NBA Playoffs 2012: Sleeper Teams No One Is Talking About

The 2012 NBA playoffs are in full swing as first-round action gets under way this weekend. 

The top-seeded Chicago Bulls, San Antonio Spurs, Miami Heat and Oklahoma City Thunder aren't the only teams that fans should be talking about. though.

There are plenty of underrated sleepers who could be hoisting the Larry O'Brien Trophy at season's end.

Take a look at these sleepers poised for a deep playoff run in 2012:

Indiana Pacers

The No. 3-seeded Indiana Pacers have home-court advantage in the Eastern Conference first-round playoffs against Orlando, and are the quiet favorite to send the Dwight Howard-less Magic packing early. 

Indiana is the fourth-best rebounding team in the NBA this season, and their top-10 scoring defense will be the reason they make a serious playoff run this spring. The Pacers will be a tough out for the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference semifinals, especially considering just how good Frank Vogel's squad is on the road. The Pacers' 19-14 road mark is the second best of any team in the East this season.

Indiana is even stronger at home, where they have won 23-of-33 games this year. Danny Granger and company also boast the East's fourth-highest scoring offense, trailing only Milwaukee, Miami and New York. That sort of balance will propel the Pacers to the level of success they experienced in the 1990s with Reggie Miller.

Boston Celtics

The Boston Celtics, the No. 4 seed in the Eastern Conference, are outright scary come playoff time. Boston's rotation features three future Hall of Famers in Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen. In addition to the aging-but-capable Big Three, the Celtics boast one of the league's most hardworking point guards in Rajon Rondo.

Rondo's gritty play makes him a threat to record a triple-double any night, and once he ratchets up the intensity for the postseason, the Atlanta Hawks and the rest of the East should be on the lookout. Boston's scoring defense is second-best in the NBA, trailing only the Chicago Bulls.

The Celtics are also the second-best assisting team in the league this season thanks to Rondo, who led the NBA in assists per game with 11.7. Paul Pierce is also playing at a high level as the postseason tips off, and will no doubt be the feature of Boston's offense as a former Finals MVP.

Dallas Mavericks

Until the defending NBA champions are dealt with, they are still a legitimate threat to contend for the Larry O'Brien Trophy this June. Dallas was overlooked coming into last year's postseason, and went on to shock the world by winning it all.

The Mavericks still have Dirk Nowitzki, last season's Finals MVP, and the second-best scoring defense among the eight Western Conference playoff teams, allowing just 94.8 points per game during the regular season.

Though Dallas likely won't benefit from home-court advantage in any playoff series this year, they overcame the Los Angeles Lakers and Miami Heat on the road a year ago, turning the tide away from home with a heavy dose of defense and Dirk Nowitzki. 

That formula for success will not change in 2012, as the Mavs know what won them a title a year ago, and what will help them defend it this time around. 

Follow Patrick Clarke on Twitter for more on the 2012 NBA playoffs.