NBA Playoff Schedule 2012: Series That Will Prove Importance of Home Court

The NBA Playoffs are underway. The home team won three of the four opening-round games played thus far. 

Home court is supposed to provide a distinct advantage. A home crowd creates a hostile environment for the visiting team and maximum comfort for the home team. 

These series will prove the importance of home-court advantage in the 2012 NBA Playoffs. 

San Antonio Spurs vs. Utah Jazz

The Spurs and the Jazz lost a combined 13 games at home this season. The Jazz only won 11 of 33 road contests over the course of the regular season. This creates an obvious mismatch.

San Antonio tied Miami for the NBA's best home record this season at 28-5. The Spurs are incredibly tough to vanquish in front of the AT&T Center crowd.

Utah must find a way to play better than their 11-22 regular-season road record, or this series will end quickly. San Antonio was 22-11 on the road this season and will not be as affected by Jazz fans. 

The Spurs are tough to beat just based on their talent level. Home-court advantage makes this series more lopsided.

Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Dallas Mavericks

Dallas may be a veteran team, but they lost 20 games on the road this season. Oklahoma City fans are among the league's loudest and the Thunder only lost seven home contests all year.

The Mavericks already face a disadvantage on the court. Home court gives the Thunder an even larger edge. 

Oklahoma City won 21 games on the road this season, and have no trouble handling raucous crowds. Dallas cannot afford to relinquish one game in front of their home crowd. 

The Thunder benefit from being the main attraction in Oklahoma City. Their fans come out in flocks and make things difficult on opposing teams. 

Indiana Pacers vs. Orlando Magic

The Pacers are the only top three seed in either conference with double digit losses at home this season. It showed in Game 1 with Orlando's surprising victory.

Indiana must improve their play at home if they want to advance to the second round. They won 19 road contests this season, but you do not want to rely on road victories to win a series. 

Dwight Howard's absence was supposed to be the determining factor in this first-round series. The Pacers' youth and inexperience may play a larger role. 

Indiana's ability to right the ship in front of their own fans will decide if they make it out of this series. A Game 2 victory on Monday is necessary for their future playoff hopes.