Western Conference First Round
No. 2 New Orleans (56-26) vs. No. 7 Dallas (51-31)

It’s the new upstart in the Western Conference against a perennial contender.

It’s a team that hasn’t been in the playoffs since 2004 vs. a club that reached the NBA Finals just two years ago.

It’s a pair of familiar division rivals: One a surprise Southwest Division champion that entered this season with no preseason hype, the other an accomplished club that is expected to be among the league’s best squads every year.

It’s the 2007 NBA MVP squaring off against one of 2008’s leading MVP candidates.

The first-round series pitting New Orleans and Dallas is chalk full of interesting storylines and matchups. Although the second-seeded Hornets enter the best-of-seven series as the nominal favorite over the seventh-seeded Mavericks, Dallas holds advantages in several categories, particularly playoff experience. For example, Peja Stojakovic has appeared in the most playoff games of any current Hornets player, with 59. The Mavericks have played more postseason contests than that in just the past five springs alone.

The Hornets and Mavericks split their four-game series in the 2007-08 regular season, with the home team winning every game. Prior to an overtime victory by New Orleans over Dallas on Dec. 1, the Mavs had reeled off 21 consecutive victories against the Hornets, a streak that dated back to 1999. New Orleans has dropped 13 straight in Dallas, having last won on the Mavericks’ homecourt on Jan. 24, 1998.

Here’s a look at the projected lineups for both teams. Note: Dallas alternated its first-string shooting guard among three different Mavericks throughout the regular season, but Jason Terry received the most starts.

POINT GUARD
Chris Paul vs. Jason Kidd
At different stages of their careers, these are two of the NBA’s premier floor generals, making this the matchup to watch. The 22-year-old Paul emerged as a potential MVP in his third season as a pro, as the first player in 15 years to average over 20 points and 10 assists. The 35-year-old Kidd spent the first half of the season with New Jersey, but was traded to Dallas during the All-Star break. Kidd was the Nets’ best player during their back-to-back trips to the NBA Finals in 2002 and 2003. New Jersey’s head coach back then? Current Hornets coach Byron Scott.

SHOOTING GUARD
Morris Peterson vs. Jason Terry
Basically, Peterson and Terry have opposite roles on their respective teams. Peterson receives relatively few offensive opportunities, only taking 6.7 shots per game, a very low total for a starting player. However, Peterson is often tasked with tough assignments at the defensive end. Meanwhile, Terry is a dangerous three-point threat, as he’s proven repeatedly against the Hornets. Terry averaged 22.0 points against New Orleans this season and shot a scorching 50 percent from beyond the arc (11-for-22). He poured in 30 points to help beat the Hornets in the April 16 regular season finale.

SMALL FORWARD
Peja Stojakovic vs. Josh Howard
Another head-to-head matchup of contrasting styles. Stojakovic has made the All-Star Game three times in his career, partly on the strength of being one of the NBA’s premier three-point shooters. His return to health after missing 69 games to a back injury last season has been one of the primary reasons the Hornets were the league’s second-most improved team. Howard – like Chris Paul, a former Wake Forest Demon Deacon – is a respectable outside shooter, but his versatility is his biggest asset. Howard scores, (19.9 ppg) rebounds (7.0 rpg) and defends, making him one of the NBA’s most underrated players.

POWER FORWARD
David West vs. Dirk Nowitzki
Like the point-guard battle in this series, this is a meeting of a pair of 2008 NBA All-Star players. West has improved statistically every season of his five-year pro career, with that steady progression resulting in his being voted an All-Star for the first time in February. He’s quietly been the Hornets’ leading scorer in the two previous seasons, prior to finishing second behind Chris Paul this season. Nowitzki captured the league MVP trophy in 2006-07 and has been an All-Star seven times. With the Mavericks diversifying their attack, Nowitzki’s individual stats are down a bit, but he remains one of the game’s most feared offensive players.

CENTER
Tyson Chandler vs. Erick Dampier
Both players’ strengths are rebounding and defense, but Chandler is a much more prominent part of his club’s rotation. After being traded by Chicago two years ago, Chandler has been a revelation with New Orleans, improving across the board and becoming one of the Western Conference’s elite centers. The 7-foot-1, 25-year-old averaged a career-high 11.8 points and pulled down 11.7 rebounds per game in the regular season. Alley oops to Chandler for slams have become a staple of the Hornets’ offense. The 32-year-old Dampier plays about 24 minutes a game, averaging 6.1 points, 7.5 rebounds and 1.47 blocks.

BENCH
Hornets
Bonzi Wells emerged as a go-to scorer for a New Orleans reserve unit that was inconsistent most of the season. … Jannero Pargo was one of the Hornets’ most clutch players, sparking at least a handful of victories with big fourth quarters. … Hilton Armstrong is an active second-year big man who was in and out of the mix all season, but secured the backup center role late in the campaign. … Rookie forward Julian Wright provides energy, defense, athleticism and a beyond-his-years floor game. Mavericks

Dallas
Jerry Stackhouse struggled with injuries, playing in only 58 games, but remains a dangerous one-on-one scorer. … Former Hornets forward Brandon Bass is an aggressive rebounder with a nice touch from 15 to 17 feet. … Another ex-Hornet, Eddie Jones, supplies defense and shooting in his 14th NBA season. … Malik Allen is a 6-10 power forward who consistently drains mid-range shots.