Mavericks vs. Jazz.
The Mavericks had a near five-star lineup, with offensive and defensive strength second only to the Pelicans. Getting through the first round should not have been a major problem.
However, their opponent was the Jazz.
Mitchell was young and fearless, while Snyder ran a strict team. The Jazz had a ferocious defense.
If they truly went at it, the Mavericks would likely have to shed a layer of skin to win, putting in an enormous amount of effort.
Warriors vs. Thunder.
The Warriors had been plagued by internal and external troubles this season. Winning the championship looked even harder than it had last season.
And now, they had drawn the troublesome Thunder in the first round.
During the Regular Season, the Thunder had held a 2-1 advantage over the Warriors.
Although James had picked Westbrook and Durant for the same team at the All-Star Game, and their relationship seemed to have eased considerably.
From the games themselves, however, it was clear that the clashes between the two teams were still explosive.
Rockets vs. Trail Blazers.
This would be the most suspenseful matchup in the Western Conference.
The Rockets still had their "most suitable lineup," but Paul's form had visibly declined this season, and Cousins had suffered a Season-Ending Injury.
It had not been obvious during the Regular Season, but once the Playoffs began, these would become their greatest disadvantages.
On the other hand, the Trail Blazers had improved their overall strength after acquiring Anthony, and that improvement would become even more apparent in the Playoffs.
Would it be that a starving camel was still bigger than a horse, or that the new generation replaced the old and smashed the old wave onto the beach?
This series would very likely need a Game 7 to determine the winner.