Three teams will try to finish their respective first round face-offs this Friday, hopefully, the second round can finally go underway.

You read it people, we have three teams on Friday trying to close out their respective first round, best-of-seven series in the 2008 NBA playoffs. That being the Celtics, the Jazz and the Cavaliers. And just because there’s no way in hell the Hawks from the ATL can outplay the Boston Celtics at home for the third straight time while facing elimination, let’s start from there.

The Boston Celtics and the Atlanta Hawks are having a best-of-seven war wherein both teams have held serve. The Celtics won the first two games in Boston while the Hawks won the next two in Atlanta. When this series shifted back to Boston for Game 5 last Wednesday, the Celtics won that convincingly, 110-85, to take a commanding 3-2 lead.

Game 6 is in Atlanta and although the series’ pattern points to another win for the home team, I reckon home cooking won’t be the case this time because I’m sure the Celtics can’t afford to lose this one and give the young Atlanta Hawks even more confidence heading to a pivotal seventh game. Besides, winning by 25 points the last time is an indication that the Celtics really really want to get rid of these Hawks soon.

The Utah Jazz and the Houston Rockets resume their best-of-seven war and just because the Rockets won Game 5 convincingly three days ago, winning 95-69, I’d be rooting for them come game time. Problem is, they’ll be playing in an arena every team doesn’t want to play in this year. EnergySolutions.

Yup, the Utah Jazz have the best home record in the league this season and although they dropped Game 3 in Utah to the Houston Rockets, I’m not expecting these guys to lose Game 6 considering they have the opportunity to close out the Rockets on their own turf.

Last but certainly not the least, we have probably the most intriguing best-of-seven series in the first round, the Cleveland Cavaliers vs. the Washington Wizards.

The last time these guys played, Cavaliers forward Joe Smith committed a stupid lose ball foul to give the Washington Wizards two free throws and the opportunity to cut Cleveland’s three-point lead without running any time from the clock. The game was down to its last minute then with the Cavs leading 87-84.

The next thing the Cavs knew, they were down 88-87, watching LeBron James try to win it at the buzzer only to fall down flat on the floor begging for the referee to blow his whistle.

He he… Too bad huh? If it wasn’t for Joe Smith, LeBron won’t be looking for a foul call looking like a retard that he is. Game 6 is in Washington and I have this feeling that these Wizards will be pulling off a fast one again.

Can the Celtics, the Jazz and the Cavaliers close things out in Game 6? Bodog sportsbook has the odds.

Boston Celtics -8
Atlanta Hawks +8

Houston Rockets +8
Utah Jazz -8

Cleveland Cavaliers +4
Washington Wizards -4

Want more odds? Visit Bodog for more basketball betting odds and the best betting lines on some of today’s biggest sporting events.

Boston Celtics Utah Jazz Cleveland Cavaliers