The NBA post season is finally upon us and the next month and a half promise to be some of the best basketball yet. There are some very good matchups and it seems as if every team, especially in the West, has a chance to go all the way. The first few days have already shown just how special this year’s playoffs could be. There have already been plenty of upsets and close finishes and it will only get better.

Dallas Mavericks vs. San Antonio Spurs

We have already learned that the one seed is not invincible at home as the Pacers lost last night. However, the Spurs, relying on their veteran leadership, rallied to comeback and beat the Mavs. The Spurs got off to a great start, especially in the first quarter, holding the Mavs to 12 points. However, the Mavs came rushing back and took a 44-43 lead at halftime. Tony Parker gave the Mavs trouble all night long with his ability to penetrate to the paint. He finished with 21 points, four rebounds, and six assists. Dirk Nowitzki and the rest of the Mavs starters struggled to produce against the stingy Spurs defense. The Mavs are now 0-10 in the last ten games they have played the Spurs. This can be extra disheartening after blowing a lead as they did in Game 1.

Charlotte Bobcats vs. Miami Heat

The Heat shook off a slow start to beat the Bobcats in the first game of the series. Al Jefferson and Kemba Walker carried a majority of the load for the Bobcats however they struggled to stop the revitalized Dwyane Wade. Wade played a lot of minutes and was highly effective against the Bobcats. If Wade can stay healthy he could be the X factor for this Miami team. Even though the Bobcats dominated on the boards, the Heat won the turnover battle. The Heat also got a huge boost by the shooting of James Jones. Jones shot four for six with 12 points off the bench. With the struggles of the Pacers, the Heat could have an easy ride to the finals. The Bobcats will need a bigger impact from some other players if they hope to compete with the Heat.

Portland Trail Blazers vs. Houston Rockets

There’s plenty of bad blood between these teams and it was on full display in this game as many scuffles ensued. This series looks to be one of the best and most contested of round one. The overtime finish of game one is evidence of this. LaMarcus Aldridge carried the Blazers with a historic performance. The game was full of suspense, especially with a number of controversial calls at the end. In the end, Damian Lillard in his postseason debut led the Blazers to victory over the Rockets. Both James Harden and Dwight Howard had big games, yet the Blazers pulled through to win it. Despite losing its entire frontcourt to foul-outs, the Blazers took advantage of Dwight and Patrick Beverley fouling out as well. This certainly has the makings of an excellent series.