NBA Playoffs Predictions: Teams That Will Bounce Back from Series Deficit

It's still relatively early in the 2012 NBA Playoffs, but more than one team have already dug themselves a hole, facing an early deficit through a couple of games.

While I'm not really giving the Utah Jazz much of a chance against the San Antonio Spurs or the banged-up Orlando Magic much of a chance against the Indiana Pacers, several other teams have the chance to bounce back and at least make their respective series competitive.

Here's a look at the teams with the best shot of getting back into things.

Dallas Mavericks

The Mavs are in an 0-2 hole, losing both games by a combined four points. The defending champs have fought hard, but just haven't executed well down the stretch.

That will continue as the series shifts to Dallas. The effort will be there for Dirk Nowitzki and company, and if a couple friendly bounces go their way at home, the Mavericks could at least make a series of it.

Denver Nuggets

The Nuggets have fallen behind 0-2 to Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers, but like most lower seeds, the Nuggets play much better at home than they do on the road.

During the regular season, Denver went 20-13 at home on the season, while the Lakers were just a 15-18 team away from the Staples Center.

The Nuggets have the talent to play with the Lakers, and if they can get their up-tempo offense, which lead the NBA in scoring at 104.1 PPG, going early, then the Nuggets have a good chance to get back in the series.

New York Knicks

On paper, this series is all but over, and I don't give the Knicks much chance at all of coming back from down 0-2 to win the series, but with things heading to Madison Square Garden, New York still has the ability to bounce back and take a game or two to at least make this series look competitive on paper.

They will be playing without three starters in Amar'e Stoudemire, Jeremy Lin and Iman Shumpert and could be easy to write off and overlook.

But sometimes that makes a team dangerous. There's still competitors and good talent in the Knicks locker room, so I don't see them rolling over to play dead at home. With Carmelo Anthony moving back to the 4 and Tyson Chandler's leadership, the Knicks can still make a little bit of noise.