2014 NBA Playoffs- First Round Predictions

It's the most wonderful time of the year! NBA Playoff basketball begins today, and here are my first round predictions.

Western Conference
Spurs in 5 over Mavericks: Gregg Popovich has done it again, as San Antonio has the league's best record. They swept Dallas in the regular season and should carve up the Mavericks mediocre defense in a short series
Rockets in 7 over Blazers: Offensive firepower aplenty on both sides with Harden, Howard, Parsons against Lillard, Aldridge, and Batum. Picking my Rockets to advance behind a little more depth and playoff experience
Clippers in 6 over Warriors: A budding, fierce rivalry that would have truly been a toss-up if Golden State didn't lose center Andrew Bogut to injury. Without Bogut, I think Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan dominate the inside and withstand the shooting of Curry and Thompson.
Thunder in 5 over Grizzlies: Rematch of last year's semifinal series, which OKC lost because they were without Russell Westbrook. He is back this year, and along with MVP Kevin Durant and a better bench overwhelm a Memphis team that will struggle to score enough points in the series.

Eastern Conference
Pacers in 6 over Hawks: There is no way a 38-win team missing its best player (Al Horford) should be able to win two games from the #1 seed, but the Pacers are a shadow of their early-season dominance and they always struggle to play well in the ATL.
Bulls in 6 over Wizards: Washington is on a roll at the moment and their wings (John Wall, Bradley Beal, Trevor Ariza) may cause some problems for Chicago. But the series will be won on the inside with Joakim Noah, Carlos Boozer, and Taj Gibson and the Bulls' outstanding team defense.
Raptors in 7 over Nets: Brooklyn lost their last two games on purpose to avoid the Bulls. I think they will regret doing so. I think Toronto's backcourt of Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan outplay Deron Williams and Joe Johnson, and although playoff experience says otherwise, I see the talent of the Raptors outlasting the playoff experience (old age) of the Nets.
Heat in 4 over Bobcats:  Big Al and the Bobcats have had a great season, making the playoffs for just the second time in team history, but it'll be a short stay, as they won't be able to score enough points against the defending champs. LeBron might not go for 61, but he won't need to.