NBA Playoffs Bracket 2012: 3 Overhyped Teams Destined for Early Exit

The NBA playoff schedule has been released, and the matchups are set for both the Eastern and Western conference, beginning Saturday.

San Antonio, Oklahoma City and the L.A. Lakers are among the favorites in the West, while Miami and Chicago are set to both meet each other in the Eastern Finals if everything goes according to plan.

However, there are several other teams making noise amongst the favorites, looking to throw their name in the hat for consideration among the NBA's best.

Not everyone can win, and there are some teams with major hype heading into the postseason that are sure to take an early stumble out of contention.

Oklahoma City Thunder

With James Harden hurting, the Thunder reeling a bit in the standings and the weight of expectations now firmly planted on their shoulders, it's going to be interesting to see how the team responds to a matchup with the Dallas Mavericks.

Will they crumble under the weight?

Even if they survive the defending champions, do they then have what it takes to knock off the Lakers and Spurs in consecutive rounds?

The Metta World Peace play may be the pivotal point of the season for the Thunder. They either respond, Harden plays like Harden and win, or they let it go down as motivation for the 2013 playoffs.

Los Angeles Clippers

They've been the media darlings all season, as "Lob City" caught on quickly and Blake Griffin has been dominating SportsCenter all season. But beneath the flash, they have some holes when they get in the half-court set.

Griffin still isn't a great one-on-one, back-to-the-basket player. Their entire frontcourt can't shoot free throws, and they lack any kind of a consistent rotation off the bench.

Those are all indicators that playoff basketball won't be kindly to the Clips.

Combine that with a hungry Memphis Grizzlies team, full-strength with Zach Randolph healthy mind you, and I think it spells trouble for the Clippers sooner than later.

New York Knicks

How can the Knicks be overhyped as a contender, you say?

Many expect the squad to take the Miami Heat to seven games, and I don't blame them.

No one has been as hot as the Knicks since the resurgence of Carmelo Anthony, the play of Jeremy Lin and the lights-out shooting of Steve Novak.

However, their facing a team hungry to get back to the Finals.

With the lack of a consistent point guard (Lin injury) and a bit of a habit to turn into jump-shooters at any moment, I'm not sure the Knicks can handle a seven-game, grind-it-out soiree with the Heat.