NBA Playoff Schedule 2012: Most Exciting Matchups to Watch
The NBA playoffs are about to begin with some exciting first-round matchups.
Last season, the NBA had a stellar playoff series that had fans on their feet from the very beginning. The upstart Memphis Grizzlies upset the No. 1 San Antonio Spurs. This upset was thought to be the start of the end of the Tim Duncan era in San Antonio.
However, those people were proven wrong as the Spurs now enter this year's playoffs as the No. 1 seed again. That might be surprising to some people but it shouldn't be considering who the coach of that team is and how good their player. Nevertheless, it still remains unknown how they will do in this year's playoffs.
Let's take a look at some of the more exciting matchups in the first round.
Boston Celtics vs. Atlanta Hawks
The Celtics have become one of the hottest teams since the All-Star break mostly due to Rajon Rondo's superb playing. He has had 10 or more assists in 23 straight games and with the help of Kevin Garnett, he has led the Celtics to another Atlantic Division title.
He may not be the flashy scorer that everyone wants to see, but Rondo is one of the most exciting players in the game today. He loves to run the floor and even if his teammates can't catchup, he can be a one-man fast break. His freakishly long arms and hands make him have some of the most creative and awe-inspiring assists in the game which has led him to averaging 11.6 assists per game which leads the league.
The Hawks have pushed the Celtics in the past and should be able to do the same again this year. The Celtics are still inconsistent at times and their defense has been fading as of late. Expect this series to go down to the end.
Memphis Grizzlies vs. LA Clippers
As mentioned before, the Grizzlies were the upstart team last season after defeating the Spurs in a huge upset. Going into this season, Memphis was a trendy pick to make the Western Conference Finals.
Memphis has improved from last season and is led by Rudy Gay and Marc Gasol. Both players are having career years and have established the Grizzlies as serious contenders. Memphis is a team that many people have not seen throughout the year, and this is a good chance to get to know them better.
Most people know about the Clippers and the exciting season they have had. Chris Paul has brought life back into the Clippers as they came close to winning the Pacific Division this season.
Lob City will give us exciting dunks and give energy to the playoffs this year. Watching two young teams play in the playoffs is always exciting as these players get more energized for the games, and it usually creates for a high-paced game. A Blake Griffin dunk during a playoff game might cause the Staples Center crowd to break the Richter scale.
San Antonio Spurs vs. Utah Jazz
I can sense the disagreement already coming from all the fans. However, the Spurs are a more exciting team this season. Duncan looks like his old self and Parker is having a career season.
Along with those two, coach Greg Popovich has done a great job using his bench in a proper fashion. They have plenty of three-point shooters on the team and are an excellent and underrated high scoring team.
The Jazz could be this year's Grizzlies as they have won four straight games and are looking like a team with a bright future with a young team.
While the entire NBA playoffs should be fun to watch, keep your eyes out on these three series in the first round, they should be exciting and possibly go the distance.
