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In our final installment of our NBA Playoff Forecast, we take a final look at playoff matchups if the postseason began today. Quite a bit has changed since our first playoff forecast three months ago. Take a look at our outlook on the second season, packed with a few surprises.

Here are the playoff matchups as of March 22:
The East

1. Cleveland vs. 8. Chicago
Lebron and the Cavs look to have the top spot in the East pretty much locked down, and while the Bulls should be commended for competing for the playoffs, they are no match for the Cavs.

Cleveland in 4

4. Atlanta vs. 5. Miami
Though it looks like the Heat will not have home court in this series vs the Hawks, the best player on the floor will be in a Miami uniform every game. Dwyane Wade’s MVP season won’t end in the first round, though his battle with Joe Johnson could be classic.

Miami in 6

3. Orlando vs. 6. Philadelphia
The Sixers, who entered this season with playoff aspirations, will wind up in the postseason, but without star free agent forward Elton Brand, who went down months ago injured. Unfortunately for them, they would need Brand, and all the help they could get to try to overtake the Magic.

Orlando in 5

2. Boston vs. 7. Detroit
Before the season began, a Celtics/Pistons first round match would have been what some would think was a conference final series. Boston, who went just 5-6 when Kevin Garnett went down to injury, will not have home court throughout the playoffs, but they are the defending champs, and will have a chip on their shoulder going into the playoffs. Detroit simply doesn’t have enough to knock off the champs.

Boston in 5

2nd Round: Cleveland over Miami in 7, Boston over Orlando in 6
East Finals: Cleveland over Boston in 7

The West

1. Los Angeles vs. 8. Dallas
Kobe will go for 50 at least once in this series. The good news for Dallas is that they should be able to win 1 of the first 2 in L.A, the bad news: they have to Staples two more times potentially.

Los Angeles in 6

4. Denver vs. 5. New Orleans
This has the potential to be one of the more exciting first round series matches, as Chauncey Billups will go toe-to-toe with Chris Paul. The Nuggets have more offensive firepower than New Orleans, but CP3 has a knack of getting his whole team to bring their level of play up a notch. While I think this goes 7, home court will prevail.

Denver in 7

3. Houston vs. 6. Portland
Can the Rockets make it out of the playoffs without Tracy Mcgrady on the floor? That will be the question that Yao Ming, Ron Artest, and company will have to answer this spring. If they wind up seeing the Blazers in the first round, the answer will be no. While Houston would have home court and all the motivation in the world to advance, Portland will steal one of the first two games in Houston, and hold serve at the Rose Garden to advance.

Portland in 6

2. San Antonio vs. 7 Utah
A Spurs/Jazz first round series would be very explosive, and while Utah has not been healthy collectively for much of the season, the Spurs also have been nursing injuries to many of their stars. This series may come down to the team that is in the best health. All things being equal, however, San Antonio moves on.
San Antonio in 6
2nd Round: Los Angeles over Denver in 6, San Antonio over Portland in 7
West Finals: Los Angeles over San Antonio in 6

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