NBA Playoff Schedule 2012: 2nd-Round Matchups We Can't Wait to See

One thing that makes the NBA playoffs so great are the head-to-head matchups, and there are plenty intriguing ones awaiting us in Round 2.

Round 1 has given us LeBron James vs. Carmelo Anthony, Kevin Durant vs. Dirk Nowitzki and a few other good ones. But I, like most Americans, bore easily, so I think it's time to look forward to what the second round has to offer. 

You can find a complete playoff schedule here. Now, lets take a look at the best potential second-round star battles. 

Note: some of these players' teams aren't guaranteed to advance quite yet, but this is simply a look at the best potential matchups.

It's what we want to see, not always what is guaranteed. 

Luol Deng vs. Paul Pierce

This one won't spark the interest of everyone, but there's still plenty of intrigue behind these two players. 

Without Derrick Rose, the Chicago Bulls desperately need someone to fill the scoring void. Common sense would point to Deng, who averaged 15.3 points per game during the regular season.

Common sense isn't always very smart, though, because Deng has struggled so far against Philadelphia.

It will be interesting to see if Deng can put it together when Chicago needs him most, especially against Paul Pierce, who continues to prove he's a Hall of Famer with big game after big game. 

Remember those instant classics we got between Boston and Chicago in the 2009 playoffs?

These small forwards could easily deliver a few more. 

Tony Parker vs. Chris Paul

OK, now to the good ones. 

Parker and Paul are both legitimate MVP candidates and have both absolutely carried their teams to where they are now.

And what's even better, both point guards like to attack and penetrate at about 115 miles per hour—and they'll be guarding each other.

With Tony Parker playing the best basketball of his career, he's finally nearing Chris Paul's level. In this scenario, he'll get an entire series to prove he belongs among the elite point guards.

This might be the best matchup of the entire playoffs.

Yes please. 

Kevin Durant vs. Kobe Bryant

If this series happens, most people will be paying attention to Metta World Peace's elbows, but that would be a mistake.

Because Kevin Durant and Kobe Bryant will be able to settle the scoring dispute.

On the last day of the regular season, Kobe Bryant sat out a game in which he needed 35 points to win the scoring title, thus conceding it to Durant.

Well, there would be no sitting out these games, and the two best scorers in the NBA would get plenty of chances to go back and forth. 

What would the over/under be on "times both Kobe and Durant catch fire and trade multiple baskets without anyone else touching the ball?"

I'd say at least once per game. 

Let me just finish with this: Kevin Durant and Kobe Bryant going back and forth at each other is something we would remember for a long time.

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