No. 3 San Antonio vs. No. 6 Denver

Nuts and bolts: Playoff-tested powerhouse encounters dangerous team that hits its stride late.

Opening game huge: Considering the momentum they've gained through wins in 10 of their last 11, the Nuggets are going to come into San Antonio expecting to win Game 1. They did it two years ago, which is something Gregg Popovich won't need to remind his team about. The Spurs went on to win the championship, but are well aware that the road started off rocky. They'll look to avoid that this time around.

Iverson's new role: It's going to be strange to see Iverson not trying to put a team on his back come playoff time, but that's not his role in Denver. You won't see him putting up 30 shots or isolating on every possession, in part because a sore left elbow has limited his effectiveness. He seems to be adjusting well with being more of a distributor, though, and the Nuggets have flourished as a result.

Need for speed: Iverson's quickness was a novelty when he came into the league a decade ago, and even at 30, he remains one of the fastest players. So it's got to be strange when he runs into someone faster, like San Antonio's Tony Parker. That matchup will be crucial, because both teams excel in transition. The last time they met, Iverson was still nursing a bum ankle and Parker took him apart.

Can Karl get to a Game 6?: George Karl has had a decent run as the Nuggets head coach, but hasn't been able to last more than five games in a playoff series. San Antonio ousted the 2005 squad he excelled with following his mid-season hire, and the L.A. Clippers did Denver in last year.

Immovable object, irresistible force: Bruce Bowen vs. 'Melo. The Spurs stopper has had his way with Anthony in the past, but an improved Anthony expects to do better.

"I'm much more mature than I was then," Anthony told the Rocky Mountain News. "I know what I have to do for us to win, which is not scoring 30, 35 points a game, especially not in the playoffs. I was young (in 2005) playing against a veteran guy like Bruce Bowen. Hopefully, I can go get my mental on right now."

The x-factor: With Tim Duncan and Marcus Camby patrolling around the rim, there's going to be little available at the basket outside of a few putbacks. That's going to put a lot of emphasis on jump shooting, an area where Denver struggles and San Antonio excels. That will make the difference.

How good is this series going to be?: The individual matchups alone make this series compelling. There are great defenders, scorers and coaches everywhere you look.

The selection: San Antonio in six. A healthy Duncan is not going to let his team lose a first-round series. Impossible.