With only about a half dozen games to go on the schedule for most teams, you’ll notice in this week’s What to Watch for that many matchups are possible first round previews. But the West is the craziest as teams 2 through 8 are only four games apart.

Monday

No games on Monday to pay respects to the college game. But you know what, you should definitely stop at MLBtoday.net to catch up on baseball. And if you are watching the men’s college championship, then root for Butler. Frig Duke.

Tuesday

Hawks @ Bobcats – BAM. First game on the list and its already a potential first round matchup out of the East. I can’t really see the Bobcats slowing the Hawks from scoring though.

Raptors @ Cavs – This would truly be one of the most boring first round matchups ever. If the Raptors win one game it’s because Chris Bosh scored 50 and LeBron got hurt.

Thunder @ Jazz – I couldn’t see a first round matchup between these two team going any less than seven games. Let’s goo!

Wednesday

Nuggets @ Thunder – Again, battle of the JB teams. His Balkman Nuggets (which I don’t think he’s played in more than five games this year) and the Thundercats (who is regrets starting up the bandwagon with).

Spurs @ Suns – These two teams go at it every time and they almost always play in the playoffs. Nash and Duncan are two of the most fundamental players in the game today, and yet they are about a foot apart in size.

Thursday

Cavs @ Bulls – Hey, Derrick Rose, if you’re gonna be playing LeBron in the playoffs you better win this game (and basically all of the rest).

Lakers @ Nuggets – Remember when this was the expected Western Conference Finals rematch? Now, it could simply be a second round matchup due to the slippage of the Nuggets.

Friday

Suns @ Thunder – I recall The Ref’s excitement when Durantula burned the Suns in Phoenix right around Christmas. Now he gets to relive it with this game.

Mavs @ Blazers – The Blazers just don’t do it for me. That roster is too weak, with or without injuries. Then again, that’s heavily part of being in the stacked West.

Saturday

Celtics @ Bucks – Now that Andrew Bogut is injured the Bucks are toasted. If they can beat the Celtics at home though, it will prove that they have no given up on the season.

Spurs @ Nuggets – Who would have expected these two teams to be a 5 seed and a 7 seed this late in the season? Or even at any part in the season? Not me.

Sunday

Magic @ Cavs – I still owe the Magic my life for beating the Cavs last year. Then again, I will expect them to do it again this year. Beat the Cavs!

Blazers @ Lakers – I expect this to be a first round matchup…one that the Lakers would not have to worry about.

Teams that MUST Win This Week

Considering there is only one team that are still surviving for a playoff spot in both leagues, there are still a bunch of teams that need to win this week to prevent them from slipping in the standings. Here is a list of teams that need to win this week, and why!

Eastern Conference

Bulls – This is the most obvious choice considering they are currently outside the playoff picture. The problem is though that they stink, so they won’t make it regardless.

Raptors – I’m not scared of the Raptors losing out to the Bulls for the eighth seed in the East, but if they want to be over .500 and not be a joke of a playoff team, they have to win and not lose.

Bucks – The injury to Bogut hurts, and they need to prove that they aren’t giving up. It’s up to the guards.

Western Conference

Mavericks, Nuggets, Jazz, Suns, Thunder, Spurs, Blazers – They all have clinched playoff spots, but they are within 3 games of each other from the 2 seed to the 8 seed. Let the madness commence.

-Shooter