NBA Playoffs 2012: Underwhelming Postseason Will Continue Through 2nd Round
The first round of the NBA playoffs has been a flop, and the second round is not going to do anything to help remind us that this is where amazing is supposed to happen.
Just take a look at the action so far. The most memorable and meaningful moments have come from terrible injuries.
The Bulls are a walking infirmary and have been reduced to a shell of the team that entered the Eastern Conference playoffs as the No. 1 seed. The Knicks are not far behind in the toll that injuries have taken.
The only series that is providing a high level of entertainment is the Clippers vs. the Grizzlies, and even that one now stands at 3-1.
These playoffs need a jolt of excitement and high-quality competitive play. They will not get that in the second round.
Let's start with the likely second-round matchups in the East.
You can view the playoff schedule on NBA.com.
Boston Celtics vs. Philadelphia 76ers
What an uninspiring matchup. The Sixers are playing solid, but let's not get full ourselves. The only reason they are advancing is due to the Bulls' injury issues.
Boston is far too talented, healthy and experienced for this series to be close. There is no way this goes beyond six games, and Boston will have a few blowouts in that run.
Miami Heat vs. Indiana Pacers
The Pacers have been a fun story this year. They are a talented young team that plays together. Still, this group does not have the experience or firepower to hang with the Heat.
Their best player, Danny Granger, is going to have to go head-to-head with LeBron James, and this is not a matchup he is equipped to win.
The Pacers will have to hope that their bench can do some damage in this series, but they won't be able to carry them enough to make this a reasonably exciting series.
The Heat will win this one in five.
Let's head out west, shall we? Here are the probable matchups.
San Antonio Spurs vs. Los Angeles Clippers
This series will be fun in that it will feature an epic point guard matchup with Chris Paul and Tony Parker, but the Spurs are far too complete a team for the Clippers to hang in this one.
San Antonio's offense is a finely tuned machine. They rarely take a bad shot, and every player in their rotation is capable of scoring.
This is a terrible matchup for a Clippers team that can struggle with discipline on defense.
San Antonio is going to sweep them.
Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Los Angeles Lakers
Finally, a series to get excited about. If there is one matchup that should produce some highlights it is this one.
We have two elite scorers in Kobe Bryant and Kevin Durant, and the residual drama hanging from the Metta World Peace flying elbow.
This series will come down to which team can control the pace. The Thunder want to get out and run and the Lakers prefer it to be a half-court contest.
This should be a blast. I'm calling Lakers in seven, but this one can go either way.
Still, one series does not make up for three lackluster ones.
