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While the Lakers and the Magic were undoubted favourites to reach their respective conference finals, the Celtics and the Suns weren't shown so much confidence by basketball pundits across the globe. The two often hailed as diminishing franchises have made everyone believe that 'old is gold' by performing miracles with their ageing teams in the NBA Playoffs of 2010.

Defending Champions Los Angeles Lakers took on Utah Jazz in the Conference Semis and made a clean sweep of their series winning both games in LA and Utah. In Phoenix they have a kind of opposition that have proved all doubters wrong by kicking out their nemesis San Antonio Spurs of the playoffs in the previous stage.

The Lakers lead the regular season games 3-1 between the two teams, winning both encounters at the Staples Center. The all round offense of Steve Nash against the flamboyant and arrogant style of Kobe Bryant will collide in this Western Conference final. The likes of Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom for the Lakers and Amar'e Stoudemire and Grant Hill for the Suns can also bring it on at the big stage and we have quite an enticing battle beginning on the 17th of May.

On the 16th, the Eastern Conference hosts a final that will steal a lot of thunder from its counterpart in the West as the Orlando Magic face off with the Boston Celtics. These two teams met in last year's Conference Semis and fought out one of the most intriguing battles in the Playoffs. Boston lost out 4-3 to the Magic despite having the home advantage owing to their better regular season record.

In the regular season, the Magic have a superior head to head winning 3 of 4 clashes between these two Eastern giants. Superman Dwight Howard is in sublime form and the Magic seem too good for any team in the play-offs. But Boston, turned a zillion eyeballs towards them with great individual and team performances in the series against Cleveland and we have quite a spectacle awaiting us once the 'jump ball' is done at the Amway Arena on Sunday.

Playoffs Schedule

Western Conference

Phoenix Suns vs. L.A. Lakers
Game 1 - Mon May 17, PHX at LAL, 9:00 ET, TNT
Game 2 - Wed May 19, PHX at LAL, 9:00 ET, TNT
Game 3 - Sun May 23, LAL at PHX, 8:30 ET, TNT
Game 4 - Tue May 25, LAL at PHX, 9:00 ET, TNT
Game 5* - Thu May 27, PHX at LAL, 9:00 ET, TNT
Game 6* - Sat May 29, LAL at PHX, 9:00 ET, TNT
Game 7* - Mon May 31, PHX at LAL, 8:30 ET, TNT

Eastern Conference

Boston Celtics vs. Orlando Magic 
Game 1 - Sun May 16, BOS at ORL, 3:30 ET, ABC
Game 2 - Tue May 18, BOS at ORL, 8:30 ET, ESPN
Game 3 - Sat May 22, ORL at BOS, 8:30 ET, ESPN
Game 4 - Mon May 24, ORL at BOS, 8:30 ET, ESPN
Game 5* - Wed May 26, BOS at ORL 8:30 ET, ESPN
Game 6* - Fri May 28, ORL at BOS 8:30 ET, ESPN
Game 7* - Sun May 30, BOS at ORL, 8:30 ET, ESPN

The NBA Draft Lottery will take place on June 24, 2010 at Madison Square Garden, New York at 7:00PM on ESPN.