NBA Playoff Schedule 2012: Highlighting the Week's Most Pivotal Matchups

The 2012 NBA Playoffs are heating up fast as the defending champion Dallas Mavericks have already been ousted by a scary Oklahoma City Thunder team that looks poised to challenge for the Western Conference throne this spring.

Meanwhile, LeBron James and the Miami Heat continue their brutal path back to the NBA Finals, trouncing pretenders like the New York Knicks along the way. 

So which of this coming week's early matchups are most pivotal? 

Take a look at two massive postseason games on the slate for Monday and Tuesday, each with the potential to alter the postseason landscape.

No. 4 Memphis Grizzlies vs. No. 5 Los Angeles Clippers - Game 4 - Monday, May 7, 10:30 PM ET, TNT

Rudy Gay and the Memphis Grizzlies will be kicking themselves if they lose Game 4 in Los Angeles on Monday night, especially considering that it would put the No. 4 seed in a 3-1 hole. That includes Memphis' disturbing Game 1 loss, in which they led by 24 points at home with less than nine minutes to play.

Star big man Zach Randolph has struggled thus far in the postseason for Memphis, averaging just 12.7 points and 7.3 rebounds per game in three appearances. Randolph is only shooting 40 percent in the series and must pick it up if the Grizzlies are to reclaim home-court advantage. 

On the Clippers' side, it will require more and more Chris Paul if the snake-bitten franchise is to put themselves one win away from the second round on Monday night. Paul has been torching the Grizzlies in this series, averaging a remarkable 22.3 points and 9.3 assists per game so far. His wingman Blake Griffin has been the biggest surprises by far though, averaging 18.7 points on 53.5 percent shooting from the field. 

No. 8 Philadelphia 76ers vs. No. 1 Chicago Bulls - Game 5 - Tuesday, May 8, 9:30 PM ET, NBA TV

After having won three straight against the Derrick Rose-less Bulls, the 76ers are one win away from a conference semifinal appearance as the East's No. 8 seed. After dropping Game 1 in Chicago by 12 points, 103-91, the Sixers have outscored the Bulls by 29 total points in three wins and held them to 82.7 points per game during that stretch. 

Young guns Jrue Holiday and Evan Turner have been fabulous for Sixers coach Doug Collins in Philly's first four playoff games, but the team rebounding and defense has been an even bigger key to the Sixers' success. Thaddeus Young leads Philly with seven rebounds per game this postseason, while veteran big Elton Brand has been terrorizing the Bulls inside, blocking 2.7 shots per game.

The key for Chicago will be finding some scoring, which will be difficult with Rose out to injury. The defense has been solid for the Bulls in this series outside of their Game 2 performance. Richard Hamilton must become more of a featured part of the offense, and Luol Deng must score more than 10 points per game if the Bulls are to keep their season alive on Tuesday night. 

2012 NBA Playoff Schedule (via NBA.com):

San Antonio vs. Utah (San Antonio leads 3-0)

Game 4 - Mon. May 7, San Antonio at Utah, 8 p.m., TNT

Game 5 * Wed. May 9, Utah at San Antonio, TBD

Game 6 * Fri. May 11, San Antonio at Utah, TBD

Game 7 * Sun. May 13, Utah at San Antonio, TBD

L.A. Lakers vs. Denver (L.A. leads 2-1)

Game 4 - Sun. May 6, L.A. Lakers at Denver, 9:30 p.m., TNT

Game 5 - Tue. May 8, Denver at L.A. Lakers, 10:30 p.m., TNT

Game 6 * Thu. May 10, L.A. Lakers at Denver, TBD

Game 7 * Sat. May 12, Denver at L.A. Lakers, TBD, TNT

Memphis vs. L.A. Clippers (L.A. leads 2-1)

Game 4 - Mon. May 7, Memphis at L.A. Clippers, 10:30 p.m., TNT

Game 5 - Wed. May 9, L.A. Clippers at Memphis, TBD

Game 6 * Fri. May 11, Memphis at L.A. Clippers, TBD

Game 7 * Sun. May 13, L.A. Clippers at Memphis, TBD

Chicago vs. Philadelphia (Philadelphia leads 3-1)

Game 4 - Sun. May 6, Chicago at Philadelphia, 1 p.m., ABC

Game 5 - Tue. May 8, Philadelphia at Chicago, 9:30 p.m., NBA TV

Game 6 * Thu. May 10, Chicago at Philadelphia, TBD

Game 7 * Sat. May 12, Philadelphia at Chicago, TBD, TNT

Miami vs. New York (Miami leads 3-0)

Game 4 - Sun. May 6, Miami at New York, 3:30 p.m., ABC/R

Game 5 * Wed. May 9, New York at Miami, TBD

Game 6 * Fri. May 11, Miami at New York, TBD

Game 7 * Sun. May 13, New York at Miami, TBD

Indiana vs. Orlando (Indiana leads 3-1)

Game 5 - Tue. May 8, Orlando at Indiana, 7 p.m., NBA TV

Game 6 * Fri. May 11, Indiana at Orlando, TBD

Game 7 * Sun. May 13, Orlando at Indiana, TBD

Boston vs. Atlanta (Boston leads 2-1)

Game 4 - Sun May 6, Atlanta at Boston, 7 p.m., TNT

Game 5 - Tue. May 8, Boston at Atlanta, 8 p.m., TNT

Game 6 * Thu. May 10, Atlanta at Boston, TBD

Game 7 * Sat. May 12, Boston at Atlanta, TBD, TNT

* if necessary
All times are Eastern
TBD - To Be Determined
R - ESPN radio

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