NBA Playoffs 2012: 5 Teams Who Will Sweep in the First Round

After the NBA abandoned the five-game series in the first round a few years back, it became harder to sweep a team in the playoffs. 

The start of the championship quest was this past weekend, and there are a few teams that showed the potential for a sweep whether by talent or circumstance. 

Here are the top five teams that have shown they are on a fast track for the next round in this year's NBA playoffs. 

5. Atlanta Hawks

Josh Smith toyed with Kevin Garnett in Game 1 of this series with 22 points and 18 rebounds.  Rajon Rondo was the catalyst as the Boston Celtics pulled within four before his ejection in a 74-83 loss to the Atlanta Hawks.

Without Rondo for game two, the Celtics are almost certain to lose and go into an emotional game three in a two-game hole.

The Celtics problem seems to be this—they put themselves into deep holes in the early stages of the game and are always looking for a dramatic comeback. 

Constantly playing from behind isn't the best way to start off or win a series, and Doc Rivers and the Celtics know that. 

The rebuilding stage seems to have set in and started a tad sooner than anticipated in Boston.  Unfortunately for the Celtics, the ending of this series will start sooner than anticipated, as well.   

4. Chicago Bulls

The Bulls are on a mission to prove something now.

Derrick Rose went down and according to analysts and fans, so did the Bulls' season.

Tom Thibodeau has what seems to be a prideful group that reflects himself.  This Chicago team in particular seems to thrive on the "us against the world" attitude. 

Top to bottom even without Rose, the Bulls have a very solid basketball team at every position.  Each player seems to compliment what the other lacks, and it all seems to click.   

Philly will be down 0-3 before they realize it, and the Bulls will be sending a statement to two beatable and potential second-round matchups in Boston and Atlanta.     

3. San Antonio Spurs

Plain and simple, the Utah Jazz don't stand a chance. 

It's respectable the way the Jazz fought hard to get into the playoffs, but unfortunately for them, it's going to end quicker than it started. 

The San Antonio Spurs have probably played the best basketball in the NBA up to this point.  Tony Parker and Tim Duncan didn't put the Spurs in the West's top-seeded position to simply coast by and get into the second round.

Look for the Spurs to end this series quickly and get Duncan the rest he needs to make a good push for June this year. 

2. Los Angeles Lakers

Welcome to the block party where Andrew Bynum is the host, and Kobe Bryant is here to show you around.

The Denver Nuggets are truly out-manned in the paint.  For the first time in a long while for the Lakers in the playoffs, it's not all about Bryant. 

Bynum has asserted himself as a force to be reckoned with in the paint which frees up Pau Gasol to play within his finesse game.

Ramon Sessions is the key.  It's not about stopping Ty Lawson but simply slowing him down at times, which a former Lakers point guard couldn't do. 

Last time a seven-footer manned the paint with Bryant like this, there was a three-peat in Los Angeles with four straight championship appearances.

1. Miami Heat

The Heat were on their way to sweeping the Knicks prior to the recent self-inflicted hand injury of Amar'e Stoudemire and the unfortunate ACL of Iman Shumpert.

Even when fully healthy, there seems to be something wrong with this Knicks group when it comes to on-court team chemistry.  They talk a good game, but on the court, it's a different story. 

The Heat are playing at a level that New York just isn't on, and with all due respect to Spike Lee and the Knicks fans, this series isn't going any further than Sunday.