It's going to be an exciting postseason!

Hi everyone! After a dramatic regular season, the best part of the year--the playoffs and hunt for the championship--is just around the corner.

It's going to be crazy. Each of the quarterfinal matchups have a lot to offer both casual fans and basketball fanatics. Let's take a closer look at each series.

CSKA - Astana

On paper, this is the most predictable series in the first round, but basketball loves to provide surprises.

Astana changed coaches during the season, improved on both ends and squeaked into the playoffs as a result. But they don't have a way to counter CSKA, apart from their excitement and home court in Game 3, where they will given everything they can to get a win.

The outcome appears predictable. The Army Men should sweep, 3-0. I just don't see any component of Astana's game that gives them an advantage over CSKA. Much, however, depends on the Army Men and their attitude heading into the Euroleague Final Four. If they play like they did against Avtodor in the final game of the regular season, Astana will have a much better chance.

Zenit - Nizhny Novgorod

This is a very interesting matchup. I'm confident anything can happen here. Earlier in the season I said that Nizhny Novgorod has managed to reach a new level, despite losing head coach Zoran Lukic, who was seen as the team's key to success,  At the same time, I think that there will be more of a psychological burden on Nizhny's shoulders. They played well in the Euroleague and made it to the VTB United League finals last year. More is expected of them right now than of Zenit, which has a young team and is playing its first season in St. Petersburg. Vasily Karasev and his men can take advantage.

I'd put it this way. Nizhny Novgorod should win this series, while Zenit can win. The Taylor Rochestie - Walter Hodge duel will be the highlight. These are key players on both teams and their ability to execute the way their coach wants them to...how they run the offense and control the tempo...that's what will decide the outcome of the series. It will be interesting to watch this showdown live.

Khimki - Avtodor

This series has a lot of subplots. Khimki has a better roster, but just remember the last meeting between these teams in Saratov... Avtodor couldn't be stopped and can't be counted out now either!

Notice that almost all of the league's best teams lost in Saratov. It's a really tough place to win. The win over CSKA in the final game of the regular season gave Avtodor even more confidence. They believe in themselves like no one else in the postseason. I have been very pleasantly surprised by Vladimir Rodionov's abilities, both as a coach and as an executive. We all remember him from the 1990s, when he created a team in Saratov that played at a very high level. He's done it again this season. No one can predict what will happen against Avtodor.

Khimki has been focused on the Eurocup this season and put a lot of emotion into that competition. Now they need to get re-energized, recover and find new motivation. It's going to be interesting. I think we should expect a tough battle. The home court advantage will have a decisive advantage. In the end, I'm betting that Khimki will advance. I want to emphasize that I think Khimki has an advantage because the team's starters have been playing together for two, even three years. They understand each other really well. They feel comfortable and know what they are capable of. That will play a key role in numerous situations on the court.

Lokomotiv-Kuban - UNICS

This is another unpredictable series. In my opinion, the two teams are even. I think that the coaches will play a key role: Sergei Bazarevich and Evgeny Pashutin. These two talented Russian coaches always have a surprise ready for the opposition. A lot will depend on which adjustments work best, given the two teams have different approaches.

Of course, if you look at the frontcourt, Lokomotiv has the advantage. Kazan, however, is better in the backcourt, in my opinion. The coaches will have to figure out how to compensate. Also, it will be interesting to see Pashutin coach against Lokomotiv, where he spent the two seasons and accomplished a lot.

I don't think anyone has an advantage in this series. It's 50-50.