Five potential postseason matchups worth tracking

	Gilbert Arenas and the Wizards could win the Southeast Division but then draw the Heat in the first round of the playoffs. Mitchell Layton/NBAE via Getty Images
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Since we can now count in days (30) the length of time until the postseason begins, it's time to contemplate intriguing playoff matchups. Oh, you've been doing that since December? Well, at least now there is some mathematical basis for all the theorizing.

And, so, here is a five-pack of postseason scenarios to ponder.

No Escape for the Wizards

The way it looks now, Washington could very well meet Southeast Division foe (and, need we add, defending NBA champion) Miami in the first round. A while back, when the Wizards were riding high and the Heat were without a franchise center and a franchise coach, the prospect of running into the Shaq-Wade-Riley Express early didn't even seem to be a possibility. Now it is.

Let's say the Wizards hang on to third in the conference -- the Heat might well finish behind both automatic top-four seed Toronto (Atlantic Division champ) and Chicago, and claim sixth, which puts them against the Wizards in a 3-6 first-rounder.

More likely, the Heat pass Washington, earn the third seed ahead of Toronto, and Washington slides to sixth. Hello again, Miami.

ODDS: 3-to-2 that the Wizards get the Heat in Round 1

The East Will Realize Its Primo Matchup

I don't see Detroit letting Cleveland pass it for the best record in the Eastern Conference. A cold-blooded veteran team, the Pistons know the importance of home court. And if the Heat finish third (which I think will happen) or sixth, they stay in the bracket away from Detroit until the conference final.

That means Heat-Pistons III.

Don't ask me to pick a winner in that one yet. There is still time.

ODDS: 9-to-5 that Miami and Detroit square off in the conference final.

The Nellie-Cuban Diplomacy-Off

If anyone cares, there's quite a battle going on for that final playoff spot in the West. I honestly never would have bet on Golden State finishing ahead of the Clippers -- or Sacramento or New Orleans/Oklahoma City for that matter -- but it just might happen. (As of Thursday morning, the Clips held a slight edge over the Warriors.) And if Golden State does finish 8th ...

It's Don Nelson versus his old boss, Mark Cuban, the man who didn't really fire him but didn't exactly respect him but really did like Nellie's style but it was time for a change and ... well, you get the picture.

The Mavs would, of course, crush the Warriors. But Nellie will throw something interesting at his old team on the court, and, in all likelihood, off it, too.

ODDS: 9-to-2 that Golden State will claim the eighth spot and meet Dallas.