NBA Playoff Schedule 2012: Bold Predictions for Friday's Game 3 Matchups
The 2012 NBA playoffs have had a lot of non-competitive games, yet there have been far more storylines to come out this year than in recent years, it seems.
On Friday night, two teams will look to take control of their respective series and another will try to take a commanding 3-0 lead.
Game 3 is always the most pivotal game of any series.
Teams that are down 2-0 need a win here to get back into it and put their opponent back on their heels. For a series that's tied 1-1, it's the opportunity for a team to get the all important advantage.
Here are our bold predictions for Friday night's Game 3 matchups in the NBA playoffs.
Atlanta Hawks at Boston Celtics (Series Tied 1-1)
This game and series is going to come down to one thing: Josh Smith's health.
The Hawks' star power forward sprained his left knee in Game 2 and is doubtful to play on Friday night, according to the Atlanta Journal Constitution.
This has been an ugly series to watch because neither team does a lot on offense, nor is either team playing at full strength. Rajon Rondo will be making his return after a one-game suspension for bumping a referee, which should ignite the always-anemic Celtics offense.
Even without Rondo, all the injuries that have piled up on the Hawks will be too much for them to overcome in this game.
Prediction: Celtics win 88-77.
Chicago Bulls at Philadelphia 76ers (Series Tied 1-1)
Once Derrick Rose went down with a torn ACL, the entire complexion of the playoffs changed.
There was some thinking the Bulls would be able to push through this series without the reigning MVP.
What wasn't really taken into account was how emotionally deflating losing Rose was for everyone else on the Bulls. Even when he missed 27 regular-season games, the team always knew he would be back eventually.
Now, Rose is gone and the 76ers are feeling great about their chances as they head home.
The Bulls will steal another game—possibly two—against Philadelphia, but they don't have enough offense to win this series.
Prediction: 76ers win 99-93.
Los Angeles Lakers at Denver Nuggets (Lakers Lead Series 2-0)
I admit that when this series started, I liked the Nuggets a lot.
I thought the Lakers were starting to show their age and didn't have the bodies or athleticism to keep up with the younger, faster Nuggets.
Leave it to Andrew Bynum to play up to his full potential and Kobe Bryant to look like the best player in the NBA once again to ruin my thoughts.
The Nuggets were able to close the margin of defeat to just four points in Game 2, but that was only because of a late rally to cut the Lakers' 19-point lead down to single digits late in the fourth quarter.
It's obvious the Lakers are going to win the series, but I still have faith Denver will win at least one game.
If that does happen, it's going to come at home. I see the Nuggets getting their win tonight in front of a partisan crowd.
Prediction: Nuggets win 101-98.
Friday's NBA Playoff Schedule
Game 3: Atlanta Hawks at Boston Celtics (7:30 p.m. EST on ESPN)
Game 3: Chicago Bulls at Philadelphia 76ers (8:00 p.m. EST on ESPN 2)
Game 3: Los Angeles Lakers at Denver Nuggets (10:30 p.m. EST on ESPN)
