Why Los Angeles should win

The Lakers' most significant advantages are their all-around team speed, quickness and athleticism. Enough of an edge in so many aspects of the game as to enable them to control the series.

If Kenyon Martin can sit on Dirk Nowitzki's left hand, and ignore his multiple head fakes, the Mavs' fail-safe scorer will be hounded into profound frustration. When Nowitzki isn't functioning at his best, he tends to hang his head and the Mavs offense goes limp.

Dahntay Jones has the strength and the grit to intimidate Antoine Wright and also to play bump-and-run defense against Terry.

Nene has the capabilities to do enough work in the low post to get Erick Dampier in early foul trouble. The Mavs' backup center, Ryan Hollins, is a quick-footed rebounder, but otherwise is little more than another foul waiting to happen. Both of Dallas' centers would have trouble scoring even if they played one-on-none.

Chauncey Billups can stay in front of J-Kidd on one end of the floor, and drop enough jumpers to keep him honest at the other end. Indeed, the duel between these two wily point-dudes could easily determine the series.

J.R. Smith's incredible range is beyond the reach of any defense, much less the Mavs' scrambling yet subpar perimeter D.

If Jason Terry is the Mavs' only reliable bench-scorer, Linas Kleiza gives Denver a second capable point-maker off the bench.

Chris Anderson is the kind of manic, whirlwind defender who could give Nowitzki fits — but only if he can play with a modicum of discipline.

Anthony Carter can back J.J. Barea to the stripe and simply shoot over him.

Since the Mavs have no superior defenders, they must double-team, ambush passing lanes, and routinely gamble on defense. Playing with patience, making extra passes, and avoiding the individualistic play that has haunted the Nuggets all season long (occasionally even including the normally rock-solid Billups) should enable Denver to light up the scoreboard brightly enough to overcome its own considerable defensive deficiencies.

Denver SHOULD win in 6.

Why Dallas could win

They have more explosive scorers in the starting lineup, and Terry is well nigh unstoppable coming off the bench.

Dampier's bulk, muscle and belligerence should control Nene.

Nowitzki's ability to score from far and near, his left-handed slants to the hoop, and his post-up skills could get Martin in early foul trouble. Moreover, K-Mart's phony gangsta defense will not intimidate Nowitzki.

The hopped-up defense of Anderson makes him susceptible to Nowitzki's extremely convincing head fakes.

With Martin having his hands full trying to stifle Nowitzki, Howard will tear up Carmelo's shoddy defense. Indeed, Howard is the wild card in the series — if he can hit his baseline jumpers and attack the rim with panache, then the Mavs will be in every game.

Also, Anthony can be successfully doubled but only after he puts the ball on the floor.

Antoine Wright is too quick for either Dahntay Jones or Linas Kleiza to catch and bully.

J-Kidd has difficulty keeping up with speed guards, but Billups' slow-motion offense will maximize Kidd's tough-enough half-court defense.

Barea is much too fleet-footed and tricky for either Billups or Carter to contain.

Terry will at least match whatever points J.R. Smith can produce, plus he'll force Smith to exert himself on defense by having to battle his way through perpetual screens. In additon, Smith can be doubled for profit.

Brandon Bass has the mid-range game to move Anderson away from his defensive comfort zone in the shadow of the basket.

The Nuggets have too many players who are either negligible or part-time scorers. Among the former are Jones, Anderson and Carter. In the latter category are Nene, K-Mart and even Billups.

Turnovers will be another critical factor, with Dallas usually taking much better care of the rock than Denver. In fact, the Nuggets' propensity for loose ball-handling could generate the easy fast-break points that Dallas needs to win the series.

Dallas COULD win in 7.