This year's playoffs offer some intriguing first round matchups. The champion will be coming from the Western Conference, but this should be the best NBA postseason in years.

Western Conference

1 Sacramento Kings vs. 8 Utah Jazz

What a great story it could be: Aging greats Karl Malone and John Stockton play brilliantly as the Jazz rises up and knocks off the mighty Kings.  But it's not going to happen.  The Kings have too many weapons and Utah doesn't have enough around Stockton and Malone.  Sacramento swept the season series with an average victory margin of nearly 13 points, but it was never really that close.

I'd like to see Jazz coach Jerry Sloan try a lineup of Stockton, Malone, Donyell Marshall, Andrei Kirilenko and Bryon Russell.  At very least, that group might be able to play some defense and slow the Sacramento attack.  Still, the best the Jazz can hope for is to steal a game.

Pick: Sacramento 3-0

2 San Antonio Spurs vs. 7 Seattle Supersonics

These teams split the season series 2-2.  The Spurs had trouble defending guards Gary Payton and Brent Barry, while the Sonics had no answers for Tim Duncan.  Gregg Popovich may try defensive specialist Bruce Bowen on Payton, but even with Vin Baker back from dislocated toes, Seattle still will be unable to handle Duncan.

Seattle did not finish the season well, just 4-6 over the last ten.  San Antonio finished on a nine-game winning streak.  I'm going with the hot hand and the better overall team.

Pick: San Antonio 3-1

3 LA Lakers vs. 6 Portland Trailblazers

This could be the best first round series.  They split their four regular season games ? each winning a blowout over the other, and each winning a close one.

Most of the questions about this series are about the Blazers.  Will their team chemistry hold?  Will first-year coach Maurice Cheeks hit the right buttons?  Will Scottie Pippen's body hold up?  Will Rasheed Wallace be able to keep his emotions in check and let his play do the talking?  The answers will go a long way toward determining whether this will be a competitive, entertaining series, or another playoff meltdown.

Ultimately, it comes down to Shaquille O'Neal.  If Shaq can fight through the toe pain, Portland ? just like everyone else in the league ? has no one to defend him.  The Blazers have enough big bodies to try the Hack-A-Shaq defense, but O'Neal has shown the ability in recent years to make some free throws in the playoffs.

Pick:  LA Lakers 3-2

4 Dallas vs. 5 Minnesota

I was all set to pick the Timberwolves to upset the Mavericks, but I can't shake the fact that Minnesota has never made it out of the first round.  Dallas is a more formidable team since acquiring Raef LaFrentz and Nick Van Exel, while Minnesota finished the season adrift.

What the Mavericks do best is score, but they don't do a good job of stopping the opposition.  The average score of their regular season games (another 2-2 split) was 112.5 to 110.8 in favor of Minnesota.  This should be an entertaining playoff matchup.

Pick: Dallas 3-2

Eastern Conference

1 New Jersey vs. 8 Indiana

This is the Nets' reward for their best regular season in franchise history?  They took the season series 3-1, but each of the games was contested hotly and the head-to-head comparison is frighteningly close.

The Pacers feature Jermaine O'Neal and one of the best playoff performers in history, Reggie Miller.  The Nets answer with Jason Kidd and good players at every position.  Kidd, good as he's been throughout his career, hasn't had a lot of postseason success.  Still, the Nets were the East's best team all season, and that consistency counts.

Pick: New Jersey 3-2

2 Detroit Pistons vs. 7 Toronto

The Raptors rode their Vince Carter-less hot streak into the playoffs, but that winning binge will end.  This is where Toronto will miss Carter and his ability to take over games on the offensive end.  Instead, this series will be a coming out party for Ben Wallace and Jerry Stackhouse.

Pick: Detroit 3-0

3 Boston Celtics vs. 6 Philadelphia 76ers

This is the hardest series to pick.  Allen Iverson's health will be the determining factor.  If Iverson is healthy enough to play to his usual level, the Sixers will win a hard-fought series.  If not, the Celtics will win a tough matchup.

I'm betting that Iverson will return and play well.  No NBA players is tougher, and no one wants to play more in big games.  Boston stars Paul Pierce and Antoine Walker can have big series, but in the end, I think Iverson's star will be brightest.

Pick: Philadelphia 3-2

4 Charlotte vs. 5 Orlando

Charlotte took the season series 3-1, but the contests were closer than that.  The Hornets won't have much home court advantage, but they do have a decisive edge in talent.  Baron Davis and Jamal Mashburn make an effective scoring punch, and Elden Campbell and company do a good job in the middle.

In Tracy McGrady, Orlando will have the best player on the court.  But McGrady doesn't have enough help.  Darrell Armstrong is terrific, but Mike Miller is nursing a sprained ankle and the frontcourt is ancient.  If Patrick Ewing can locate his missing game, the Magic have a chance.  That ain't going to happen.

Pick: Charlotte 3-1