NBA Playoffs 2012: Each Team's Achilles' Heel

With 2012 NBA playoffs under way, every team's weaknesses will be shown.

The playoffs is the time where elite players step up and the pretenders fail.

Last year, we saw dominant performances from Dirk Nowitzki and horrible ones from LeBron James in the finals.

Here is the key weakness for each NBA team in this year's playoffs.

Utah Jazz: Guards' Offensive Production

The Utah Jazz have a solid frontcourt duo in Al Jefferson and Paul Millsap. However it is the rest of their starting line up that is their weakness.

Devin Harris, C.J. Miles and Gordon Hayward do not provide enough for the Jazz's offense. During the regular season, not one of these players averaged at least 12 points.

If opposing teams take away Jefferson and Millsap, the Jazz are going to struggle having to rely on these guards.

Philadelphia 76ers: No Star Power

The 76ers have no player they can rely on when the game is on the line.

Their leading scorer during the regular season, Lou Williams, was a player off their bench.

Andre Igoudala? The All-Star averaged only 12.4 points a game.

With the lack of a go-to scorer, the 76ers will not be able to make a deep playoff run.

Dallas Mavericks: Front Court Defensive Presence

One of the biggest keys to the Dallas Mavericks' championship run last year was Tyson Chandler.

He provided a defensive presence down low that they never had before. 

Well Chandler is gone and who are the Mavericks left with now?

Do not try to tell me Brendan Haywood is going to be able to anchor the Mavericks' defense. He is a solid reserve center, but is not the leader of a defense.

New York Knicks: Carmelo and Amar'e's Lack of Chemistry

It has been talked about all year and the two of them still cannot figure out.

You would think two of the top players in the NBA, Carmelo Anthony and Amar'e Stoudemire, would be able to dominate together.

On paper, this is one of the top duos in the NBA. However on the court when it really matters, these two do not appear to be on the same page.

The Knicks may have great players, but without team chemistry there is no way they can beat teams like the Miami Heat.

Denver Nuggets: Defense

The Denver Nuggets have one of the worst defenses in the NBA.

They allowed 101.2 points per a game, which ranked for 29th in the NBA.

I know they have a high-scoring offense, but that is not going to be able to work in the playoffs. In the NBA, the difference between the regular season and the playoffs is like day and night.

Opposing teams are going to buckle down and start playing tough defense. 

There has always been the saying that "defense wins championships." Unfortunately, the Nuggets do not play defense, which is going to significantly hurt them.

Orlando Magic: No Dwight Howard

Are the Orlando Magic even a relevant team anymore?

Dwight Howard was that entire team. He put them in the national spotlight, whether he was dominating games or demanding a trade.

With Howard out of the playoffs, the Magic have no players they can rely on.

Howard was their only defensive presence down low. Ryan Anderson cannot make up for Howard on the defensive end at all. He plays more like a shooting guard than a power forward.

Jason Richardson is past his prime and will not be able to carry the teams offense.

With Howard most likely leaving Orlando, the Magic are going to have some rebuilding to do.

Los Angeles Clippers: No Consistent Shooting Guard

Chauncey Billups was the perfect player for the Los Angeles Clippers. 

He is a consistent and reliable player. He has playoff experience and consistently provides offense. In his 14 NBA season, Billups has averaged double-figures in 12 of them.

Unfortunately, the Clippers are without Billups for the playoffs because of his injury.

They have to rely on shooting guards now, including Nick Young and Randy Foye. Neither of these two have shown they can be a consistent scoring presence throughout their NBA careers.

Nick Young's problem, along with his horrible defense, is that he can disappear from games.

Young has all the talent in the world. However, until he learns how to become consistent like Billups has been, the Clippers will struggle.

Atlanta Hawks: No Big Man

If the Atlanta Hawks had Al Horford, they would be a much more dangerous team. Without him though, they have a huge hole at the center position.

Even Horford backup, Zaza Pachulia, is dealing with injuries. That means their starting center is Jason Collins.

Collins stands at 7'0" and his rebounds-per-game average throughout his career is fewer than four.

There is no excuse for any player in the NBA that is 7'0" to average fewer than four rebounds per a game.

With no center, opposing teams are going to be able to take advantage of the Hawks on the boards.

Memphis Grizzlies: Rudy Gay Not Stepping Up

Rudy Gay is the Memphis Grizzlies' top player, and if the Grizzlies want to make a playoff run, he is going to have to take his game to the next level.

Gay is their go-to scorer and has all the tools to become a star in this league. However he has not shown the ability to take over a game.

When Gay scored at least 25 points during the regular season, the Grizzlies went 9-1. It is simple. When Gay steps up his game, the Grizzlies win.

If Gay doesn't show he can take his game to the next level in these playoffs, the Grizzlies will have a difficult time beating the Los Angeles Clippers in the first round.

Boston Celtics: Age

The Celtics' big three are not the players they once were. Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen are all in their mid-30s, and they have gotten a step slower.

These three have been some of the most dominant players in the NBA for over the past decade, but it is clear that their time has past.

Sure they will still be competitive, but they are going to struggle making a deep playoff run. Their bodies have taken too much wear and tear over the years.

At their age, playing in four straight playoff series is too much to ask of them.

Los Angeles Lakers: Andrew Bynum's Consistency

If Andrew Bynum continues to play the way he has been playing over the past month, the Los Angeles Lakers have a great chance of winning the NBA championship.

However, whichever Bynum decides to show up throughout the playoffs is going to be the Lakers' biggest problem.

At times Bynum looks like the best center in the NBA. Other times, though, he can be a headcase and cause problems for head coach Mike Brown.

Bynum cannot be messing around during this playoff stretch. Kobe Bryant is getting older and his chance at winning another championship is getting smaller by the year.

Indiana Pacers: Experience

The Indiana Pacers have a young team core and should be one of the top teams in the future.

However, their playoff inexperience is going to hurt them during these upcoming games.

I know they made the playoffs last year, but they went 37-45. Any team with a losing record does not really deserve to make the playoffs.

This year the Pacers significantly improved and are the third seed in the East.

Being a higher seed is going to hurt them though because their expectations have been raised.

They are still young and do not have that go-to guy. Danny Granger is good, but he is not an elite player that can carry a team.

This will cause the Pacers to struggle when they go up against a team that has players with a lot more playoff experience.

Oklahoma City Thunder: Offensive Playing Style

The Oklahoma City Thunder have three of the best players in the NBA.

On any given night, Kevin Durant, Russel Westbrook and James Harden can take over a game. However the major concern for the Thunder is the way it plays offense.

Their offense is not very team-oriented and is more of a one-on-one style. When they go on offense, it is one of these three guys isolating their defender. 

I know it has worked for them well since they are the second seed in the West, but this style of play may not hold up in the playoffs.

Team play wins championships, not individuals. The style of offense the Thunder play could lead to some players being selfish and hurting their chances of winning a championship.

Miami Heat: LeBron James in the 4th Quarter

Every year it is the same thing with LeBron James.

He is the best player for three quarters, but where is he in the fourth quarter?

It was clear that his poor play in last year's championship was the reason that the Miami Heat lost to the Dallas Mavericks.

LeBron is going to have to develop the clutch gene if he ever wants to win a championship.

In the playoffs, games are going to be close and intense. The fourth quarter is when you need your best players to make the biggest plays.

LeBron is one of the top candidates to win the MVP this season for the third time in his career. Let's finally see him perform like one for an entire game.

San Antonio Spurs: Age

It seems like the San Antonio Spurs have had the same core group of players since the NBA has started.

Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker seem to keep finding the magic that allows these veterans to continue to be one of the best teams in the league.

Lets be real though. Duncan and Ginobili are both getting old. They do not have the athleticism or the explosiveness that young teams like the Oklahoma City Thunder have.

If the Spurs make a deep playoff run, Duncan and Ginobili's old bodies will be hurting by the time they are in the Western Conference Finals.

Chicago Bulls: Derrick Rose's Health

Going into the playoffs, Derrick Rose's health was the Chicago Bulls' biggest concern.

Well after one playoff game, the Bulls had every right to be scared. Rose tore his ACL and is now out for the rest of the playoffs.

The Bulls without Rose are a completely different team. It is almost a joke that they are the No. 1 seed in the East.

Sure the Bulls will still be a good defensive team, but who do they have on offense now?

Sorry Bulls fans, but Luol Deng and an old Richard Hamilton are not going to carry this team far into the playoffs.

Without Rose, all of the other Bulls' role players will be dealing with a lot more defensive pressure than they have ever seen.

The Bulls should make it past the first round, but after that consider them done.