The most competitive conference statistically in NBA history, this year's NBA West is fierce, and the playoffs should only takes things up a notch.
I had the San Antonio Spurs winning the NBA West before the season began, upending the Phoenix Suns in 6 games in the Western Conference Finals.
I had the correct matchup, but never imagined it would be in the first round.
You can make an argument it is the best first-round matchup in NBA Playoff history.
Last year the Spurs survived the Suns by the slimmest of margins, bad blood being spilled literally during that series.
The Suns feel they owe the Spurs payback, and went as far as trading for Shaquille O'Neal in the hopes of doing so.
The Suns have had mixed play with O'Neal in the lineup, but he can only help in the physical brand of basketball that is the NBA Playoffs.
This will be a bloody war, and whichever teams moves on, they will be the worse for wear, the battle possibly affecting the winner's chances to move deep into the playoffs.
Both teams have superstars to rely on, with plenty of playoff experience to go around.
Both coaches are near the top of the coaching chain as well.
It will be a long series.
I have to stick with my original Spurs in 6, but it will not be easy, especially if Shaq comes to play, and why wouldn't he?Tim Duncan and Shaquille O'Neal's teams have accounted for 8 of the last 9 NBA Titles, each player winning four.
It will be a great series, and it being in the first-round shows how competitive the West is this NBA season.