''Could be'' matchups in the West for 2008 NBA Playoffs

This is where it's at people.

With the 2008 NBA playoffs upon us, it's quite clear that the show in the wild wild West is what you should be watching. Heck, the seedings haven't been decided yet in the Western conference and I reckon those seedings will continue to shuffle faster than your best online poker room up to the very last game of the regular season.

As far as the Western conference is concerned, the New Orleans Hornets are, as of press time, sitting at the top of the standings. If this holds up, they will enter the 2008 NBA playoffs as the no.1 seed, probably facing either the Denver Nuggets in the first round.

You read it people, not only has the New Orleans Hornets made their way to the postseason this year, they could be entering as the top seed. How about that huh? Believe it people, those bees are back.

Chris Paul, a legitimate contender for MVP honors, really has done something phenomenal to bring this franchise back from obscurity.

The only problem there is, the Hornets haven't been tested in these playoff wars that much yet and the Denver Nuggets, led by veteran Allen Iverson and young star Carmelo Anthony, definitely have what it takes to shock the no.1 seed and move on to the next round. This possible meeting between the Hornets and the Nuggets could be interesting.

The defending champions, San Antonio Spurs, could be entering as the no.2 seed to face their Texas rivals, Dallas Mavericks.

This seven-game series between the San Antonio Spurs and the Dallas Mavericks features two of the best power forwards in the game, Spurs forward Tim Duncan and Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki. Who'll win it? Um... Probably the team who wins four games first. He he...

The Los Angeles Lakers and the Phoenix Suns renew what is turning out to be a classic rivalry. Kobe Bryant and the rest of the Lakers have fallen to Steve Nash and his Phoenix Suns for too long now and this year could be the year Kobe finally goes over this speed bump.

Of course, the Phoenix Suns now have Kobe's ex-teammate, ex-nemesis, now friend again, Shaquille O'Neal. This will add more flavor to what is already shaping up to be yet another classic seven-game affair.

Last but certainly not the least, the Utah Jazz, a team virtually unbeatable at home, will probably play hosts to the Houston Rockets as Tracy McGrady again hopes to move past the first round for the first time in his career.

The only problem is, the first two games will be played at the EnergySolutions Arena, where, as I've stated, the Jazz are unstoppable. Will we see T-Mac cry like a baby (or worse, like Dwyane Wade...) again while watching his Houston Rockets take another first round exit from the playoffs? I hope not.

Who will win the NBA title in the 2007-08 NBA basketball season? AcesAce Sportsbook has the odds.

San Antonio Spurs EVEN +350

Cleveland Cavaliers EVEN +1,300

Boston Celtics EVEN +450

Detroit Pistons EVEN +1,000

Want more odds? Visit Bodog for more basketball betting odds and the best betting lines on some of today's biggest sporting events.

New Orleans Hornets San Antonio Spurs