Don’t get me wrong, the 2008 postseason has been compelling for the first time since Michael Jordan was shopping for a “threepeat.” But the longer David Stern’s precious new NBA drags out this first round like a Peter Jackson flick, the more disenchanted fans could become.

To keep your interest peaked, we skip the squads who are stretching the first round out like a Yankees/Red Sox game, and look at what’s ahead for the teams already waiting for their next opponent in the second round. 

L.A. Lakers

How They Moved On…

...by excellently executing the Denver Nuggets. Although a blowout seemed likely every single game, the Lakers executed their offense with such precision that the games were still great to watch.

The Kobe Bryant/Pau Gasol combo was/is unstoppable, making the Lakers an efficient offensive force (averaging 114.7 points per game in the first round) and a great first-round bet. They won four games straight, straight up and against the spread and sent the 50-win Nuggets packing faster than 37-win Atlanta Hawks. That’s saying something.

The only question remaining is, can they play playoff defense? They allowed the Nuggets to score 101.5 points per game in the series.

Who and What is Next?

They’ll face the Utah Jazz or Houston Rockets, the fave being the Jazz who currently have a 3-2 series lead on the Rockets.

Houston would be the easier opponent. They’re a solid defensive squad but their superstar (Tracy McGrady) is another back spasm away from being as effective as Bill Cartwright. Plus, Rafer “Skip 2 My Lou” Alston is their second best player. Unless the Rockets' final games can be played at Rucker Park, he won’t be enough.

The Jazz on the other hand have the personnel to give the Lakers seven games of pain. With Carlos Boozer, Mehmet Okur and Andrei Kirilenko taking up space in the paint the Jazz have the size to tussle with the Lakers’ softer big men. Plus, you got star guard Deron Williams. His young legs will keep Lakers veteran Derek Fisher focused on defense and less on offense.

In the end, however, the Lakers seem poised to make it to the conference finals. Don’t think they’ll do it with another four straight wins SU and ATS though - Lakers in six is more realistic.

Orlando Magic

How They Moved On…

…Dwight Howard. It was the man-child’s show in the first round, the kid had more 20/20s (points/rebounds) than an eye test. No basket and no rebound was safe, as he dunked and hustled his way to an average of 22.6 points and 18.2 rebounds. It’s arguable that the Magic were as soft as their opponent, the Toronto Raptors, but Howard was the black sheep in this series and used his superhuman size and power to dismantle them in five.

Despite the series win the Magic still look like a pedestrian defensive team after allowing the mediocre Raps to top 100 in three out of five games. It’ll be up to Howard to set the tone and control the paint.

Who and What is Next?

Barring a first-round shocker on par with the Dallas Mavericks’ exit last year, their opponent will be the Detroit Pistons.

The Pistons only like to show up when they're down in a series or when Rasheed Wallace goes Joe Namath, and it’s hurting them versus first-round opponent Philadelphia. Philly doesn’t have the talent to hang with Detroit but the Pistons only have a 3-2 series lead.

Prior to Detroit sleepwalking through the first I wouldn’t have given the Magic a chance. But with Howard crushing all bodies in the paint and the Pistons taking plays, games and series off, I’m thinking the Magic/Pistons could go at least six. And the Magic could be the ones moving ahead.

San Antonio Spurs

How They Moved On…

…they set the Phoenix Suns in dominant fashion. The Spurs/Suns series was supposed to be epic: Seven games of finals-style ball, with at least three overtimes and numerous game-winning shots. But the Suns looked lost - once again - when it counted, and the Spurs sent them golfing in just five games.

Phoenix had a Tim Duncan stopper in Shaquille O’Neal but failed to realize that they don’t have any perimeter defender capable of guarding Smush Parker much less the Spurs’ Tony Parker. Parker topped 30 points three times in this series; he did it only four times during the regular season.

We saw a lot of weaknesses in the Spurs during the regular season, but they looked like a well-oiled machine (albeit an old one) in the first round.

Who and What is Next?

The New Orleans Hornets. This matchup used to look like easy street if the Spurs had them in the first, but after watching the Hornets roll, this series has Game 7 written all over it.

Unlike the Suns, the Hornets have someone who can guard and tire out Parker. Chris Paul has an MVP resume right now, and if they don’t figure out how to slow him down, more teenaged assists are on the horizon. Plus, with Tyson Chandler and David West the Hornets have the athleticism to frustrate and tire the Spurs to the point of exhaustion.

And the series winner is? Like Anton Chigurh would say, “call it.” Experience is on San Antonio’s side but everything else gives the edge to the Hornets. This could be the second-most competitive series of the playoffs.

New Orleans Hornets

How They Moved On…

…with Paul. The Mavericks failed to realize that while Jason Kidd makes them a more efficient team offensively, he’s helpless defensively against some of the younger, faster guards in the NBA.

Paul feasted on Kidd’s veteran legs in the Hornets/Mavs series, averaging 25.2 points and 11.6 dimes per game. He led the Hornets to a 4-2 series win.

It wasn’t all Paul’s show though. West preyed on Dirk Nowitzki’s European defense, dropping 23.2 and 7.5 rebounds per game in the series while Chandler has been solid on the boards, wiping 10.7 off the glass.

The Hornets can go “Phoenix” on you and run and gun until the total hits the over, but with West being such as sound postman they can slow it down as well. Their versatility picked away at the Mavericks’ confidence.

Who and What is Next?

You know who it is. The Spurs have relied heavily on Tony Parker the past two years in the NBA playoffs and no one’s been able to slow the speedy Frenchman down. Can Paul? He can certainly cancel him out. In their four games against each other Parker averaged 19.5 points while Paul put up 22.

The Hornets also split their four-game season series SU and ATS versus the Spurs, making this the toughest series to handicap in the playoffs so far.