Tight NBA playoff race continues

Looking at their schedules, this is where I think the West will end:
1. New Orleans
Utah - Loss
At Minnesota - Win
At LA Lakers - Loss
At Sacramento - Win
LA Clippers - Win
At Dallas - Win
Final record - 58-24

2. San Antonio
At Portland - Win
Phoenix - Win
Seattle - Win
At LA Lakers - Win
At Sacramento - Loss
Utah - Win
Final record - 57-25

3. L.A. Lakers
At Sacramento - Win
At Portland - Loss
At LA CLippers - Win
New Orleans - Win
San Antonio - Loss
Sacramento - Win
Final record - 56-26

4. Utah
At New Orleans - Win
At Dallas - Loss
Denver - Win
Houston - Win
At San Antonio - Loss
Final record 54-28

5. Phoenix
Dallas - Loss
At Memphis - Win
At San Antonio - Loss
At Houston - Loss
Golden State - Loss
Portland - Win
Final record - 53-29 (move to #6)

6. Houston
At LA Clippers - Win
Seattle - Win
Phoenix - Win
At Denver - Loss
At Utah - Loss
LA Clippers - Win
Final record - 55-27 (move to #5)

7. Dallas
At Phoenix - Win
Seattle - Win
Utah - Win
At Portland - Win
At Seattle - Win
New Orleans - Loss
Final record - 52-30

8. Denver
At Seattle - Loss
At LA Clippers - Win
At Golden State - Loss
At Utah - Loss
Houston - Win
Memphis - Win
Final record - 49-33 (move to #9)

9. Golden State
Sacramento - Win
Denver - Win
LA Clippers - Win
At Phoenix - Win
Seattle - Win
Final record - 51-31 (move to #8)

So my playoff prediction bracket for the West has
1-New Orleans vs. 8-Golden State
This will be an exciting run-and-gun series. Chris Paul vs. Baron Davis. Nellie vs. Scott. The Warriors don't have much playoff experience, but they have more than the Hornets. Another #1 seed upset is a realistic possibility. But...
Hornets in 7

2-San Antonio vs. 7-Dallas
This will be another intense series. The Spurs may seem like they're on the decline, but it's foolish to ever count them out. The Mavs have been in disarray ever since mark Cuban mortgaged away their future on Jason Kidd. I think most games will be close, but Pops will out-coach Avery in the fourth.
Spurs in 5

3-LA Lakers vs. 6-Phoenix
Kobe vs. Shaq. The epic playoff battle we've been wanting ever since Shaq left town. Both men will be motivated to the gills. But Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum will be healthy, and the Suns' lack of defense will mean Kobe will have more than one 15-point 4th quarter.
Lakers in 6

4-Utah vs. 5-Houston
A rematch from last year, except now there's no Yao Ming.
Jazz in 7

From there, the Jazz beat the Hornets and the Lakers beat the Spurs. From there, the Jazz need to hope Gasol and/or Bynum went down with injury to have a shot at beating them, but methinks the Powers That Be want a Lakers/Celtics Finals, and there's no Tim Donaghy to stand in their way.