With the first round of the NBA Playoffs done, and all the lucky sneak-in teams disposed of, the 2010 NBA Playoffs now being in earnest with the cast for the second round complete. First round play can be such a bother, especially when dealing with the de rigeur “surprise” playoff team for the year. This season it was the Oklahoma City Thunder, the youngest team in the NBA that played Cinderella. Too bad their first round had to be against the reigning champions. “First round surprises rarely make for good basketball. Teams that sneak into the playoffs either because of the quirks of the playoff system or because they were just plain lucky soon figure out how harsh playoff reality is,” said one former head coach.

In the Western Conference are four very familiar teams – all superpowers of the last 10 years or so in the better NBA conference. Los Angeles and Utah just finished Game 1 of their second round bash with Kobe Bryant, expectedly, leading the Lakers to a 1-0 series lead. San Antonio and Phoenix are disputing the right to go to the West Finals in their own Series. One important development for the Suns – two-time MVP Steve Nash missed their last practice with a hip injury and remains day-to-day.

Over in the Eastern Conference, it seems to be a reunion of sorts from last season: Orlando and Atlanta are set for their second round battle. These two young teams mostly had to dispose of annoying but spirited challenge from Charlotte and Milwaukee respectively. Boston and Cleveland have finished Game 1 of their series with runaway 2010 Most Valuable Player Lebron James bucking an elbow injury to lead the Cavaliers to the Game 1 W.

Certainly David Stern must be telling himself that this has to be, finally, the year he gets his dream Finals. Certainly he wants to see the Lakers defend their title. Certainly he wants to see them do that against either the Cavaliers for the blockbuster Kobe-Lebron duel, or the Celtics, as a retro Finals and a high-profile payback series for the embarrassment inflicted by the Celtics on the Lakers just two years back. As he and the rest of the basketball world found out last season though, nothing is ever guaranteed in the NBA.

Last season, Dwight Howard and the gritty Magic eliminated the veteran Celtics and the James-led Cavaliers to set up a showdown versus Bryant and the Lakers in the Finals. Orlando has been playing superb basketball in these playoffs, finding their stride towards the end of the regular season. They might just return to the Finals, especially since they most certainly will not have to face both Boston and Cleveland this time around if ever. And whoever they do face between the two teams would most certainly have passed through the other’s substantial gauntlet.

For the Lakers, returning to the Finals is a must, especially so for Bryant, who lost out in grand fashion to James for the MVP award. He wants to keep on winning championships while his body is still relatively fit enough to allow him to be the leader of these Lakers. He can still afford to let his game speak for him and thus be the best player on the best team in the NBA, but he is also at that critical age when the body is not healing as quickly as it used to, and this is his best chance to take a back-to-back title. “I’m sure he’d like to make a successful title defense, that’s just how competitive he is, and this is the perfect opportunity for him and the Lakers,” remarked one conference rival’s assistant coach.

As he showed against the Jazz, Bryant is so not ready to be swept aside. He and Lamar Odom overhauled a fourth-quarter Jazz lead with patience, intelligence and relentless effort on both ends. “I just checked myself in,” was how he described it. Utah had itself overhauled a Los Angeles lead in the fourth quarter and looked headed for a road-game upset. Bryant scored 11 of his 31 points in the last four minutes of the game to preserve the W.

Speaking of greatness, James was having his own statement game in these playoffs as he scored 35 points against supposedly one of the best defenses in the NBA and with a bruised elbow at that. “It’s the first real injury I had to play through,” James said. Boston looked its age in the fourth quarter of this first game. Young hotshot Rajon Rondo looked like he was the only one who was playing 21st century basketball on his way to 27 points and 12 assists. Boston’s Big 3 of Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Rey Allen looked a little lost and winded.

Phoenix and San Antonio are renewing a familiar playoff rivalry. Few people expected the Spurs, with their aging superstars, to get past the depth and talent of the Dallas Mavericks. But here they are in the second round, still counting on the steadiness and defense of a veteran squad to see them through tough playoff situations. Tim Duncan had a renaissance against Dallas, and somehow he got just enough out of Richard Jefferson to get past the Mavericks.

Orlando and Atlanta should have the most exciting series to watch, as two young and highly athletic teams go for each other. Orlando wants to prove their trip to the Finals last year was no fluke, and they have the best center in the NBA to help get that done in Dwight Howard. They also have Vince Carter, who has found a sweet spot as a versatile and power-leaping 3/2 who can score without help and thus relieve Howard’s scoring burden, allowing him to focus on his real strengths: rebounding and blocking shots. They’ll have to deal with Josh Smith, Al Horford, Joe Johnson and a bunch of Hawks eager to make the conference Finals.

In the west, there really does not seem to be any truly serious threat to the Lakers. No team is more complete, or boasts more depth, or better coaching, not just in that conference but the NBA as a whole. LA should oust Utah in five games, max. Their conference finals will also end in five games, max, whoever they wind up facing.

Cleveland needs to build more momentum after their Game 1 victory. If the Celtics take Game 2 this will turn into a titanic struggle that will take at least six hard games to decided, and in that kind of a series the old Gang Green will have the edge. Orlando has the experience and the talent, but there seems to be more depth on the Atlanta side. No one however is more valuable than a powerful, shot-blocking center in the playoffs, so Howard should find a way to get the Magic back to the Eastern conference Finals.