NBA Playoff Schedule 2012: Stars Under Most Pressure in Close-out Games

Four teams will attempt to close out their first-round opponents in the NBA playoffs tonight. After a grueling regular season that featured a condensed schedule, no team wants to play one more minute than necessary. Ending a series quickly will be crucial to a team's title hopes.

Let's take a look at three players under the most pressure in today's games. All of them have been carrying their teams so far and must do so once again to ensure they advance to the conference semifinals. For a look at the remaining series schedules they face, click here.

Danny Granger

The biggest concern about the Indiana Pacers was whether they'd be able to win in the playoffs without a superstar player. Well, through four games, Granger has been doing his best superstar impression, averaging 21 points and eight rebounds.

Indiana will need him to keep playing at a high level to finish off the Magic and establish the Pacers as a legitimate threat in the Eastern Conference. Even though they have a lot of depth, they need somebody to take control in key moments, and Granger appears ready to fill that role.

The Magic understand how important he is to the Pacers' offense, so don't be surprised if they sell out to stop him and force other players to beat them. Granger must find a way to produce anyway for the Pacers to finish it off in five.

Paul Pierce

Advancing quickly is more important to the Boston Celtics than any other team. The combination of aging stars and a lack of reliable depth means Boston can't afford to let things drag on. That's especially true since a couple of games against the Atlanta Hawks have been close, leading to extended minutes.

When the Celtics need to get something done, Pierce is still the go-to man. He's had a terrific series on both ends of the court and has been playing with a lot of urgency, knowing his championship window has started to close.

With the way things have played out so far in the playoffs, you have to think the Celtics are starting to sense some blood in the water. If they play up to their potential, they have a chance to win another title. But first, they have to close out the Hawks right away.

Jrue Holiday

After a disappointing regular season that saw his numbers drop across the board, Holiday has started to show off the potential Philadelphia 76ers fans have been waiting for. He's averaging 20 points, six rebounds and five assists against the Chicago Bulls.

While the injury to Derrick Rose has certainly helped the 76ers' cause, their strong play shouldn't be overlooked. They have received balanced scoring, and Holiday has provided the boost whenever the Bulls were mounting a comeback.

Chicago still has a lot of talent on its roster, however, so the 76ers can't afford to let them start gaining any momentum. It's up to Holiday to have a strong road showing to close things out before the Bulls have a chance to regroup.