May 5, 2013; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Memphis Grizzlies guard Tony Allen (9) reacts to a play in action against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the second half in game one of the second round of the 2013 NBA Playoffs at Chesapeake Energy Arena. The Thunder defeated the Grizzlies 93-91. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports

In these playoffs, which are solely for entertainment, one can only wonder who’s going to win the championship. In the NBA it’s all about upsets of course, and who wants to get to the finals more than others? This is obviously all important, but fans love the entertainment that the playoffs bring them, and there’s more than one series that has been entertaining so far.

When the word “champions” comes to mind, I’m sure the first team any NBA fan thinks about is the Miami Heat, simply because they’ve been dominant so far. Currently up 3-1 on the Chicago Bulls after crushing them in an intense game four, the Heat are surging and looking to once again gain entry to the conference finals.

It wasn’t like this two years ago, however. Remember when the Heat looked dominant, but were taken down by the Dallas Mavericks, of all teams, in the Finals? I’m sure that everybody does. The Mavericks were actually the funnest team to watch during those playoffs, as Dirk Nowitzki was incredible in crunch time with some big baskets.

This year, it may be different with the Heat winning it all, but which teams have gotten together for some great series, so far?

1. Brooklyn Nets – Chicago Bulls:

Without a doubt, this has been the best series so far in the playoffs. The Derrick Rose-less Bulls were able to surge to a 3-1 lead on the Nets, and eventually beat them in a game seven. It was very entertaining, of course, and is the only series that has been to game seven so far. It may have been a first round game, but it lasted the longest and gave the Heat a very lengthy rest. Fortunately for the Bulls, they were able to capitalize and win when it mattered.

You know that it was very exciting when in game four, the Nets and the Bulls went to triple overtime, and after binges of buzzer beaters, the Bulls were able to pull away. This matchup between the fourth and fifth seed kept everyone on their heals, and never failed to impress. It has been, by far, the most interesting series of the playoffs so far.

2. San Antonio Spurs – Golden State Warriors:

The Nuggets – Warriors series was a close second here, but it doesn’t make the list because it’s just not as exciting as this one. So far, the Warriors’ magical playoff run has been incredible. In the first round, they upset the number three seed, something almost nobody predicted that they could do without David Lee, their all-star, and then they tied the Spurs 1-1 in the series. After some disappointment for both teams, the Warriors and the Spurs are playing in San Antonio in game five to break the 2-2 series tie.

The reason that all these games are so interesting is not only because many want to see the Spurs make a final championship run, but it is because it’s the emergence of a dynasty (the Warriors) and a superstar (Stephen Curry). It’s like watching a star die, and a new one being born for the scientists. Also, the first game went into double overtime, and the fourth went into overtime, putting fans on their heels once again.

3. Oklahoma City Thunder – Memphis Grizzlies:

So far, the Thunder are almost at the mercy of the Grizzlies. The shining brilliance of Kevin Durant, however, may be just enough to pull the Thunder out of some trouble. Nevertheless, from Durant’s game one winner, the Grizzlies’ fierce rally in game two, this series has had fans on their heals. It’s been a battle of whits from the coaching staff, but also of talent from Durant and Mike Conley. The Grizzlies look deserving of a championship run this year, but it’s not going to come so easily.

The Western Conference is far superior to the Eastern Conference when it comes to good basketball teams and better talent. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-US PRESSWIRE

While I’ve been writing articles comparing the Los Angeles Clippers to other teams in the Pacific Division, I’ve re-realized something — the Western Conference still has better teams with more talent than the Eastern Conference.

I’ve only written match up posts on three teams: the Los Angeles Lakers, the Golden State Warriors and the Phoenix Suns, and I’ve already came to this conclusion. Who knows what else could come to mind as we venture through the league (stay tuned, the Sacramento Kings and possibly the top team from the Northwest Division will publish later today).

The Lakers took Dwight Howard from the Eastern Conference, along with Antwan Jamison and Jodie Meeks. Meeks may seem irrelevant but role players who can come off the bench and score 10 points a night seem to be rare these days.

A guy who can come off the bench and drop 10-to-15 points a night seems to be a rarity in the NBA these days. Jodie Meeks is one of those guys. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-US PRESSWIRE

Andrew Bogut, a top-five center when healthy, was traded to the Warriors at the trade deadline last season. Then Golden State grabbed Harrison Barnes in the draft. Barnes has the athletic ability and basketball IQ to become an All-Star — time will tell. Package them around Stephen Curry, David Lee and Klay Thompson, and the Warriors are a scary team.

Phoenix grabbed Kendall Marshall in the draft, who could very well be the next Steve Nash or Mark Jackson and stayed within the Western Conference with their pick-ups of Luis Scola and Michael Beasley.

Speaking of the draft, the New Orleans Hornets’ took Anthony Davis (duh) with the first selection of the 2012 NBA draft and then the Sacramento Kings took Thomas Robinson with the fifth pick. I still think Robinson is going to be the best player out of this draft when we look back in five years.

I’ve spoke about the Clippers adding Lamar Odom, Jamal Crawford and Grant Hill many times because I think the Clips are the deepest team in the league. Then they added Matt Barnes to solidify my statement.

Matt Barnes is a Clipper. He adds a third small forward who can play a major role when needed behind Caron Butler and Grant Hill. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-US PRESSWIRE

Sure, last season, the Eastern Conference (the New York Knicks) stole Carmelo Anthony and Amar’e Stoudemire. But in all honesty, the Denver Nuggets won the trade with the Knicks because they’ve been a playoff team with high upside while the Knicks have been a laughing matter, an easy first-round out. Stoudemire looked broken last season and Anthony continues to be a team cancer because he is a me-first guy who chucks his team into losses.

The Miami Heat and the Boston Celtics have great players and are a challenge to any Western Conference team.

The Chicago Bulls have a top point guard in Derrick Rose — who might not play until mid-way through the season as he rehabs from knee surgery –, an All-Star in Luol Deng and maybe a soon to be All-Star in Joakim Noah. But injuries ruined last season and the salary cap has forced them to lose their depth and package scrubs around the stars.

I’m no longer counting the Bulls as a power team.

Besides Miami and Boston, the rest of the top 10 teams in the NBA could all very well come from the west: Lakers, Clippers, Oklahoma City Thunder, Dallas Mavericks, San Antonio Spurs, Denver Nuggets and the Memphis Grizzlies.

Next to these seven teams, the Eastern Conference looks super weak.

The Philadelphia 76ers gained Andrew Bynum, but who knows how the team is actually going to play since Andre Iguodala, an NBA elite defender, is in Denver and Lou Williams, the Sixth Man of the Year and leading scorer last season, is an Atlanta Hawk.

Lou Williams played a major role in the No. 8 Philadelphia 76ers eliminating the No. 1 Chicago Bulls in the first round of the playoffs. Chica Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-US PRESSWIRE

Atlanta brought in Williams but then lost Joe Johnson to the Brooklyn Nets. Williams is behind Anthony Morrow on the depth chart and the Hawks have Kyle Korver as a starting small forward. Korver is not a starter in the NBA.

The Hawks like the Nets have some talent, but the pieces don’t seem to mesh into winning basketball. At least not winning in the terms of playing a power team in the west. Don’t get me wrong, I like Deron Williams, Gerald Wallace and Johnson, but this isn’t a legit big three in terms of winning playoff series against the best of the best and they don’t have great role players around them besides Kris Humphries. Brook Lopez could be a beast, but he hasn’t stayed healthy to this point in his career.

Brook Lopez can be a great player on both sides of the ball. The Brooklyn Nets will most definitely need a healthy Lopez this season. Mandatory Credit: Jim O

If he can, the Nets could very well move into the Miami and Boston group because Lopez is an All-Star level player.

But that’s it. There isn’t another team that I’d even consider to move in Class A. Not even the Indiana Pacers, who looked strong last season, but didn’t do anything to bolster their lineup in the off-season.

Similar to seasons past, the Western Conference has multiple dominant teams with four or five that could legitimately win a ring, while the east only has a few. It never hurts to have LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh on the same team.

The problem is, the rest of the conference is rather week and doesn’t stand much of a chance this season except against the rest of the teams in the east. The Cleveland Cavaliers are able to beat the Orlando Magic and vice-verse. But when playoff time comes, they knock each other off and two teams get beat by Miami and Boston. This isn’t very engaging basketball to me because we already know who is going to win.

I would put my life savings on the Denver Nuggets — finished sixth in the west last season — against any team in the east besides Boston and Miami in a seven game series.

This of course says everything about the competition in the west and the lackadaisical rosters in the east.