WIDE OPEN RACE IN NBA WEST PLAYOFFS

(April 17): Thanks to a sensational race in the West, we were treated to the best NBA regular season in my memory. And the playoffs, especially in that ultra-competitive conference, should be no different.

Boston is the clear favorite to come out of the East, with Detroit a worthy and proven challenger.

But I have absolutely no idea who will win out West. You can make a strong case for six of those teams.

My list of contenders includes defending champion San Antonio as well as top-seeded Los Angeles in addition to up-and-coming New Orleans, Phoenix, Dallas and Utah.

I have serious doubts about Houston surviving without the injured Yao Ming and Denver because the Nuggets have plenty of talent but lack consistency.

But that's not to say that Denver – led by Allen Iverson, Carmelo Anthony and Marcus Camby – isn't capable of surprising anyone. And, yes, that includes the Lakers. Or have we already forgotten how the similarly unpredictable Golden State stunned top-seeded Dallas last year?

The most compelling first-round match-up features the Spurs against the Suns, a battle between two teams that don't like each other. Phoenix fans still feel that their team was wronged by commissioner David Stern's controversial suspension of a couple of players for leaving the bench area when the two teams tangled last year.

And despite some early and premature concerns, the Suns are a stronger contender now than they were before the arrival of Shaquille O'Neal.

The other West match-ups: L.A. versus Denver, New Orleans versus Dallas and Utah versus Houston. It should be a fun ride.

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