Who to watch in the NBA playoffs

As the NBA’s best are set to take flight, I look at which teams control the first round series and which dark horses have the potential to make some noise. Here are the teams to watch for:
 
Chicago Bulls
There is no shocker here.
The Bulls are playing really good team basketball right now, averaging the ninth most assists per game in the NBA, and that makes them a heavy favorite.
First-year coach Tom Thibodeau has done a great job taking over this team, but the production from his quality roster has certainly helped.
Guard Derrick Rose is my pick to win MVP, leading the Bulls with 25.1 points per game and dishing out almost eight assists a game.
Rose is a player that can do a little bit of everything on the court and could lead the Bulls back to the finals.
Center Joakim Noah and forward Carlos Boozer have been monsters off the glass, contributing a combined 20.1 rebounds per game.
Chicago should have an easy series against the Pacers but may have trouble in the later rounds to more experienced teams.

New York Knicks
The Carmelo Anthony­ and ­Amare Stoudemire tandem is one of the best combos in the NBA, averaging almost half of the Knicks points per game.
Anthony can score off those long jump shots while Stoudemire can use his strength inside to get points and clear the boards.
The New York front court will need to stop the Celtics inside threat if they hope to make it past the first round.
Point guard Chauncey Billups wasn’t the best transaction in the long term, but for now, the playoff experience he brings will
definitely help.
We will soon find out if the major trade before the deadline aids the Knicks in crucial times during the playoffs.

Dallas Mavericks
Stats show that the Mavericks are a very unselfish team, averaging 23.7 assists per game, second in the NBA.
That unselfish play will certainly help them during their first round series against Portland.
Dallas guard Jason Kidd is one of the NBA’s best distributors and complements the scoring ability of Dirk Nowitzki.
The x-factor to this team is small forward Shawn Marion, who brings athleticism and versatility to the floor.   
But eventually the Mavericks will run into problems with the other team from the Lone Star State, the San Antonio Spurs.

Oklahoma City Thunder
The Thunder may be the dark horse of the NBA playoffs because of its youthful talent and high scoring ability (fifth in the NBA in points per game).
Oklahoma City is able to average 104.8 points per game because of one of the league’s best players, Kevin Durant, and his scoring sidekick guard, Russell
Westbrook.
One of the best additions any team made before the trade deadline was the Thunder trading for center Kendrick Perkins, which was needed because of the dominant Western Conference
big men.
Perkins adds an inside presence and physicality unlike any other player in the league.
The Nuggets will be another tough team to play against in the first round, but home court advantage certainly helps.