NBA Playoffs 2012 Predictions: Projecting Winners for Each Matchup

The 2012 NBA playoffs start this weekend, and there are eight matchups between 16 teams that are hopeful they will hoist the O’Brien Trophy after winning the NBA Finals.

Let’s take a look at each matchup and predict a winner for the first round.

Western Conference

San Antonio Spurs vs. Utah Jazz

The Jazz are a longshot to make and win the NBA Finals. They are still technically rebuilding after the Deron Williams trade and developing their young stars.

It’s quite an accomplishment that they made it into the postseason, but they will be quickly ousted by a ticked-off San Antonio team looking for revenge after losing as the No. 1 seed last year.

Prediction: Spurs in four.

Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Dallas Mavericks

This is a rematch of last year’s Western Conference finals, but these two teams have gone in opposite directions since last May’s series. OKC has gotten deeper and more experience, while the Mavericks lost a number of key players from their title run.

Look for the Thunder to start their run back to the conference finals with a tightly-contested victory here.

Prediction: Thunder in seven.

Los Angeles Lakers vs. Denver Nuggets

Kobe Bryant may be the most motivated player in all of basketball this year. After conceding the scoring title to Kevin Durant on the final day of the season, he has to be focusing all of his energy on tying Michael Jordan with a sixth ring.

The Nuggets don’t have the firepower or the willpower to compete with Kobe, and it will ultimately cost them.

Prediction: Lakers in six.

Memphis Grizzlies vs. Los Angeles Clippers

The Grizz were the darlings of last year’s postseason after they battled with the Spurs and eventually prevailed as a No. 8 seed. Now they are a No. 4 seed, and they aren’t being underestimated.

L.A. has upgraded with Chris Paul running point, but it still has a young, inexperienced roster that doesn’t know what playoff basketball is about.

Look for Memphis’ experience to be the deciding factor.

Prediction: Grizzlies in seven.

Eastern Conference

Chicago Bulls vs. Philadelphia 76ers

Evan Turner, the Sixers shooting guard, gave the Bulls a talking point when he told the media his team would match up better and would rather play Chicago than the No. 2-seeded Miami Heat.

He’s going to get more than he bargained for when Derrick Rose leads his men straight through this undermanned squad.

Prediction: Bulls in five.

Miami Heat vs. New York Knicks

The Knicks aren’t going to roll over easy for the defending Eastern Conference champs. Carmelo Anthony is playing out of his mind, and Amar’e Stoudemire is back in the lineup.

However, besides those two stars, this team severely lacks firepower and depth to hang with the Heat for seven games.

They’ll keep it interesting, but N.Y. eventually falls.

Prediction: Miami in six.

Indiana Pacers vs. Orlando Magic

The No. 3 seed was definitely the best to earn in the East this year.

Considering that the No. 6 Magic will be without Dwight Howard, their only elite player, Indiana will win easily here and advance to take on the Heat in the second round.

Prediction: Pacers in five.

Boston Celtics vs. Atlanta Hawks

Despite Atlanta having a better record in the regular season, Boston is the better team, and it didn’t even mind sending a starting rotation of five scrubs out to battle the Hawks in their final matchup of the season.

They know they can win in ATL and have proved it before. Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce have too much experience and too much pride to fall to this banged-up Hawks roster in what will likely be their last playoff hurrah.

Prediction: Celtics in six.