Philadelphia 76ers Playoffs Schedule 2012: Odds and Predictions for First Round

The Philadelphia 76ers are back in the NBA Playoffs and here is everything you need to know about their upcoming playoff run.  

Philadelphia will need every bit of skill and luck they have to beat the No. 1 Bulls in the first round.

Led by head coach Doug Collins, an excellent teacher of the game and defensive master, and star small forward Andre Igoudala, the 76ers are a team on the rise.  

Philadelphia is currently the No. 8 seed in the Eastern Conference, which will likely earn them an opening round series with the No. 1 Chicago Bulls. 

The 76ers have a great mix of young, developing talent, coaching, and defensive intensity.  Jrue Holiday, Evan Turner, and Andre Igoudala are all capable of dominating any given night and Philadelphia is ready to give Chicago all the Bulls can handle in the opening round.

Here is everything you need to know about the 76ers' playoff pursuit of an NBA championship.

Schedule for first-round series:

Game 1 - Sat. April 28, Philadelphia at Chicago, 1 p.m., TNT
Game 2 - Tue. May 1, Philadelphia at Chicago, 8 p.m., TNT
Game 3 - Fri. May 4, Chicago at Philadelphia, 8 p.m., ESPN
Game 4 - Sun. May 6, Chicago at Philadelphia, 1 p.m., ABC
Game 5 * Tue. May 8, Philadelphia at Chicago, TBD
Game 6 * Thu. May 10, Chicago at Philadelphia, TBD
Game 7 * Sat. May 12, Philadelphia at Chicago, TBD, TNT

Superstars Who Must Shine

The 76ers are a tough, energetic team that plays better than the sum of its parts.  Philadelphia has no true superstars of LeBron James or Derrick Rose's caliber but they do have several key players who will make or break their chances against the Chicago Bulls in the opening round.

Andre Igoudala

Igoudala is the closest thing the 76ers have to a superstar player.  He is the team's defensive captain and that status is well earned.  Igoudala may be the best man on man defender in basketball and he guards the opponent's best player every night.  Philadelphia will also need him to step up on offense and create with the ball because the team can be very challenged on that side of the floor.

Evan Turner and Jrue Holiday

The 76ers will also need shooting guard Evan Turner and point guard Jrue Holiday to step up.  Both are recent high draft picks that have developed into critical contributors on both ends of the floor.  If both can step up and create offense alongside Igoudala, the 76ers could spread the Bulls' defense thin and be very difficult challenge.  

Role Player Who Must Emerge

Elton Brand is the 76ers' best post presence and they will really need him to step up and star to get past the Chicago Bulls.

Since signing with Philadelphia in 2008, Brand has recovered from long-time nagging injuries but they have left him more a role player than a star.  He lacks the explosiveness and rebounding athleticism he showed in his early years with Chicago.  

But if Brand can emerge in this series against his former team, he can be a real difference maker. Philadelphia desperately needs his post presence and offense to contend in this series.  Matching up against Carlos Boozer, the weakness in Chicago's defense, he will have a great opportunity to be aggressive and make his mark as a re-emerged star.

Offensive Strategy to Watch

For Philadelphia to have success offensively, they will need a mixture of ball distribution between top scoring options and effectiveness in the post.

The 76ers are not a particularly prolific offense.  None of their best players are offensive stars.  But, several of them do have the capability to step up and dominate on a given night, which gives Philadelphia offensive options.

Most important, Philadelphia coach Doug Collins will have to be creative with ball movement.  His team's greatest offensive strength is that Jrue Holiday, Lou Williams, Evan Turner, and Andre Igoudala can all create their own offense.  Igoudala can even function as a point forward in certain situations.  The Bulls only have one great offensive creator, Derrick Rose, so the 76ers can exploit that mismatch.  

They can also use that offensive mixing to force Chicago's best defenders to switch and guard different ball-handlers.  That will wear them down over the course of the series.

Last, Philadelphia needs to create post offense.  It's not their strong suit but Elton Brand, Nikola Vucevic, and Spencer Hawes will all need to step up. If the Bulls dominate the series in the paint, the 76ers don't have a chance.  

Defensive Strategy to Watch

Philadelphia is one of the best defensive teams in the NBA.

If the 76ers win their first round match-up, it will be all about defense.  Of course, the same thing could be said for Chicago, which is one of basketball's other top defensive squads.

Andre Igoudala is the best man defender in the NBA.  He is asked to guard the opponent's best player ever night.  All the team's other starters are also plus defenders, which has made Philadelphia the stingiest team in the game.

Against the Bulls, the 76ers will have to contain Derrick Rose.  He is Chicago's offensive savant, their only true creator with the ball.  They will need to double him on the perimeter and then close off the lane when he attempts to drive to the rim.

Philadelphia will also need to contain Luol Deng. The Bulls run their wing offense through Deng, particularly when Rose is injured or not playing well.  If they can contain both defensively, the 76ers have a good chance for an upset!

Biggest Hurdle of the First Round

The 76ers' biggest hurdle is definitely their first round match-up against the Bulls.  Philadelphia is the No. 8 seed and Chicago is the No. 1 seeded best team in the Eastern Conference.

If the 76ers can get over that hurdle it will be a huge upset.  To do it, they will have to be particularly effective on defense and prevent Derrick Rose or Luol Deng from getting into an offensive rhythm.  They will also need to take advantage of Chicago's serious injury problems and wear them down over the course of the series.

If Philadelphia wins, they will likely face the Miami Heat, which is hardly an easier challenge.  But the 76ers defense gives them a decent match-up shot against the Heat.  The Bulls are the toughest obstacle and Philadelphia will need to focus everything on getting through this tough first round series. 

Last-Second NBA Playoffs Prediction

The 76ers are a very nice story.  They are a tough, defensive team that plays with energy and has a feisty streak that is fun to watch.

But it's tough to see them defeating Chicago, which is the top team in the Eastern Conference this year and features defending NBA MVP Derrick Rose. 

If they do pull off the upset, they will need to beat Miami, the other Eastern heavyweight.  It's a tall task but who knows, they might have enough to surprise the world!