After posting my predictions regarding the future of the Eastern Conference playoff picture, it is now my turn to do the same for the Western Conference. Again, feel free to comment!

#1 Los Angeles Lakers vs #8 Oklahoma City Thunder

The Lakers, losers of four of their last six games, begin their title defense against the Thunder. With Andrew Bynum back, roles will be redefined for the Laker roster. The bench will now have the “glue” they needed in the person of Lamar Odom. With Odom playing as the starter in Bynum’s absence, the bench totally sputtered. I guess Lakertown can breathe a little bit easier now. Kobe rested in four of the Lakers’ last five games. He has said that the time off revived him. Defending the league’s best scorer would fall on Ron Artest. I think Artest can do the job but still, who knows what might really happen.

The Thunder enter the playoffs with Coach of the Year Scott Brooks (if ever this happens, I would be happy. The man totally deserves it). Kevin Durant’s evolution has been totally remarkable. Russel Westbrook’s value has been underrated at times but I do think he keeps the Thunder very cohesive. Jeff Green’s athleticism on the four-spot also helps and that long-range shooting ability of his will space out the Thunder offense at times. Defending Kobe Bryant will fall in the hands of Thabo Sefolosha. This is going to be a very important match-up. If Sefolosha frustrates Kobe enough, things will be very interesting.

This match-up is going to be a great one. It is the classic youth vs experience kind of matches. In this case, I am going with experience and the Lakers will win it in 5. Yes, five games against a speedy Thunder team. Having Bynum back will help smooth things out for the Lakers. Odom coming off the bench keeps the bench steady. The Lakers still have banged up bodies but I do think experience and home court advantage will be the keys in this match-up.

#4 Denver Nuggets vs #5 Utah Jazz

Before I start my predictions for this match-up, I would like to say get well soon Coach Karl! Anyway, the Nuggets won the first game earlier with 42 points from main man Carmelo Anthony. With Coach Karl out of the sidelines for the first round, Adrian Dantley has stepped up in filling in. He has done a decent job, to say the least. Chauncey Billups has managed to keep the Nuggets afloat with his needed leadership skills. Carmelo Anthony has done his part offensively. I think this series will depend on Carmelo Anthony. Will he manage to keep his composure under tight situations? Will he finally blossom out of his shell and start carving a name (and put himself in another light from LeBron and Kobe) in this year’s Playoffs? If he manages to do these, the Nuggets will win this one.

The Jazz’ health again have been in question. Boozer’s banged up. Kirilienko’s out and Okur’s Achilles’ tendon popped anew in Game 1. Defending Anthony should have been the duty of Kirilenko but with AK out, it falls into the hands of either CJ Miles or Wesley Matthews. With those two left to defend Melo, Melo can overpower those two players with ease. It’s a sad situation for the Jazz really. I do think that only Kirilenko, with his length, can stop Melo from exploding. Without Okur, spacing out the offense will be a little bit harder for the Jazz. However, if the Jazz want to have a shot at winning this thing, it all falls into the hands of Deron Williams. I think he can do step it up but he has to make sure that the ball swings from time to time and let his teammates have some touches every now and then.

Missing George Karl will hurt the Nuggets and this is why I am going with Jazz winning in 7. They may not have an answer yet for Melo but I do think they will find one soon. Winning on the road has been a problem for the Jazz but they do have Jerry Sloan and that is all that matters.

#2 Dallas Mavericks vs #7 San Antonio Spurs

I am keeping close tabs on this one aside from the Lakers vs Thunder series. The Mavericks have retooled massively this season by acquiring Caron Butler, Brendan Haywood, and Deshawn Stevenson via trades. Unlike before, Dirk Nowitzki now has loads of shotmakers around him. Jason Kidd has managed to turn back the clock at times. I am still not sure though about the Caron Butler move but it surely seems to be paying off.

The Spurs had a rough season. They really struggled at times with Manu Ginobili looking lost at some point. Tim Duncan is not anymore the vintage TD that we all loved. Tony Parker has been frail this season. Still, there is no denying though that Gregg Poppovich still has the coaching chops. George Hill has blossomed this season but he is a question mark for the series sadly. New acquisition Richard Jefferson has struggled until the latter part of the season. The defense has been suspect at times but once the Spurs start performing more cohesively, they really are a deadly team.

I will not hop onto the Maverick bandwagon with this match-up. I say the Spurs will win it in six games. Manu Ginobili will carry the Spurs and though Tony Parker is not fully healed, he is still faster than Jason Kidd. Besides, Josh Howard, the former Mav who just loves to torment the Spurs, is not around.

#3 Phoenix Suns vs #6 Portland Trailblazers

I certainly did not expect the Suns to be a Top 3 team in the West. I thought Steve Nash’s abilties would decline this season. I thought Amare Stoudemire would be traded. I thought Jason Richardson will not be able to perform well. I thought Grant Hill will not be able to turn back the clock at times. What is the result? A Suns team that has managed to convince me that they can still do it. However, it all lies on the health of Robin Lopez, the brother of Brook Lopez. Without him, Channing Frye is forced to play some starter minutes and makes the Suns’ interior defense very suspect and porous. Still, there is no denying that the Suns offense is better this season compared to last year. I am very interested on how the Amare vs Aldrige match-up pans out.

Losing Brandon Roy for this series will hurt the Blazers. However, it also allows LaMarcus Aldridge to be the focal point of the offense and prove that he can carry a team in the postseason. The heart of the Blazers this season has been outstanding. Injuries to Greg Oden, Nicolas Batum, Rudy Fernandez, Joel Pryzbilla, and even Nate McMillan have not lowered the spirits of the squad. Acquiring Marcus Camby was a great move done by Kevin Pritchard. Aldridge will have to be the Blazers’ hero in this series. Andre Miller will always be steady so that’s a plus.

Sadly, I cannot think of reasons on why the Blazers will win this series. Losing Brandon Roy will absolutely hurt them. I am saying that the Suns will win it 5 games. I would like the Blazers to advance onto the second round but I just cannot think that a Roy-less Blazer squad can do it.

This ends my predictions for the Western Conference. Feel free to comment!