LeBron James began his fifth quest Saturday for the championship he’s coveted ever since he was drafted in 2003, and his play so far makes this year look like it will be the year he claims his prize.The Cleveland Cavaliers are going to win the NBA championship, and they are going to win dramatically against the Dallas Mavericks. Here is how this intriguing matchup will come to materialize:The Cavs will cruise to the Eastern Conference Finals. They will sweep the Chicago Bulls, who offered little resistance in their playoff opener, which Cleveland took, 96-83.The Cavaliers will make quick work of the Boston Celtics, who will barely outlast the Miami Heat after seven games to make it to the second round.There, the Cavs will meet the team that ended LeBron’s quest last season – the Orlando Magic. Orlando will face a tougher road to the Eastern Conference Finals. The Magic looked impressive in their playoff opener against the Charlotte Bobcats, but the Bobcats, who qualified for the playoffs for the first time in franchise history, showed lots of fight in the game’s second half.The Bobcats will take at least one game before the Magic put them away to advance to the second round.The Magic will also have a bit of trouble when they face the Atlanta Hawks in the second round. The Hawks will have completed a first-round sweep of the Milwaukee Bucks, who will go down in style.The Hawks will create a few matchup problems because of their athleticism, but the hot shooting Magic should put them away in five games. Last year, the Magic outshot the Cavaliers, who had no answer for Magic center Dwight Howard.But this year will be different.The Cavaliers went out and added players who should counter those advantages to their roster. Cleveland added some offense firepower by acquiring guard Anthony Parker and forward Antawn Jamison. Jamison can shoot outside as well as rebound, which will be key as they take on the NBA’s top rebounder in Howard.The Cavaliers also added center Shaquille O’Neal, who will help contain Howard on the offensive end. Cleveland should beat the Magic in six games if all the pieces come together.The unanimous favorite to represent the Western Conference in the NBA Finals is the Los Angeles Lakers.The Lakers will defeat the Thunder in five games behind the great defensive play of forward Ron Artest to make it to the second round where they will run into the Denver Nuggets.Denver should make quick work of the Utah Jazz who are now without their third-leading scorer in the versatile center Mehmet Okur.The Nuggets seem to be playing flat without coach George Karl on the sidelines, and the Lakers should take the series in seven games for that reason. But then the Lakers will have to meet the Dallas Mavericks in the Western Conference Finals.Dallas will blow past the San Antonio Spurs and the Portland Trail Blazers and should be well rested by the time they face the Lakers.             Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki will lead his team past the Lakers in seven games to earn a seat in the Finals. The series should be one of the most competitive in recent years. The Mavericks and Cavaliers are both deep, versatile teams.There will be just too much LeBron for the Mavericks in the end, and James will hoist his first championship trophy after seven games.   Amos Morale is a 22-year-old history senior from Houston. Follow him on Twitter @TDR_amosmorale3.  —————Contact Amos Morale at [email protected]