After months of basketball and 82 regular season games for all 30 teams, the 2011 NBA Playoffs have finally arrived. The top eight squads in the Western Conference are established and their first-round opponents have been determined.
However, unlike previous post-seasons, the Los Angeles Lakers are sitting atop the conference standings and have a much tougher route to the NBA Finals.
The San Antonio Spurs claimed the top seed in the conference and they will play the young Memphis Grizzlies in the opening round. As for the 4-5 match-up the Oklahoma City Thunder (4) will go up against the revamped Denver Nuggets team (5). The other series will feature the (3) Dallas Mavericks and the dangerous (6) Portland Trail Blazes. The Los Angeles Lakers, the second seed, will play the (7) New Orleans Hornets in Round 1.
The Western Conference playoff bracket features many capable teams, and fans will be delighted to see great basketball for the next couple weeks.
Next: Previews- Spurs vs. Grizzlies, Thunder vs. Nuggets
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