NBA Playoffs Are Here

After one incredible NBA regular season -- three MVPS, two 65-win teams, the budding of new rivalries -- the playoffs have arrived. Saturday features four Game 1s, beginning at 12:30PM ET.

After the jump, we lay out today's schedule and a few notes heading into each game, along with links to FanHouse's playoffs previews.

More Coverage: Live NBA Scoreboard

Chicago at Boston, 12:30PM ET, ESPN

FanHouse Series Preview

As you know, Kevin Garnett is out for the playoffs. It seems like everyone takes Doc Rivers' word on this ... except for the Bulls, who still planned for a K.G.-led Celtics team during Friday's practice. Bulls forward John Salmons famously does not read newspapers or the Internet, and he expressed distrust in the reports of K.G.'s 2009 demise.

"I'll believe it when I see it. I'm not buying it."

You might take this for tongue-in-cheek admiration for Garnett's toughness ... if you didn't know that Salmons never jokes. Ever. He thinks irony is a vitamin supplement. Salmons is a smart dude, and a great guy. But he's not funny, nor does he ever try to be. Ever. He's dead serious. He think K.G. is going to come bounding out of that locker room.

I assume he is not, and that's why some are taking the liberty of giving Chicago even the slightest prayer in the Celtics match-up. I again assure you that, no, Chicago doesn't have much hope. I imagine the emotional Celtics will come out fierce in the early game; it will be up to the Bulls backcourt to match points with Ray Allen and Paul Pierce. Derrick Rose vs. Rajon Rondo should be a blast.

Detroit at Cleveland, 3PM ET, ABC

FanHouse Series Preview

Pardon the cliche, but if Cleveland plays the way it is capable of playing, there is nothing Detroit can do. The Pistons defense is not good enough to stop LeBron James and Mo Williams, and the Pistons offense is not good to shred the Cleveland defense. Anything can happen in one or two games, but the Quicken crowd should be enough to inspire the Cavs to play their best.

Dallas at San Antonio, 8 PM ET, ESPN

FanHouse Series Preview

Anyone who tries to tell you what will happen in this series, or in any game of the series, is dealing in guesswork. The Mavericks are capable of being incredible on both ends, with scorers galore and a few monstrous stoppers with attitude. The Mavericks are also capable of being lethargic on defense and of settling for jumper after jumper after jumper on offense.

The Spurs can be gritty and tough, in the right place at the right time all the time. The Spurs can also have 8-point quarters.

If the unknown is your idea of exciting, Dallas-San Antonio could be an epic.

Houston at Portland, 10:30 PM ET, ESPN

FanHouse Series Preview

While Mavs-Spurs relies on the unknown, it seems fairly safe to suggest Houston-Portland will just be plain exciting.

The Rose Garden has been one of the best home arenas this season (along with the aforementioned Q), and the first playoff game in six years will only boost the boisterousness. Add the league's most hated opponent -- Ron Artest -- and you have a recipe for a massive explosion in Portland. There is no reason not to watch every second of this series.