10 Round One NBA Playoff Predictions (or things to watch)Amare vs. Garnett. Young vs. Old. Dumb vs Wise.

The NBA is the greatest league on earth. Everything about the game is simply amazing and the 2010-11 season likely will go down as one of the best in NBA history. There are so many exciting players, story lines and building dramas. This is year one (for the layman NBA fan) and year three (for the avid fan) of another NBA golden era.

For those new or old to the game, I think you'd appreciate these 10 things to watch/predictions in round one of the NBA playoffs (I'm going to do at least one for each series)

10) Bulls vs. Pacers frontcourt--The Pacers as a team, and especially the front court, will give the Bulls problems. Hibbert is a skilled 7'2" player and they have motor guys like Hansborough and McRoberts that aren't intimidated or out worked by Noah and Boozer. Pacers have size and strength advantages. Bulls will win the series, but don't be surprised if the Pacers take a game in Indiana.

9) Igoudala vs. Lebron--Some feel that Igoudala is the best wing defender in the NBA. He is quick athletic and long. While nobody can shut James down, Igoudala will make him work more than he is used to.

8) Brand vs. Bosh--Also keep an eye on how Brand does in the post. The Bosh/Brand match-up could be a harbinger of troubles (or successes) for the Heat to come. Brand is a rugged low-post scorer, Bosh isn't a great low post defender. Brand may be able to expose more weakness in the Heat's interior defense for other teams and big men (Garnett, Boozer, D Howard etc.)

7) Amare vs Garnett--Two players who have similar talents (albeit at different stages of their career), but whose mindsets are completely different. To make this simple, Garnett is older but he is wise, he is skilled in every aspect in the game and his passion is perhaps unmatchable. On the other hand, Amare is the best big man scorer in the NBA, in his prime who has questionable basketball IQ. Will young and dumb beat old and wise? It could determine the series (and yes I think the Knicks have a chance to win the series, but more than likely they'll just take a game or two).

Amare vs. Garnett. Young vs. Old. Dumb vs Wise.6) Dirk/Chandler vs. Aldridge/Camby--The match-up of the mobile 7 footers. While Dirk plays on the outside for Dallas, Aldridge is best operating on the inside for Portland, but both can be effective inside or out (to an extent). So the question is: Who will defend the other man better without fouling? Can Dirk check Aldridge in the paint? Can Aldridge check Dirk outside? Tyson Chandler (Dallas) and Marcus Camby (Portland) will take turns guarding Aldrige/Dirk respectively too and both are similar in that they are long enough be effective.

5) Grizzlies vs Spurs--Undoubtedly, the best chance for major first round upset. I put the entire series here because although the Spurs are the Number 1 seed in the West and the Grizzlies are #8, the teams split the season series. Why? The Grizzlies just match-up almost perfectly with the Spurs. The Spurs have no answer for Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol is HUGE and a great passer who can score and rebound solidly. Tony Allen can lock down on Ginobili (who is hobbled as it is) and Mike Conley helps to offset Tony Parker's quickness. These teams are very similar in a lot of respects, and Spurs coach Greg Popovich rode his players hard in the regular season (something he normally doesn't do. The Grizzlies bring toughness and energy so no matter the outcome, the Spurs will be test physically this series and it can wear them down as the move ahead.

4) Westbrook vs. Lawson/Felton--Russell Westbrook is big, strong, quick and can fill up the basket. Lawson and Felton are a dynamic PG duo who bring different styles that will keep Westbrook on his heels. They'll run him, they'll slow him, but either way they'll make Westbrook defend them on every possession. This series is going to be FUN to watch, and like many of the other series, the teams just match-up really well with each other. I think that Perkins/Ibaka will be the real keys to this series and the Thunder eventually moving on. I expect both of them to make it hard for the Nuggets to have an effective inside game of any significance.

3) Joe Johnson vs. Jason Richardson--What? No Howard vs. Horford? Nope. Howard and Horford will do their things no matter what in this series. This series will come down to how Joe Johnson and Jason Richardson play. Both of these guys have talent that put them in that "almost a superstar, but not close really" category. Some games they can look fantastic, make clutch shots and propel their teams to wins. In this series, which will be close, the man who plays better will have the team that advances.

2) Kobe vs. Kobe--This is, without a doubt, the most important playoffs ever to Kobe Bryant personally. This is his chance to match Jordan in rings. This may be his last chance to do it. So how will Kobe Bryant  come out in round 1? Will he try to single-handedly murder the Hornets to prove a point to the league that this is STILL his league or will be rely on his teammates in this series (which should be a sweep) and lay low? With the Heat, Bulls, Magic and other Eastern times on the rise this is Kobe's golden opportunity to get another ring. If the Lakers don't win it this year (and with Phil Jackson and Derrick Fisher leaving), the Lakers may just not get to the championship for a while. I cannot WAIT to see Kobe this playoffs. It could be special.

Will Kobe Seek Blood?1) The Players--This NBA playoffs is going to be amazing for one reason. The players. LeBron, Rose, Kobe, Carmelo, Wade, Dwight Howard---and we're just getting started. All of these players have something to prove and will go all out to prove it. Get ready to see the best athletes in the world, many in their prime, bust their ass to propel their teams.