NBA Playoffs 2012 Predictions: Underrated Teams That Will Make Deep Runs

With the NBA season being so condensed, the playoffs have snuck up on us. Now that they are here, there are 16 teams have a chance to recharge their batteries and make a run at immortality. 

Unlike previous years, where things looked like they would be so simple to figure out, this year has an air of mystery to it because of the 66-game regular season that wrapped up in four months. 

With so many teams having so much mileage on their legs in such a short amount of time, we are more likely to see upsets happen, especially early. 

Here are the underrated playoff teams that are going to put together long runs. 

Memphis Grizzlies, No. 4 Seed in Western Conference

There seems to be a lot of growing sentiment that the Grizzlies are THE sleeper team in these NBA playoffs. Looking at the roster, their potential matchups, it would be hard to argue with that theory. 

This team is young, athletic and can score the basketball as well as any team out west. As long as they can figure out how to play on the road—they finished just 15-18 away from Memphis during the regular season—they could get to the conference finals. 

Starting off with the Clippers will be difficult because of what the tandem of Chris Paul and Blake Griffin are capable of, but the Grizzlies have too much depth to lose that series. A potential matchup with San Antonio, who the Grizzlies shocked last year, would likely be waiting. 

There is no reason to think the Grizzlies dominate the older, blander Spurs team. 

Final Prediction: Lose to Oklahoma City in the Conference Finals (Six Games)

Indiana Pacers, No. 3 Seed in Eastern Conference

It looks like, at least on paper, that the east is going to come down to Chicago and Miami. The Pacers caught fire after the All-Star break, but no one seems to be taking them as a serious threat to the beasts of the east.

The Pacers have basically been given a free pass into the second round against a wounded, unstable Orlando team that is without its best player. 

After that, it stands to reason that the Pacers would lock horns with Miami. We know the Heat have far more star power at the top of their roster, but when you start going five or six players deep, things start to even out. 

I won't bring myself to say that the Pacers are going to knock off the Heat en route to the conference finals, but it will be a closer series than you might expect. 

Final Prediction: Lose to Miami in Conference Semifinals (Seven Games)

Denver Nuggets, No. 6 Seed in Western Conference

When Carmelo Anthony was traded last year, we all wondered how the Nuggets were going to succeed without their star player. We never took into account the depth that they already had on the roster and the talent they were getting back from New York in that deal. 

George Karl still doesn't have this team playing defense, which is going to ultimately be their undoing, but they have a great matchup in the first round with the Los Angeles Lakers. 

The absence of Metta World Peace for the next six games is going to have a profound impact on the Lakers. While he is no the defender he once was, he is still very good and does a lot of grunt work that others just can't do. 

This Lakers team is old and not very athletic, which is in stark contrast to the high-flying, exciting and fun to watch Denver Nuggets. 

Oklahoma City will put an end to the Nuggets NBA Finals hopes in the second round, but it will be an offensive series full of fireworks that will go back and forth until the bitter end. 

Final Prediction: Lose to Oklahoma City in Conference Semifinals (Six Games)

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