NBA playoffs: Expectations, limitations

Among the NBA playoff story lines this season, perhaps the most compelling is that of the Cleveland Cavaliers, the top seed in the Eastern Conference.

Having compiled the league's best record, the franchise finds itself facing a peculiar urgency. With annual MVP candidate LeBron James poised to explore free agency in the off-season, the Cavaliers are facing the prospect of proving they are worthy of their own star player's consideration to remain in Cleveland.

Should the Cavaliers win an NBA title, James might be persuaded that he won't be wasting the rest of his career if he remains in Ohio. But if the Cavs fail to at least get to the finals, larger, more glamorous markets may gain traction in luring James away.

In the hotly contested Western Conference, the Oklahoma City Thunder are an example of the dangers that lurk for supposed favorites. The Thunder finished the season with a 50-32 record but are the No. 8 seed. The same record would have made them the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference.

The Thunder, relying mainly on league-leading scorer Kevin Durant, face the Lakers in the first round. On paper, the Lakers and Kobe Bryant should take this series in a breeze. But during the regular season, the Thunder handed the Lakers one of their worst defeats, 91-75.

Eastern Conference

(1) Cleveland Cavaliers 61-21 vs. (8) Chicago Bulls 41-41

After this season, LeBron James very well may leave Cleveland for the bright lights of New York. But before that off-season drama, the Cavaliers need to focus on winning the NBA championship, which can only help their case in trying to keep their franchise star. This matchup should be no problem for the Cavs, who have picked apart a weak Eastern Conference and should continue on that roll in the first round.

The Bulls are led by point guard Derrick Rose. The team barely made the playoffs, squeaking by the Toronto Raptors. Chicago's only hope is that the Cavs may be rusty from not having had to play hard the last two weeks. But they'd also need a huge series from Rose.

Key statistics: Cleveland won an NBA-best 61 games. Chicago is the NBA's only playoff team with a minus differential in points scored/points allowed (-1.6).

(2) Orlando Magic 59-23 vs. (7) Charlotte Bobcats 44-38

Dwight Howard and the Magic hope to better last year's NBA Finals appearance by winning a championship. This season, Orlando guard Jameer Nelson goes into the playoffs healthy - unlike last year, when he was injured and did not play until the Finals. J.J. Reddick is in a walk year for the Magic and could parlay a great playoff into a huge contract.

The Bobcats, led by Gerald Wallace, had their best record in franchise history with one of the best defenses in the league. Unfortunately for Charlotte, the Bobcats do not have the ability to score enough points against a team with a defensive player of the year candidate, Orlando's Howard.

Key statistics: Orlando finished the regular season with a six-game winning streak. Charlotte was dismal on the road, with a 13-28 record.

(3) Atlanta Hawks 53-29 vs. (6) Milwaukee Bucks 46-36

The Hawks are the NBA's most exciting team at the moment. While easy to overlook, Atlanta does have the ability to play offense with anyone in the conference, including Cleveland and Orlando. The Hawks are led by Josh Smith with his 15.7 points and 8.7 rebounds per game and have the dependable Jamal Crawford coming off the bench and hitting shots on the perimeter.

Milwaukee was able to create some buzz by having one of the league's better rookies in Brandon Jennings at point guard. He certainly can score - as evidenced by 55 points against Golden State in November - but he has slowed down toward the end of the season. Andrew Bogut was a surprise for the Bucks, but he went down with a gruesome injury in which he dislocated his elbow and broke his wrist. Bogut will be out for the playoffs, and that severely hurts the Bucks' chances.

Key statistics: Atlanta, with home-court advantage, was 34-7 at Philips Arena. Milwaukee had eight players average in double figures.

(4) Boston Celtics 50-32 vs. (5) Miami Heat 47-35

The Celtics have begun to crack. The mileage on Kevin Garnett (33 years old), Paul Pierce (32) and Ray Allen (34) has begun to show, and younger players may soon usher the old guard out of town. Boston could make a good push into the playoffs with Rajon Rondo and Paul Pierce, but it needs Garnett to regain his old form to make any sort of statement.

Miami, like Cleveland, needs a solid playoff to convince its star player - in this case, Dwyane Wade - that he should not leave the Heat. However, there's simply not enough talent around Wade to create a consistent threat. Michael Beasley is the one guy who could make a difference. Miami can beat Boston only if Beasley and Wade each has a huge series.

Key statistics: Boston was sluggish in the homestretch of the regular season, losing seven of its last 10, while Miami was the hottest team in the NBA at the end, winning 13 of 14.

Western Conference

(1) L.A. Lakers 57-25 vs. (8) Oklahoma City Thunder 50-32

The Lakers continued to show the dominance that has allowed them to be one of the perennial great teams. Kobe Bryant has not lit up the board like he used to, but is still one of the five best players in the NBA. The Lakers have something that their first-round opponent does not, playoff experience.

The Thunder are the NBA's most improved team. They are led by NBA scoring champion Kevin Durant as well as star point guard Russell Westbrook. This will be the first playoff trip for many of Oklahoma City's players, and the series could be a serious mismatch.

Key statistics: While the Lakers were the class of the Western Conference, they had one of their worst games of the season against the Thunder, a 91-75 loss. Oklahoma City's Durant led the NBA in scoring with 30.1 points per game, but only two of his teammates averaged in double figures.

(2) Dallas Mavericks 55-27 vs. (7) San Antonio Spurs 50-32

The Mavericks made a deadline move for Caron Butler from Washington, and it has paid huge returns (15.2 ppg., 5.4 rpg.). Dirk Nowitzki is playing with fire and intensity. With Butler, Nowitzki, and Brendan Haywood, also acquired in the Butler trade, the Mavs should have very little problem defeating the Spurs.

The Spurs have been injured all year and have suffered because of it. San Antonio needs Tim Duncan to return to his old form and for Tony Parker to somehow elevate his game.

Key statistics: Dallas finished the season on a roll, winning eight of its last 10, including a victory over the Spurs in the finale on April 14. San Antonio, despite being the West's No. 7 seed, has the second-best points scored/points allowed differential in the conference (+5.1).

(3) Phoenix Suns 54-28 vs. (6) Portland 50-32

Steve Nash and the Suns are looking like Phoenix of old with the NBA's highest-scoring offense. Amar'e Stoudemire (23.1 ppg., 8.9 rpg.) has become a force for the Suns.

Portland caught a bad break at the worst time. Leading scorer Brandon Roy had arthroscopic knee surgery and will miss at least the early stages of the playoffs. Without him, the Trail Blazers will need Greg Oden, Marcus Camby, and former Sixer Andre Miller to pick up their season production. If Rudy Fernandez gets a hot hand in the playoffs, the Trail Blazers stand a chance.

Key statistics: Phoenix led the NBA in scoring with 110.2 points per game but also allowed the most points of any playoff team (105.3). With Roy out, Portland loses about 22 percent of its scoring.

(4) Denver Nuggets 53-29 vs. (5) Utah Jazz 53-29

In the marquee matchup of the first round, Denver will have to contend with a tough Utah team that has Carlos Boozer and Deron Williams. The Nuggets still have the core group of players that brought them to the Western Conference Finals last year, including Carmelo Anthony and Chauncey Billups. Ty Lawson has brought a youthful energy to the squad, and Chris "Birdman" Anderson still has a spark that could lead this team back to the Finals.

The Jazz used great seasons from Williams and Boozer and a bounce-back year from Andrei Kirilenko (now out with a calf injury) to get the No. 5 seed in the Western Conference playoffs. The Jazz are considered the lower-seeded team most likely to score a first-round upset, in part because of their defense.

Key statistics: Denver has to hold serve at home, while Utah would grab a big advantage if it can get the series back to its Energy Solutions Arena at least even. The Jazz are 32-9 at home, and Denver has a losing road record, 19-22.