Tonight, there can be either celebrations or preparations. In fact, in the next two days we can either put a period or comma at the end of six different series.

Just to show you how fast the momentum can shift, in two of the series, one team had a 3 games to none lead. In another two, the team with home court advantage won the first game, then proceeded to drop the next three before saving face in a pivotal game back at home. In the final two series, the home team held court in the first four.

But, let’s look at tonight’s games and see what could transpire.

Golden State was one good defensive sequence away from sweeping Denver. But, with 5 games behind them, they have a prime opportunity to advance to round two. In Game 5, Denver stopped watching Steph Curry rain threes on them and played him physical, taking him out of his game. It was stark contrast to the loose defense they showed him in the first four games. Of course, they weren’t one loss away from elimination either.

Tonight, look for the same physical punishment, provided the refs show the same treatment from Game 5 in Denver. I don’t see it making a difference. I believe Golden State matches their physicality and the crowd at the Oracle will be the 13th man and give the Warriors the boost they need to win. Just know Denver will not go down easily and we may see an ejection or two.

Chicago and Brooklyn continue their series, which has definitely had its peaks and valleys. Brooklyn easily took Game One, but Chicago stormed back with three straight, including a riveting Game 4 in which CJ Watson missed not only an easy shot, but a chance to increase the Nets already sizeable lead at the time. Brookln has saved face at home, but if they want to go back for a Game 7, they must have a balanced attack on offense. Kirk Hinrich missing his second game tonight should help Deron Williams.

The Eastern Conference has been taken care of and now it is time to preview and predict the Western Conference, which promises much more entertaining first round matchups.

 1.       Oklahoma City Thunder vs. 8. Houston Rockets

What to watch for : Harden against his old team. There’s also the relative youth of both teams as well and their upward trajectories, but that’s a story for later. Much later. Right now, we want to see James Harden face off against his old running mates.

Best performance this series : James Harden is an easy choice, but Russell Westbrook may have the best impact when this series ends. If Durant is tough to deal with in the half court, then Westbrook is tough in transition, and both squads will have plenty of opportunities to run. And Russell will be the fastest.

How the Rockets can win : Run and don’t look back. They have the highest pace and the highest points per game average as well. There’s no reason to stall in a half-court offense, since it plays into the hands of OKC, who have Serge Ibaka guarding the rim.

How the Thunder can win : Stay the course and play to everyone’s strengths. Although OKC can keep up with Houston, they also can play good enough defense to force the Rockets into bad looks and turnovers. Both OKC and Houston average 18 points off of opponents turnovers, so picking up those transition points are great for OKC, since it can give them time to set their defense up in the half court.

Who wins and in how many games : OKC in 5 games. As fun as this series is, OKC has the advantage at every position except shooting guard. And even though Harden will get his, OKC can make sure the rest of Houston has a tough time getting theirs.

 2.       San Antonio Spurs vs. 7. Los Angeles Lakers

What to watch for : The interior battle between Pau and Tim Duncan. Both have been exemplary players for their teams and both will be the main men that will take the responsibility in the post.

Best performance this series : Even though we’ll focus on Pau and Tim, I believe Dwight will be the main man this series. He’ll be paired up with Splitter and Duncan, but he can deter Parker and Ginobili in the lane and snag rebounds as well. With Pops strategy, he’ll also have a lot of chances to hit free throws.

How the Lakers can win : Run things through Pau and Nash and get timely shooting. The Lakers defense has been a step behind all season, and if they want to keep up with San Antonio, they have to keep the pressure on the Spurs with their scoring. Dwight needs to guard the basket and stay out of foul trouble on defense, which will be a challenge since the Lakers perimeter defense is non-existent.

How the Spurs can win : By going with the one-two punch of Duncan and Parker on offense and trusting the young’uns on defense. San Antonio has the length advantage with the likes of Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green, not to mention Tiago Splitter in the paint. The Spurs are more consistent on both ends, even if Diaw won’t be around to play.

Who wins and how many games : Spurs in 5. The Lakers need strong games from everyone now that Kobe is out, but their defense will be their undoing.

 3.       Denver Nuggets vs. 6. Golden State Warriors

What to watch for : The blurs racing across your TV screen. Denver is second and Golden State is sixth in offensive pace in the NBA. There will be a lot of offense and very little defense.

Best performance this series : Stephen Curry. Denver will most likely put Andre Igudoula on him for stretches, just to make Curry pass the ball. With this in mind, Curry will have a few 40 point games. Maybe a 50-pointer.

How the Warriors can win : Play their game, which Denver will let them play anyway. Golden State can move the ball with the best of them, and David Lee will be in the middle of it. Curry, Jack and Klay Thompson will be big factors in how far the Warriors can go.

How the Nuggets can win : Use their athleticism to their advantage and run, run, run. Denver is much like Houston in that they can score quickly, and give up points just as fast. If Faried can play and make an impact, Denver can own the boards and control the pace (if possible) McGee and Koufos can finish plays and their size will give Golden State fits.

Who wins and how many games : Denver in 6 games. Denver can control the boards and their energy can turn the Warriors plans very chaotic.

 4.       Los Angeles Clippers vs. 5. Memphis Grizzlies

What to watch for : The battle inside, especially between Blake Griffin and Zack Randolph. This whole series will be physical and a grind. It would play into Memphis’ hands, but the Clippers have…

Best performance in the series  : … Chris Paul. He was the difference last postseason, and this time will be no different. Memphis will throw Tony Allen, Mike Conley, and other guards at Paul, but Paul has shown he can find the right guy and win one on one matchups if need be. Although Memphis can boast a strong inside presence, but Chris Paul is the reason LA will advance. He just has that extra gear at the ends of games.

How the Grizzlies will win : Grinding the Clippers air show to a halt. Bumping players off their routes, getting rebounds, putting bodies on the floor. Basically, anything that puts the Clippers in bad positions will benefit Memphis. Chris Paul is great at getting into position, so Memphis has their work cut out for them. On offense, Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol will lead the charge.

How the Clippers can win : Trust in Chris Paul on offense and a balanced defense. The Clippers can slip into a defensive slump that even a team like Memphis can take advantage of. Blake Griffin will have to show more improvement from last postseason as well, since Memphis will throw everything at him.

Who wins and how many games : Clippers in 7. This series is going the distance and Chris Paul will be the big difference-maker. Memphis plays great defense, but their deliberate offensive scheme be their undoing.

The playoffs are upon us again and it’s time to see if we get a repeat of the 2012 NBA Finals between the Thunder and Heat. Two months is enough time to weed out the pretenders and revel in the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat. It’s also enough time to see which teams are fortunate enough to be healthy when the time is right. There are a lot of factors that go into winning in the post season, but the most important of all is consistency.

What team can sustain success and keep their head over a four to seven game stretch? Which team can make the best adjustments, even if they won the game before? What coach is best prepared for a close game where one of his key players has just fouled out? There are a lot of ways this second season could go, and it will be a treat to watch it unfold.

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1. Miami Heat vs. 8. Milwaukee Bucks

What to watch for : Well, more like who, and that is LeBron. Namely, can he average a triple double in a playoff series? He is tied for 6th all time in triple doubles in the post season, with Oscar Robertson. Against this Bucks team, LeBron averages 27.5 ppg, 8.3 rpg and 7.3 apg. While it’s not out of the equation, I think Miami will build a big enough lead to where LeBron will be getting rest in the fourth.

Best performance in the series : Once again, LeBron. I believe we’ll see a triple double to start off the series and LeBron will revert back down to his season averages as the series goes on.
How the Bucks could win this series : Besides Spoelstra sitting his starters, then completely forgetting about them? Injuries to Miami and really hot shooting from Milwaukee could make it an interesting affair. Miami forfeiting the series would guarantee Milwaukee in the second round too.

How the Heat could win : Doing what they do best : Defense. It’s easy to see the Heat’s ball movement, team speed and shooting and just assume their offense is their calling card. But, the Heat have held Monta Ellis, the Bucks leading scorer to 9.5 points in their 4 meetings. Miami has also held the Bucks to 15 points or less in one quarter of every one of their four meetings this season, including 13 points in the third twice.

Who wins and how many games : Miami in 5. Milwaukee will have an inspiring home game, but Miami will gain the early upper hand and rarely let off the gas pedal.

2. New York Knicks vs. 7. Boston Celtics

What to watch for : New York trying to come out from under Boston’s shadow. Ever since Garnett joined Boston, the Celtics have gone 21 – 7, including the playoffs. This represents the first time New York has won the season series and has higher seeding since Carmelo has worn the Knicks uniform.

Best performance in this series : Carmelo. It’s easy to harp on the points Mr. Anthony can pour in, but don’t overlook his 7.5 rebounds and 3 assists as well. Paul Pierce saves some of his best for MSG, as Knicks fans can begrudgingly attest. But, Carmelo is in the middle of his best run, coming off of 27.9 points , 6.4 rebounds and 2.6 assists in April. This is his time to leave his mark on the series.

How the Celtics could win this series : By being the stingy defensive team spearheaded by Kevin Garnett. If KG is not on the court, they are outrebounded and have no shot blockers inside, and it which places more pressure on guys like Avery Bradley and Courtney Lee on the perimeter. Shooting will be a key as well, and Jason Terry should be looking to make up for a season in which he scored the fewest points since his rookie season. He is still a big key, especially for those tight games.

How the Knicks could win this series : By playing from their advantageous position. They have the better record, better seeding and better player. And all it takes is a loss at home to lose the home court advantage. The Knicks small ball lineup can also dictate the pace of the game as well. Defensively, they will be exposed without Chandler on the court, but with scorers like JR Smith and Anthony, they can handle the scoring droughts better than Boston can.

Who wins and how many games : New York in 6. Boston is tough, no matter their roster or condition. This will be a very entertaining series.

3. Indiana Pacers vs. 6. Atlanta Hawks

What to watch for : If you can stay awake. Aside from the lack of flash, this series will be a tale of two philosophies. Indiana’s defensive prowess against Atlanta’s jump-shooting. Ultimately, it will come down to what team deviates, and since Indiana has been more consistent with their defense, look for them to stifle the Hawks.

Best performance in this series : Paul George. He’s made a big jump this season with the absence of Danny Granger, and he has averaged 18.3 points, 6.8 rebounds and 4.5 assists. In a series with very little firepower, George can have the most consistent impact on both ends.

How the Hawks can win the series : By sinking their jump shots and running whenever they get a chance (17.7 fast break points, good for third in the league). The Hawks don’t get to the line much, and their lack of size will put them at a disadvantage against the league leaders in rebounds. Horford and Smith will have to play huge parts in the interior and Teague will have to put George Hill on his heels when he has the ball.

How the Pacers can win the series : By maintaining the consistency they’ve had all season. There is no reason to hoist more shots than Atlanta or focus on fast break points (11.8, good for 21st in the league. Indiana held the Hawks to 46.7% shooting in their 3 meetings, which is also their average for the season. Indiana also holds opponents to 90.7 points per game, but Atlanta scores 98.8 per game. But, without Louis Williams, the Pacers have won the final two meetings of the season. On offense, a healthy dose of David West in the paint and Paul George on the perimeter can help the Pacers keep the pressure on Atlanta.

Who wins and how many games : Pacers in 6. It’s easy to dismiss Atlanta, but they have performed very well against Indiana and actually won the rebounding battle among the two. This series is a very tough test for Indiana, but their bench and consistency should prevail.

4. Brooklyn Nets vs 5. Chicago Bulls

What to watch for : Defense and who can simply make the least amount of mistakes. Both Brooklyn and Chicago are very close in terms of turnovers and points off of turnovers as well. It will come down to execution … and if Derrick Rose can return for Chicago.

Best Performance in the series : Deron Williams. This is his series to make a statement as the best point guard in the Eastern playoffs. With the likes of Nate Robinson and Kirk Hinrich guarding him most of the time, he should be able to perform above his season averages.

How the Bulls can win the series : Defense. Defense. Defense. Chicago holds opponents to 92.9 points per game, and their pace is not made for up and down play. Chicago’s deliberate pace is its main strength and forcing opponents into bad shots and longer possessions. A lot of that depends on the health of Joakim Noah and Taj Gibson on both ends.

How the Nets can win the series : Deron on offense, Reggie on the boards. When Brooklyn wins, Reggie averages 12 rebounds and Deron averages 19 points and 8 assists. Brooklyn has trouble on the interior without Evans, and if they can’t contain Gibson, Boozer and Noah, it will be a long series. Going to Brook Lopez will help as well, since his game has steadily improved all season long.

Who wins and how many games : Brooklyn in 6 games. This will be the toughest series in the East to predict, since both teams play a deliberate pace and play stingy defense as well. It will come down to who blinks first and with Deron Williams, Brooklyn can dictate the pace.

“We have a lot of work ahead of us.” – Paul Poslunszy

“We clearly weren’t firing on all cylinders.” … “We killed ourselves.” – Blaine Gabbert

“We’ve got to fight.” Jeremy Mincey

All of these were quotes from Week 2, when Houston strolled into Jacksonville, coolly looked around, then demolished Jacksonville piece by piece at Everbank Field.

The worst part isn’t the loss. It’s the fact that the aforementioned quotes can be copied and pasted to every home loss the Jaguars had this year. At least with losses away from home, the Jaguars showed heart and skill, losing games by single digits, with chances to win.

But thankfully, this weeks beating will take place in Houston, and the Texans will quickly stop the Jags streak of single-digit losses on the road.

And then, we’ll most likely see the same quotes – again.

Houston 34, Jacksonville 3.

Last Thursday Night was a night to appreciate the military in Everbank Field.

Well, it also presented an opportunity for the Jaguars fans to appreciate the effort that the Jaguars brought.

After one quarter, it was 3-0 in favor of Indy, but Jags fan were holding their collective breaths, waiting for the inevitable collapse from their home team.

Jacksonville did not disappoint, giving up two rushing touchdowns to Andrew Luck, and an interception return for a touchdown to top it off.

Gabbert started off the game strongly, but his passing only resulted in 3 points. Cecil Shorts III caught for over 100 yards this game, marking only the second time a receiver has done so in a Jags uniform. By the way, Shorts also caught for over 100 yards against the Packers in a 24-15 loss.

The Jaguars again showed that they have a callous disregard for all things Everbank, and that you should nEver bank on them doing well this year, especially with remaining home games against the Titans, Jets and Patriots.

But, before the Jags can lay another egg in front of their fans, they get to visit the team that held them to franchise lows in terms of offensive production earlier this season in Houston.

Can we just skip this one please?

This is the most interesting did you know of Blaine Gabbert’s short career : He’s never lost to the Colts. Ever.

Of all the disappointing stats and lowlights you could show of the franchise QB, this is what gives tonight some sort of reason for interest. The Jaguars should have a lot of viewers just because Andrew Luck is an amazing QB and Indy has a legit chance at the postseason. This is the one chance for the Jaguars faithful to show up in force and cheer on a team that has their moments.

But, tonight is the night Luck gets his first win against Jacksonville. The first meeting took some abysmal coverage on the part of the Colts secondary for the Jags to score, and Luck still almost won that game.

This Colts team has been 4-1 since their first (and only) loss at Lucas Oil. The Jaguars have stumbled and bumbled their way to no wins and plenty of memories that their fans would love to forget. Tonight will show just how good Luck is and just how overwhelmed Blaine looks. Circumstances aside, this was the case before they both were drafted. Luck was heralded and chose to stay back one more year, which raised all sorts of red flags. The biggest one being what if he gets hurt (he didn’t) or what if terrible performances (which never happened in his junior season) would jeopardize his draft status (it didn’t).

Blaine may have the tools to be a great QB, but he’s had mediocre receiving corps and a collapsing line that gives him little to no time to throw.

Excuses aside,  Luck is just a better QB, and Blaine … well, Blaine could have a solid NFL career, but he’s not a star.

And for the Jags to win tonight, they might need a little bit of luck. Just not the one wearing a Colts jersey.

Jacksonville 10, Indianapolis 35

What is about Everbank Field that has the Jaguars putting forth such an embarrassing effort? Here are some headstones (opposite of milestones in my book) from the Jaguars home efforts.

- They have yet to break 70 yards rushing at home. Their opponents? They have yet to rush for less than 130 yards.

- The Jaguars just broke the 200 yards passing mark yesterday, with 215. Over half of those yards came in the 4th (118 yards), when the game was all but over. The opposition meanwhile has only dipped below 200 yards once, and on that day, they ran for more yards on the ground.

- Points wise, the Jaguars highest point total came yesterday in garbage time, with two Blaine Gabbert touchdown passes. It’s a shame that these will count for him, stat wise. There has to be a stat that can measure the weight of a score in a game, like a touchdown or field goal when the game is still at hand.

- The Jaguars allow 31.5 points at home, compared to the anemic 8.5 egg they lay every time the crowd gathers at Everbank Field.

Jacksonville seemed poised to have a repsectable season, but through the first four games at home, it seems they’ve only given fans a great reason to stay home (of all places) and watch the massacre on TV. At least when they whip their drink at the TV screen, they won’t hit anyone. Well, except their loyal dog, Sparky. Sorry, Sparky.

The Jaguars on the road look like a team making strides. They lost two games by 3 – in overtime no less, and one game by nine points. Their only other road game was a win in the final minute of the game. Yes, the Jaguars are one play from being 0-8 at the halfway point during the season. Pro football is a funny sport in that things can change from week to week, but by this time of the season, you can realize what kind of team your fielding.

Jacksonville has a team that manages to play more relaxed on the road in front of a hostile crowd. At home, they seem like a child at a piano recital. They seem afraid of making a mistake, and once they fall behind or commit a turnover, things just compound until the Jaguars find themselves behind double digits.

This Thursday, Jacksonville faces their fourth winning team of the five that have visited the First Coast. The good news is that this team is 1-2 on the road. Even better is that Jacksonville gave them their only home loss. But, the bad news is that this team’s rookie QB has made large strides and gone 4-1 since that Week 3 loss.

If you don’t know by now, Indianapolis is coming to town … and Jacksonville just may have a shot at winning. This is their only game where they have the complete and undivided attention of the nation. Couple that with an excited crowd and pumped up team, and the Jaguars still yet to unleash a complete game … I mean, this would be the best possible scenario, right?

Luck can’t get the passing game going, Gabbert makes a few key throws , the Jags defense makes some great plays and the fans are in rare form.

I’m still holding out hope that Jacksonville can put together an inspirational game at home, even if it means ruining their draft chances.

They owe their fans and most importantly, themselves.

Today’s game marks the final matchup with an NFC North team. Jacksonville’s results this season have been frustrating (Minnesota), humiliating (Chicago) and encouraging (Green Bay) – in that order.

So, against Detroit today … I have no idea how it will turn out. Detroit has a penchant for very close game this season. None of their wins have been over 4 points, and none of their loses have been over 8 points.

They average the second most passing yards, while being in the top 10 in passing defense. In terms of rushing, they’re in the middle of the pack defensively and not very effective offensively.

So, if I were to wager a guess as to what will be happening today, I’d say both teams will be relying on the passing game, and since Detroit boasts the combination of Matthew Stafford and the ailing Calvin “Megatron” Johnson, I’m giving them the slight edge today. Honestly, if Megatron even takes the field he immediately becomes a threat, especially in the red zone.

The Jaguars defense has been one that has suffered because of the offenses inability to maintain a drive. They are constantly on the field and today, without 3/4ths of their secondary, they may see a repeat of Chicago’s embarrassment.

In other news, the Jaguars have put forth good efforts two weeks after the bye week, so Gabbert should continue to improve.

With Detroit’s reputation for close games, I can see this coming down to the final drive for Jacksonville, and we’ll see if Blaine can have his second game winning drive this season. My score prediction?

Jacksonville 23, Detroit 22

The Jaguars have been setting themselves up for an inspirational game like this and a shaky team like Detroit can provide it.

The short-handed Jaguars lost to the short-handed Packers, but that was to be expected. The Packers just have better personnel with more experience on both sides of the ball, and a coaching staff that knows them well. The Jags … don’t.

But, what I’m taking from this is Blaine Gabbert throwing for over 300 yards for the first time in his short career. Over every other number in the Week 8 game, that stood out. Now, Green Bay doesn’t have the best pass defense (in fact, pass defense is the most difficult aspect of football in my opinion), but they specialize in takeaways. And the costly takeaway happened on special teams.

But seriously, Blaine’s performance was great for what it is was, and for at least one Sunday, we saw a Jaguars offense that knew how to move up and down the field and play tough defense on Green Bay. For a guy that was expecting an embarrassment and for Rodgers to be resting by the third quarter, I was surprised and proud of the effort Jacksonville put forth.

They looked like a team that has some life in them, and as a fan and observer, that’s all you can ask of them. Even last week against Oakland, Jacksonville showed flashes of a professional football team. Although the last two weeks after the bye week were loses, they were respectable loses.

Next week, Jacksonville comes home to host the always shaky Detroit Lions.

Dare I say, Jacksonville is in a good position to pounce on these guys and add another first to their list this season.

Their first home win.

There are Sunday where you wake up and breathe in the fresh air of optimism. You read the previews for your team over a cup of coffee and chat up a couple of friends before watching the afternoon game. Maybe your team isn’t the greatest, but hey, anything can happen on Sunday, right?

Except this Sunday.

Jacksonville is facing off against one of the top ten passing defenses in the NFL. Yes, as you can see, the Packers are 4-3, but they’ve lost by totals of 8,2 and 3 points. Now, the Packers defense isn’t the best, but for that to be taken advantage of, Jacksonville would need a good offense.

Jacksonville does not have a good offense. And keep in mind we’ll have Blaine Gabbert out there with a tweaked shoulder. And no MJD. I think we should wear black jerseys with heaters surrounding the field just to keep adding to the handicaps we enter the Frozen Tundra with.

So, what will we see this Sunday? A lot of Rodgers airing it to Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb and Jermichael Finley, and Jacksonville racking up an impressive amount of three-and-outs.

The Jaguars defense won’t have to worry much, since the Pack can move the ball up and down the field, so they won’t be on the field for very long. There’s always that.

So, there you have it. Most likely my shortest preview for a game that will feel very long for Jaguars fans.

Green Bay 35, Jacksonville 6