The first round of the NBA Playoffs start on Saturday and the series odds are now available to bet against. The odds are pretty tight throughout the NBA playoff bracket out West. The first round of the Western Conference will be exciting and should have at least one or two upsets, so pop some corn and get tons of beer because I wouldn't be surprised to see all four matchups to go seven games. No matter what, the NBA Playoffs are here and we are ready to make some cash on these series. Some offshore books adjust series prices throughout the series so if a favorite loses Game 1 you might want to take a look at the adjusted series price on the favorite. Sometimes the bookmaker adjusts the price too much and you can make some easy cash this way. Here are one NBA handicapper's thoughts on the series in the West:

Western Conference Series Prices

(6) Phoenix at (3) San Antonio
(Series Price: Phoenix +125, San Antonio -145)

Looks like for two-straight years the Phoenix Suns will do battle with the San Antonio Spurs, but this time the Suns will have Shaquille O'Neal. This series will most likely be the best in the West for the first round and you know the networks will love to see this series go seven games. Series Pick: The Spurs are the defending champs but this year the Suns send the Spurs home early. Phoenix wins this series in seven games. Gambling note: Phoenix this season was 3-1 SU & 4-0 ATS against San Antonio and the under hit all four games.

(7) Dallas at (2) New Orleans
(Series Price: Dallas +135, New Orleans -155)

The New Orleans Hornets were almost the No. 1 seed in the West but came up one game short to the Lakers. Now the Hornets play the Dallas Mavericks. Will this young Hornets team be able to take the pressure of the NBA Playoffs? The Dallas Mavericks are looking to avoid two-straight first round exits so you know they will be ready for this challenge. Series Pick: I'm taking experience over youth. The Mavericks win this series in seven games. Gambling note: Both teams this season won their games at home against each other but in their last 11 meetings the under is 2-9.

(4) Utah at (5) Houston
(Series Price: Utah -215, Houston +185)

Is this year Tracy McGrady finally gets out of the first round? Time will tell! Last year Utah sent Houston home in the first round of the playoffs and looks like it might happen again. The Rockets are all banged up and with Yao Ming out of the lineup and Rafer Alston hampering a bad hamstring the Rockets just might be going fishing early. Series Pick: Injured Rockets means Utah wins this series in five games. Gambling note: Utah won the regular season series 3-1 but the over hit three out of four.

(8) Denver at (1) Los Angeles Lakers
(Series Price: Denver +460, LA Lakers -560)

Once again the Los Angeles Lakers are the top team in the West. The public will be all over the Lakers in this series and I'm sure the public thinks that the Lakers will sweep the Nuggets. Kobe Bryant and the Lakers will be focused to get back to the Western Conference Finals but I can see the Nuggets giving then a challenge. Series Pick: The Denver Nuggets will win at least one game in this series but the Lakers come out on top in six games. Gambling note: The Lakers in this series were 3-1 SU but a huge 4-0 ATS against the Nuggets in the regular season.