Flip the Switch!

While the NBA regular season as a product has improved over the last few seasons it still can not match the intensity of college basketball.

But when the playoffs starts the professionals flip the switch! As a basketball purist you have love the effort and high level of play that the best players in the world showcase during this tournament. The first round will have some sub par games, but after that we should all be able to enjoy some top flight round ball! Here are my picks...

Eastern Conference

1st Round

(1) Chicago Bulls vs. (8) Indiana Pacers

I'll take the Bulls in four, for lots of reasons but no reason to bore you with details, Derrick Rose enough said.

(2) Miami Heat vs (7) Philadelphia 76ers

The Heat's star power is just too much for the 76ers. The bottom three teams from the East will not put up too much of a fight, they would not have even made the playoffs if they were in the West. Heat in 5

(3) Boston Celtics vs. (6) The New York Knicks

New York has two great players who will have some great games in this series, but in the end Boston's veteran experience and hard nose defense will be too much for the newly formed Knicks. Celtics in 6

(4) Orlando Magic vs. (5) Atlanta Hawks

This is a hard one to pick as the 4-5 match up should be. Orlando wins but it will be a fight. The Hawks talented wing players will give the Magic trouble. The Magic will prevail because of better coaching, defense, and... that's right you guessed it D. Howard! Magic in 7

Western Conference

1st Round

(1) San Antonio Spurs vs. (8) Memphis Grizzlies

The Spurs are old and they stumbled into the playoffs but veterans and experience win playoff games. The Spurs have a ton of both of those, but the Grizzlies are young and athletic. This will cause the Spurs some problems but when all is said and done, Spurs in 6.

(2) L.A. Lakers vs. (7) New Orleans Hornets

Lakers in 5, whatever you can think of is reason enough.

(3) Dallas Mavericks vs. (6) Portland Trail Blazers

This series should have some good games. Once again a common theme in the 1st round youth and athleticism vs. experience and leadership. Experience and leadership wins out, the Mavs have too many big time shot makers for the Blazers, Mavs in 6

(4) Oklahoma City Thunder vs. (5) Denver Nuggets

The Nuggets have had a crazy year losing one of the games' biggest names and other important players, as well. The Nuggets are a completely different team now, from the one they started season with. Still, they have enough players to make this a series, but the Thunders great young stars will be too much for a team who lacks chemistry and defense, Thunder in 6

The rest of my predictions coming tomorrow...