NBA Playoff Schedule: Predicting Sunday's Opening-Round Games

The 2012 NBA playoffs are under way, and you know what that means: The Miami Heat will win the championship and everyone will boo.

Just kidding. Or am I?

There are some exciting games on Sunday in what should be nail-biting matchups throughout the playoffs. We already know the Chicago Bulls won't win the championship after Derrick Rose tore the ACL in his left knee on Saturday. Now teams like the Heat, Spurs and Lakers have shots at winning the title.

Here's a look at Sunday's playoff games, complete with predictions.

Utah Jazz at San Antonio Spurs

Let's be honest, the Spurs are going to win this series, and they will win Game 1 on Sunday. 

The Spurs are one of the elite teams in the NBA this season, while the Jazz are the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference. Heading into the postseason, the Spurs have won 21 of their last 23 games. Yes, one of those losses was against the Jazz, but it's pretty obvious who is going to win in a seven-game series, especially with the Spurs having home-court advantage.

The Spurs ranked second in the league in points per game, ninth in rebounds and fourth in assists. Yes, they are an older team, but that didn't stop them from winning 50 out of 66 games this season. They are 28-5 at home this season and 22-11 away. That's one consistent team.

Denver Nuggets at Los Angeles Lakers

The acquisition of Ramon Sessions revitalized the Lakers, but they will be without Metta World Peace for the first six games.

That shouldn't matter, though. The Lakers frontcourt has been outstanding this season, and Kobe Bryant has been his usual, elite-scoring self. They intimidate teams on the glass, and starting Al Harrington at the 5 is not going to work well for the Nuggets.

This should be a nail-biter of a series, particularly because the Lakers still have trouble guarding fast point guards (like Ty Lawson), but they've simply been overpowering in the paint and have home-court advantage. They win Game 1 and go on to win the series in seven games.

Boston Celtics at Atlanta Hawks

This should be an ugly, defensive-minded series, but the Celtics have the experience and Kevin Garnett, who has simply been playing amazing basketball lately, especially for his age.

There's also the fact that the Hawks don't have Al Horford on the floor and Zaza Pachulia is questionable with a sprained foot. You won't be hurt as much against the Celtics with less size, but it does take away a potential advantage.

I expect the Celtics to come into Atlanta and defeat the Hawks in Game 1, going on to win the series.

Los Angeles Clippers at Memphis Grizzlies

This should be an interesting series. The Clippers, with Chris Paul and Blake Griffin, have the ability to explode against anyone in the league. However, the Grizzlies are more battle-tested and have been around each other for much longer.

If the Grizzlies still didn't have Zach Randolph, I could see the Clippers winning the series, but Randolph's return has seen the Grizzlies play better. This should be a really close series, but I see Memphis winning Game 1 and winning the series in seven games.

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