NBA Playoff Schedule 2012: Complete Guide to Tuesday's Game 2 Action

The opening game of the 2012 NBA Playoffs proved once again what made the National Basketball Association one of the greatest competitions in the world.

We had season-ending injuries, player ejections and some incredibly good basketball.

And whilst I can't promise more of the first two, I can promise some spectacular play to follow in Game 2 as teams battle for playoff supremacy.

You will find a complete guide to all of Tuesday's action right here.

Boston Celtics @ Atlanta Hawks

7:30 p.m. ET at Phillips Arena, Atlanta

The Atlanta Hawks took Game 1 over the Boston Celtics with a 83-74 victory, but the real talking point of the matchup was the ejection and subsequent suspension of star point guard, Rajon Rondo.

After making contact with an official and receiving two technical fouls, Rondo was suspended from the second game in the series and will sorely be missed by Boston coaches, players and fans alike.

The absence of Rondo, who recorded yet another double-double in the loss to the Hawks, leaves the Celtics without a proven assist man. If they are to level the series heading into the matches in Boston, they will need better performances from Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett, who shot just 5-for-19 and 8-for-19 from the field, respectively.  

For the Hawks, the key to victory lies with their shooting, with Josh Smith and Joe Johnson desperately needing to improve their numbers.

Smith went for 22 points and Johnson 11 in their opening round win, but with Smith shooting at 8-for-20 and Johnson a woeful 3-for-15 and 0-for-9 from downtown, it goes without saying that both players need to score with more efficiency. 

Without Rondo, the Celtics will need to bring their A-game if they are to topple the Hawks in Atlanta. They played nowhere near their best in Game 1, and without their star point-guard, they won't be able to play their best in Game 2. 

The next few games in Boston are critical for the C's as they head home down 2-0 in their opening playoff series.

Hawks by 8 points.

Philadelphia 76ers @ Chicago Bulls

8 p.m. ET at United Center, Chicago

The Bulls' 12-point win in the opening round against the Sixers was marred by the loss of reigning MVP Derrick Rose, who will miss the remainder of the playoffs.

Having said that, the Bulls have shown all season long that they can win without their top stars—going 18-9 without Rose in their lineup this season and taking the top seed despite trotting out their regular starting lineup only 15 times this season.

Chicago will need another strong rebounding performance from Joakim Noah and an all-round effort from Luol Deng, but for me, the X-factor will be Richard Hamilton.

The oft-injured shooting guard shot 6-for-7 from the field and 100 percent from beyond the arc in Game 1 for the Bulls, and with Rose out, he should see a lot more of the ball.

For the 76ers, having Rose out is a plus, but it's crucial that they focus on their own game plan as they attempt to solve what went wrong in the opening game.

The Sixers shot below 40 percent from the field in Game 1 and connected on just 1-for-9 from downtown—both numbers they will need to improve. For me, the real focus should be on their ball movement as they recorded less than 20 assists on 91 points, despite chalking up 10 steals.

Andre Iguodala is the man for Philly, but with just 11 points on 3-for-13 shooting to start the series, he will definitely need to step it up. 

Trailing 2-0 in a series against the Bulls is far from ideal, but that's exactly where the Sixers will find themselves at game's end. Chicago's offense might not be as strong without Rose, but their defense certainly is, as they will force Philly into another night of horrific shooting which will see them again go down by double figures.

Bulls by 11 points.

Denver Nuggets @ Los Angeles Lakers

10:30 p.m. ET at Staples Center, Los Angeles

The Los Angeles Lakers took a 1-0 series lead over the Nuggets with a 103-88 victory and will be looking to take another win in front of their home crowd in this one. 

After falling victim to an Andrew Bynum block party and finishing the night with 36 percent shooting, the areas of improvement for Denver are obvious. 

Bynum notched up 13 rebounds and an impressive 10 blocks in the opening game and by dominating in the paint, setting the stage for Kobe Bryant's 31-point night. As we have seen in years past, Bryant appeared to be completely set in playoff mode.

The player to watch for Denver is Andre Miller, a veteran point guard with a wealth of playoff experience. Miller had seven assists in 27 minutes in the opening game, and if he gets more minutes in this one, his offensive penetration and assist work could help the Nuggets even the series.

However, with the way the Lakers shot the ball in Game 1, you have to like their chances at extending their series lead—regardless of what changes the Nuggets make.

Kobe Bryant will show that he is still a force to be reckoned with in the 2012 NBA playoffs with another statement game as the Lakers take another step in erasing the pain of last year's early elimination. 

I say Kobe goes for 40 points—a number greater than the amount of baskets that Denver makes all night.

Lakers by 22 points.

Follow @dantalintyre