Were done with the "first season" and 14 teams clear their lockers out today and hit the golf course with eight more to follow in the next two weeks after the first round of the playoffs. Im very excited about the playoffs, particularly in the Western Conference with amazing match-ups, as well as the wonderful local story in the Toronto Raptors. It should be a blast. Here are my predictions, but based upon my lousy prognostications during the NCAA Tournament, you might be better off going the other way on some of mine - particularly with the Raptors, who I hope and pray are able to win an incredibly difficult match-up. EASTERN CONFERENCE: 1. Indiana Pacers vs. 8. Atlanta Hawks: Though theyre struggling, their superior size and consistent defensive effort, as well as experience, will carry the Pacers through in an ugly series. Pacers in five. 2. Miami Heat vs. 7. Charlotte Bobcats: Al Jefferson will be an absolute load for the weak Heat interior defense and the Bobcats are playing with great confidence and togetherness. At the end of the day, though, if the Heat Big Three are healthy and right, theyll find a way as they go along to get into the next playoff gear and slowly, yet effectively, wear down the younger Bobcats. Heat in six. 3. Toronto Raptors vs. 6. Brooklyn Nets: I want to be SO wrong on this Pick. I have confidence that the Raptors can not only compete with the Nets in each and every game of this series. but beat them four times, yet my belief without any sort of emotion is that the Nets superior depth, experience and ability to get this done in the playoff-style five-on-five game will be a significant challenge for the Raps. The Raptors will have to earn every whistle against a team filled with personalities like KG, Paul Pierce, coach Jason Kidd, Deron Williams and Joe Johnson who can be squeaky wheels demanding the grease and get their way often to get over the hump. The Raptors have to outplay, outwork, out hustle, out execute, out defend, out rebound and outcoach them to win this series. Can it be done? Sure, absolutely, but that has to be the mindset. Be sharper, be better, be hungrier. The Nets wanted this matchup because they respect the Raps a whole lot less than they do the Bulls. Why is that? The Bulls compete like crazy on each and every possession and there is no backing down. The Raptors must have the same level of effort and passion throughout that the team the Nets didnt want to face brings and that has to be habit. Ive seen the Raptors do this enough times to know that theyre more than capable of doing it and now its time to make that commitment and ultimate sacrifice that it takes to beat a very deep, talented and experienced opponent. Can they sustain the level of effort its going to take to win it, as well as keep their heads and play that much harder and better when calls dont work out in their favor? Thats a major challenge and Im excited to see them face these obstacles and perform on the bigger stage to succeed. Nets in seven. 4. Chicago Bulls vs. 5. Washington Wizards: Bulls in 7. The grind-it-out Bulls versus the up-and-down, shoot-the-three Wizards. The Wizards bigs in Marcin Gortat and a healthy Nene are playing well, which is huge. John Wall is a load to deal with and they can light it up on the perimeter and veteran depth has been improved with Drew Gooden, Al Harrington and Andre Miller. They can take this series if they dig in and play with increased toughness. I still like the Bulls, they set the tone and make you play their style and slow the pace. The level of physical play and the type of whistle could well determine the winner here. The slow and ugly Bulls and the quick and offensive Wizards. The Bulls by a nose in what should be a fun series. Bulls in seven. WESTERN CONFERENCE: 1. San Antonio Spurs vs. 8. Dallas Mavericks: Theres just too much depth and outstanding offensive ball movement. in what should be a fast paced and entertaining series. I like the Spurs depth here. Monta Ellis will be a tough cover for the Spurs, but their team approach will help. Theyll keep fresh defenders on Dirk and defend the pick-and-pop game well enough to survive. Spurs in six. 2. Oklahoma City Thunder vs. 7. Memphis Grizzlies: This will be a great, physical series. Z-Bo and Gasol will be a load to deal with for the Thunder. The Grizzlies have a knack for playing on a high level in these type of games. Tony Allen and Tyshaun Prince are good perimeter defenders and will be tested here. Kevin Durant has had an MVP-calibre season and I love his big shot-making ability. The Thunder are getting healthier and the brilliant home fans in OKC will make a huge difference. The Pace of play will be a factor and I like the Thunders flexibility to play and win multiple ways. Thunder in seven. 3. Los Angeles Clippers vs. 6. Golden State Warriors: Andrew Boguts condition is a concern for the Warriors, yet the fact that they can play a quicker and smaller pace can be a challenge for the bigger Clippers. The Splash Brothers (Curry and Thompson) are a dynamic backcourt and can win a few games on their own and might have to. The concerns with the late game reliability of DeAndre Jordans free throw shooting will be a neat story to watch and see how Doc Rivers handles this. I look at Jamal Crawford as the X-Factor for the Clips - hes the top-notch offensive answer to the high octane Warrior attack. I just find the Clippers more consistent and better in many respects with their approach so Ill go with them here. Clippers in six. 4. Houston Rockets vs. 5. Portland Trail Blazers: My head tells me the Rockets and yet I want to give my heart a legit say here, as well. I just like the Blazers and the energy they play with. I admire their resiliency and they share the ball exceptionally well. LaMarcus Aldridge is a gifted post player who attracts the double team and the Blazers three-point shooting is so reliant on playing in/out of the post. James Harden is the guy in the series who is the toughest to stop and Chandler Parsons is a major improving talent and they play beautifully off of Dwight Howard. Im curious to see how young point guard Damian Lillard handles himself under the pressure of the playoffs, as well as if Patrick Beverly is ready to go for the Rockets. I look at momentum and emotion being huge factors, as well as streaky play and if the Blazers get hot from three-ball land, they can pull the upset. Portland is one of my favorite basketball towns so what the heck? Blazers. Blazers in seven. Gene Garber Jersey . -- Another baseball tradition is about to largely disappear: a manager, with a crazed look in his eyes, charging the field and getting into a face-to-face shouting match with an umpire. Billy Hamilton Braves Jersey . Ibrahimovic put PSG ahead when he got in front of his marker to neatly flick in Lucass cross in the 59th minute. New signing Yohan Cabaye came on as a second-half substitute and headed Ezequiel Lavezzis cross against the post in the 87th. Moments later, Lucas set up another goal from the right when fellow countryman Alex turned in his corner with a strikers finish. https://www.cheapbraves.com/. We wonder if the price of a Roberts rookie card has at least gone up a few cents? Tribute Tweets #Padres Tony Gwynn had 287 career plate appearances against #Braves trio of Maddux, Glavine, & Smoltz, he hit . Matt Joyce Braves Jersey . Wilson hit Schenn from behind during Tuesday nights game in Philadelphia, earning a five-minute major for charging and a game misconduct. He has a phone hearing with the department of player safety, which limits any potential suspension to five or fewer games. Bob Uecker Braves Jersey . The All Blacks played their best rugby of recent years when they beat South Africa 38-27 in Johannesburg two weeks ago, clinching the Rugby Championships in a match which has been hailed as one of the best ever played.Richard Graves is out in Chicago for Sky Sports, running the rule over the 2016 NFL Draft class, and where they might end up. 1. LA Rams - QB Jared Goff (Cal)For me, the best quarterback in this years class. An intelligent player, calm in the pocket and doesnt panic when its collapsing around him. He has a strong arm, and has shown precision accuracy with long throws.The one knock on Goff is his slight frame, but his mobility and awareness enables him to avoid pressure. Coming out of California, he appears a perfect fit for the new LA franchise. 2. Philadelphia Eagles - QB Carson Wentz (North Dakota State University)Wentz has the frame you look for in an NFL quarterback. Standing 66 tall and 231lbs, hes well equipped to handle himself and has the skill set to match.Calm in pressure situations, with an ability to keep his eyes down field, Wentz has experience of taking snaps under centre but comes from a relatively small football program in North Dakota. Ive heard some compare him to Ben Roethlisberger. Its too early for that but its not a bad thing at this stage. North Dakota State QB Carson Wentz is considered one of the top two picks for this years draft 3. San Diego Chargers - OT Laremy Tunsil (Mississippi)Arguably the best player in this draft class and would almost certainly have gone No 1 overall if the the Titans hadnt traded that pick to the Rams.Hes a 65, 305lb giant who possesses strength, size and a proven ability to stonewall the best pass rushers in college football, along with slick footwork and speed that belies his size. The Chargers know QB Philip Rivers is their best player and Tunsil will be his protector for years to come. OT Laremy Tunsil of Ole Miss is arguably the best player in the class 4. Dallas Cowboys - DE Joey Bosa (Ohio State)This defensive end was a one man road block in college football, to the point where some opponents literally stopped running the ball in his direction. He doesnt possess a great burst but he has a tremendous motor.Capable of playing anywhere along the defensive line and able to beat blockers, Bosa hails from good footballing stock, as both his father and uncle were drafted to the NFL in the late 1980s. 5. Jacksonville Jaguars - LB Myles Jack (UCLA)Jack has the speed and explosive power to disrupt plays on the field. He has a great nose for the ball and invariably finds himself in the right place to make a play. Played on both offence (running back) and defence during his time at college but missed the entire 2015 season with a torn ACL. At 61 and 245lbs he has the build to play in the NFL right now and, health permitting, will be a huge addition to whichever team takes him. 6. Baltimore Ravens - S Jalen Ramsey (Florida State)Ive heard comparisons to the Seahawks safety Kam Chancellor, but Ramsey doesnt have the same imposing frame. Despite that, Ramsey is a physical, hard-hitting safety, more than capable of playing the same type of role.Hes adaptable to any position in the secondary and has a natural ability to shed blockers and avoid traffic in pursuit of the ball. Ramsey defends the pass well and is terrific against the run. Jalen Ramsey #8 protects the ball for the Florida State Seminoles 7. San Francisco 49ers - DT AShawn Robinson (Alabama) A man mountain in the hugely impressive defensive line of the national champions. AShawn Robinson regularly commanded double team blocking and was the anchor that allowed team-mates to make highlight catching plays.Hes not flashy but that isnt what you want from a defensive tackle. Hes a hard-working, 3-down player with a strong bull rush whoo applies pressure up the middle.dddddddddddd. 8. Cleveland Browns - WR Laquon Treadwell (Mississippi)This entire receiving class has been knocked for the lack of speed but if Cleveland select Laquon Treadwell, they are getting a physical beast of a playmaker, in the mould of Dez Bryant.Treadwell has fantastic hands, capable of making unbelievable catches and, unlike Bryant, would draw comparisons to Hinds Ward in the physical way he blocks for team-mates. In my opinion, he is the best wide receiver in this class. 2016 NFL Draft: Beginners guide All you need to know ahead of Thursdays showpiece 9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - CB Vernon Hargreaves (Florida)Hargreaves height may be a concern for some NFL teams. Hes just 511 but he more than makes up for it in his style of play.Hargreaves has great awareness and vision on the field, locates the ball well and has good body control. An instinctive back, Hargreaves didnt give up a single touchdown during his last two years at college.10. New York Giants - RB Ezekiel Elliott (Ohio State)Heisman Trophy winner Derrick Henry grabbed the headlines with his size and play for Alabama in college football, but Ezekiel Elliot is the standout back in this class.Quite simply, hes better at everything - running the ball, catching the ball out of the backfield and blocking. Elliott has it all. Hes a 3-down back, elusive in the open field and able to make tacklers miss. An exciting addition with game-changing, playmaker potential. 11. Chicago Bears - DE DeForest Buckner (Oregon)12. New Orleans Saints - DT Sheldon Rankins (Louisville)13. Miami Dolphins - CB William Jackson III (Houston)14. Oakland Raiders - LB Leonard Floyd (Georgia)15. Tennessee Titans - OT Ronnie Stanley (Notre Dame)16. Detroit Lions - OT Jack Conklin (Michigan State)17. Atlanta Falcons - LB Darron Lee (Ohio State)18. Indianapolis Colts - C Ryan Kelly (Alabama) NFL Draft 2015 Looking back at the top players selected outside the first round of the 2015 draft 19. Buffalo Bills - DE Kevin Dodd (Clemson)20. New York Jets - OT Taylor Decker (Ohio State)21. Washington Redskins - DE Kamalei Correa (Boise State)22. Houston Texans - TE Hunter Henry (Arkansas)23. Minnesota Vikings - WR Corey Coleman (Baylor)24. Cincinnati Bengals - WR Josh Doctson (TCU)25. Pittsburgh Steelers - S Karl Joseph (West Virginia) NFL Draft 2016 Clemson defensive end Shaq Lawson talks to Sky Sports ahead of the 2016 NFL draft 26. Seattle Seahawks - DT Jarran Reed (Alabama)27. Green Bay Packers - LB Reggie Ragland (Alabama)28. Kansas City Chiefs - OG Cody Whitehair (Kansas State)29. Arizona Cardinals - S Keanu Neal (Florida)30. Carolina Panthers - CB Mackensie Alexander (Clemson)31. Denver Broncos - QB Paxton Lynch (Memphis)*The New England Patriots will not select from the first round following a penalty for deflating footballs. NFL Draft 2016: Previous QB No1 picks Looking back at the good and not so good of previous QBs to go first pick You can follow the 2016 NFL Draft on Sky Sports 1 from midnight on Thursday and with us here all week on www.skysports.com/nfl Also See: Draft Day Beginners Guide Eagles Claim No2 Pick Rams-Titans Trade Assessed Successes and Failures from Last Years Draft ' ' '