ESPN NBA

Finally, the playoffs are here after a marathon of a season that included tremendous drama and intrigue. It's a shame that most people won't be able to forget the brawl on Nov. 19 that took most of the attention off the incredible story lines that persisted throughout this past season.

But now it's all about matchups and who moves on and who will be left to ponder what might have been. There are several series where the outcome could be decided in a Game 7, and home-court advantage could determine who moves to the next round.

Let's look at one of these types of series from each conference. In the Western Conference, the Seattle SuperSonics and Sacramento Kings have multiple storylines to keep this series interesting. The Kings will be without center Brad Miller, who's out until the second round (if they make it that far), but guard Bobby Jackson could see action against the Sonics and could provide a much-needed boost to his team's confidence. The Kings' biggest concern is whether Peja Stojakovic's groin will limit his effectiveness or even stop him altogether from playing.

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