There is young and old, established stars and emerging stars, coaches who have been around the block and those who are new to the block.
Welcome to the Wild West, an eight-team field that is loaded in star quality, where a mere seven games separated the top-seeded Lakers and the eighth-seeded Thunder.
An injury to Brandon Roy (knee) will keep the Portland star out of action, rendering a 3-6 matchup with Phoenix inconsequential, at least on paper, but there is plenty of intrigue and anticipation as the playoffs officially tip off this weekend.
Steve Nash has led the Suns back into the post-season following last spring’s disappointment and will forever be known as the oldest player to lead the NBA assists.
Kevin Durant became the youngest player to lead the league in scoring on an Oklahoma City Thunder team that is young, athletic and isn’t about to get pushed around by the reigning champion Lakers.
In their final meeting of the season, the Thunder whipped the Lakers by 16 points, holding Kobe Bryant to 11 points and forcing Bryant into nine turnovers.
If you think the Lakers aren’t worried about Durant, consider the gamesmanship already being played by Phil Jackson, who basically questioned how a kid such as Durant can get to the line as often as he does.
There’s Kobe and the Kid, Dirk and Duncan, the storylines are as long as the possibilities of an upset.
Scott Brooks is making his playoff coaching debut, while Adrian Dantley must somehow guide a Denver team that clearly misses George Karl. Without Karl, who is getting cancer treatment, the Nuggets slipped from the second seed.
“All throughout my career, I’ve always been courting something,” Dantley said. “But this right here is at the top. Regardless of what happens, this was the best way for it to happen for me; it’s really good for me to be in this position. I’m coaching and it can’t get no hotter than it is right now.”
Los Angeles Lakers (57-25) vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (50-32)
Season Series: Lakers 3-1
— For Lakers to win: Bryant has to continue to persevere through his broken finger and deal with Oklahoma’s length ... Andrew Bynum’s problematic knee has flared up ... Ron Artest has to get under Durant’s skin and force him into playing defence.
— For Thunder to win: Durant must respond to the playoff pressure, which can only be achieved by continually attacking the rim ... Brooks can’t allow Jackson to get into his young team’s head ... Russell Westbrook must destroy L.A.’s point guards.
Dallas Mavericks (55-27) vs. San Antonio Spurs (50-32)
Season Series: Mavs 3-1
— For Mavs to win: Caron Butler is going to have to keep Manu Ginobili in check by denying penetration ... Jason Kidd is going to have to make shots because the Spurs plan on getting the ball out of Nowitzki’s hands ... Brendan Haywood has to step up.
— For Spurs to win: Duncan, whose minutes have been scaled back for this moment, has to simply become the dominant presence at both ends ... Tony Parker must regain his form by always being in attack mode ... Defensive intensity cannot slip.
Phoenix Suns (54-29) vs. Portland Trail Blazers (50-32)
Season Series: Blazers 2-1
— For Suns to win: Channing Frye has to torch his former team from three-point land; force an uptempo, high-scoring game because Blazers are short in scorers; Amar’e Stoudemire must be that paint presence and finisher off Nash’s feeds.
— For Blazers to win: Andre Miller has to outplay Nash and force Nash, who isn’t the best defender, into playing defence ... Marcus Camby is among the best rebounders and shot blockers, but he has to be even better ... LaMarcus Aldridge must dominate.
Denver Nuggets (53-29) vs. Utah Jazz (53-29)
Season Series: Nuggets 3-1
— For Nuggets to win: Dantley must keep his hot-headed team under control; Carmelo Anthony will be the best player on the court and he has to play like he’s the best; a banged-up Kenyon Martin has to get under Carlos Boozer’s skin.
— For Jazz to win: Boozer says he’ll play through a painful rib injury, but he must stay cool because Martin will disrupt Boozer ... Deron Williams is capable of outplaying Chauncey Billups and he will if Williams looks to score more.
