been a rocky season for the Mavericks, but they seem to be getting it together at the right time. This is a veteran team stocked with guys like Dirk Nowitzki, Jason Kidd, and Jason Terry who know how to win in the postseason. Facing a Spurs team without Manu Ginobili and with a hobbled Tim Duncan, it wouldn't be that big of a surprise to see Dallas pull the upset.
10. Spurs (54-28) | First Round: (3) vs. (6) Mavericks
Much like the Celtics without Garnett, the Spurs are still going to be a tough out in the playoffs, even without Manu Ginobili. Nothing phases this team when the game's close in crunch time, and guys like Michael Finley and Roger Mason have come through in the clutch time and time again. San Antonio will need Tony Parker to carry a lot of the scoring, which shouldn't be a problem against the ancient Jason Kidd. The only outcome that would surprise people in this series would be a quick four- or five-game exit by the Spurs -- no one is expecting that.

11. Hawks (47-35) | First Round: (4) vs. (5) Heat
The Hawks have been up and down all season, but managed to snag the last home court advantage spot (the four) in the East. They've beaten the Heat three of the four meetings this season, although Dwyane Wade sat out one of those. Atlanta has the speed to defend Miami and the athleticism to do damage offensively, but whether or not they can contain a playoff-hungry Wade will determine how long they stay around.
12. Hornets (49-33) | First Round: (7) vs. (2) Nuggets
Chris Paul versus Chauncey Billups in the first round is as tasty as it gets at the point guard spot, but once you get past Paul and David West, the questions begin to mount for the Hornets. Unless Peja Stojakovic and Rasual Butler can break out of their recent slumps, and unless Tyson Chandler (who looked good against the Spurs in the season finale) can return fully to the alley-oop machine he's been in the past, this could end up being a quick first-round exit -- and a huge step backwards -- for the Hornets.
13. Bulls (41-41) | First Round: (7) vs. (2) Celtics
The Bulls have a lot to be happy about, but their performance in the last game of the regular season isn't one of them. They had a chance to avoid the Celtics, but didn't show up and lost to the freaking Raptors. They get a Celtics team without Kevin Garnett, sure. But they didn't know that to be the case at the time (or did they?), and with or without KG, it's tough to envision a young team like this taking down the defending champs.
14. Sixers (41-41) | First Round: (6) vs. (3) Magic
Remember some guy named Elton Brand? Yeah, neither do Sixers fans. Behind Andre Iguodala and the largely improved play of Thaddeus Young, Philly finds itself back in the postseason anyway. The Sixers hung tough with the Magic in three meetings this season, but lost 'em all -- and it's going to be a tall order to beat Orlando more than once in the first round as well.
15. Pistons (39-43) | First Round: (8) vs. (1) Cavaliers
Seeing the Pistons in the playoffs with a sub-.500 record just feels wrong, but that's where Detroit finds itself after the Allen Iverson experiment failed miserably. The Pistons are a veteran squad and are all too familiar with LeBron's playoff heroics, but they're still a veteran squad that could make things difficult for the Cavs, even if it's only for five games.
16. Jazz (48-34) | First Round: (8) vs. (1) Lakers
Utah comes into its first round matchup with the Lakers (uncharacteristically) with its tail between its legs. The team sat two of its starters during a blowout loss in L.A. this week, and afterwards Jerry Sloan said "it looks pretty bleak" when asked about his club's chances once the playoffs begin. Still, Utah at home in the postseason is one of the toughest places to play in the entire league, and I don't think anyone would be surprised if the Jazz took one (or even two) games from the Lakers before taking its summer vacation.