2012 NBA Playoff Predictions: 4 Teams Likely to Get Swept in the 1st Round

It's been a 66-game sprint, this NBA campaign. Now the playoffs are right around the corner, and teams are jockeying for position and to see who can enter the postseason on a hot streak. But there have been teams out there who have displayed a fragile makeup or psyche, and it is those teams that are most likely to get sent home without winning a first-round playoff game. Here they are:

Orlando Magic

Sure, the Magic have Dwight Howard, but he's been battling injuries. And he's also not on the best of terms with coach Stan Van Gundy. If they were to draw the Indiana Pacers in the first round, it wouldn't be out of the question to see Howard and company pack it in without winning a game in the series.

New York Knicks

This team has been all over the map this year. There was the slow start, then Jeremy Lin and Linsanity, then another downturn and now they look to be hitting on all cylinders again under coach Mike Woodson and behind Carmelo Anthony. But if nothing else, Anthony has proven to be moody, and if the Knicks face Chicago in the first round I could see them being swept.

Dallas Mavericks

The defending champions have not been right all year. Lamar Odom was just recently booted for from the team for giving less than 100 percent, so the locker room is likely in shambles. The Mavericks will look for Dirk Nowitzki, and in the past that has not gone very well. Plus Dallas, might face the Lakers in the first round, and Los Angeles wants revenge for being knocked out by the Mavs a year ago.

Denver Nuggets

So the Nuggets picked up JaVale McGee, one of the most entertaining players in the league. They are on a pace to meet up with Kevin Durant and the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round. The Thunder appears on a mission this year, and would likely sweep aside Denver.