NBA Playoff Predictions: 5 Underdog NBA Teams to Watch in 2nd Half of Season

We're officially into the second half of the 2011-12 NBA season, and things are going to get exciting faster than usual.

With the second half of the lockout-shortened season underway, we're already at the point where every game is starting to matter and every matchup is starting to impact the 2012 NBA Playoff picture.

There are teams—like the Miami Heat, Oklahoma City Thunder, Chicago Bulls and San Antonio Spurs—that are destined to be top seeds in their respective conferences moving into the 2012 playoffs.

But there are even more teams on the brink of the NBA Playoff picture that will be looking to step up their play in the second half of the season. Those teams are what this article is about.

Ahead are five underdog playoff teams to keep your eyes on down the stretch of the 2011-12 NBA season. 

Minnesota Timberwolves (18-17)

The Minnesota Timberwolves are only three games behind the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference, who would be the sixth seed in the West if the NBA season ended right now.

That's an impressive place for the Timberwolves, as they are usually at the absolute bottom of the Western Conference at this point of the season.

Minnesota is coming off an impressive 12-point road win against the third-best team in the West, the Los Angeles Clippers. That win will give the young T'Wolves team a lot of momentum moving forward in the second half of the 2011-12 NBA season.

With Minnesota's young rotation, including Ricky Rubio, Nikola Pekovic, Kevin Love, Derrick Williams and Michael Beasley, starting to gel, the Timberwolves are quickly becoming a dangerous team in the West.

What makes them so dangerous is their versatility. Power forward Kevin Love, the 2012 Foot Locker NBA Three-Point Champion, can step out of the paint and hit long-range shots with the best in the league. Rookies Derrick Williams and Ricky Rubio are together quickly developing into one of the most productive rookie duos in recent memory.

If the Timberwolves can continue to come together as a cohesive unit, with an increased focus on the defensive side of the ball, there's no doubt that they will find their way into the Western Conference playoffs for the first time in seven years.

2011-12 Record Prediction:  35-31

Milwaukee Bucks (14-20)

Surprisingly enough, the Milwaukee Bucks, with an overall 14-20 record, are only 2.5 games behind the Boston Celtics, who would be the Eastern Conference's eighth seed in the playoffs if the NBA season ended right now.

The Bucks are one of the most inconsistent teams in the NBA, losing to teams like the Bobcats, Hornets and Kings, only to follow those performances up with impressive wins against elite teams like the Heat (twice), Lakers, Spurs, Rockets and the Knicks.

Of the Bucks' 14 wins this season, seven of them have come against playoff-caliber teams, and that undoubtedly has to give Milwaukee some hope heading into the second half of the 2011-12 NBA season.

15 of the Bucks' final 32 games are against teams in the NBA with sub-.500 records, which is a major reason why the Bucks might be able to sneak into the 2012 NBA Playoffs.

The one area where the Bucks need to majorly improve heading into the second half of the season is their defensive pressure. Milwaukee gives up an average of 96.8 points per game, which ranks 21st in the NBA. If they want to make a serious run at the 2012 NBA Playoffs, they need to play better defense—enough said.

One thing the Bucks have done, though, which gives them the advantage over playoff "bubble" teams in the East, is that they've proven they can beat the best of the best. If they can do that, while winning the games they should, the will find themselves in a first-round matchup, possibly against the Miami Heat.

2011-21 Record Prediction: 32-34  

Utah Jazz (15-18)

While the Utah Jazz are currently sitting at the 11th spot in the Western Conference, with a 15-18 overall record, they are only three games back from the Memphis Grizzlies, who would be the seventh seed in the West if the season ended right now.

The Jazz aren't a bad team, ranking 15th or better in points per game (11th), rebounds per game (15th) and assists per game (15th). However, they are a bad defensive team, ranking 24th in points allowed with an average of 97.7 points per game.

If the Jazz can manage to pick up their defensive performance, they can undoubtedly make a legitimate run at earning a spot in the Western Conference playoffs.

The bad news for the Jazz is that majority of their second-half schedule is against playoff-caliber teams. The good news is that majority of those games are at home, where they are 12-6 on the season.

While Utah didn't start off the second half of the season like I'm sure they wanted to, with a 103-96 road loss to the lowly Sacramento Kings, the Jazz still have hope for the second half of the season, and it's founded in the increased production they are getting from their second unit.

If Utah can manage to step up their game on the defensive side of the ball, they undoubtedly have the offensive production and team chemistry that is needed to make a legitimate run at the Western Conference Playoffs.

Devin Harris returning to the New Jersey Nets version of himself wouldn't be bad for the Jazz either.

2011-12 Record Prediction:  34-32    

Denver Nuggets (18-17)

If the 2011-12 NBA season ended right now, the Denver Nuggets would find themselves on the outside looking in at the 2012 NBA Playoffs, but only because they're a half-game behind the Portland Trailblazers, who they're playing on Wednesday night.

The Nuggets are on the brink of the Western Conference Playoff picture, and they are also on the brink of being one of the best teams in the NBA. The only thing holding them back is that they rank 28th in defensive production, allowing an average of 101.3 points per game.

If the Nuggets can improve their defensive production just a little bit, they can turn the corner in the West, because they have the offensive production they need to do just that.

The Nuggets rank second overall in offensive production and assists per game, with averages of 103.4 points per game and 22.9 assists per game, respectively.

With arguably the best and most efficient second unit in the NBA, the Nuggets are a dangerous team. Just ask the Miami Heat, Dallas Mavericks, the Los Angeles Lakers, the Los Angeles Clippers and the Indiana Pacers.

If George Karl can get the Nuggets to play some defense, there's no doubt that they can find their way into the Western Conference playoffs. If they do that, they'll undoubtedly be a team that nobody wants to see in the first round come playoff time.

After a solid 14-5 start to the season, the Nuggets cooled off, winning only four of their next 16 games. Hopefully the Nuggets can return to their winning ways of the first quarter of the 2011-12 NBA season, and the way to do that is to start on the defensive side of the ball. 

2011-12 Record Prediction: 38-28   

New York Knicks (17-18)

The biggest question for the Knicks heading into the second half of the 2011-12 NBA season is whether or not Carmelo Anthony, Amar'e Stoudemire and Jeremy Lin can work together to become a legitimate force in the Eastern Conference.

While the answer to that question appears to be "no," with the Knicks losing two of their first three games with all three players in the starting lineup, there's no doubt that the Knicks still have time to figure things out.

If the season ended right now, the Knicks would find themselves in a first-round matchup with the Chicago Bulls. While that's not a bad place to be, the Knicks can undoubtedly improve their playoff positioning. All they have to do is figure out how to keep 'Melo involved in an offense that runs through Jeremy Lin.

Before Jeremy Lin exploded onto the scene in the Big Apple, the Knicks were a bottom feeder in the East, mainly because they didn't move the ball, which resulted in a stagnant offense. With Lin in the offense, the Knicks offense has more movement and has subsequently found more success as of late.

While the Knicks' pre-All-Star break surge was slowed by a dominant Miami Heat team, the Knicks still have a lot of momentum moving into the second half of the 2011-12 NBA season.

If the Knicks want to win games in the second half of the season, they need to facilitate the offense through Jeremy Lin and rely on 'Melo for increased offensive production. If the Knicks do that, they will be a dangerous team heading into the 2012 NBA Playoffs.

2011-12 Record Prediction:  35-31

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