NBA Playoff Schedule 2012: Predictions for Sunday's Vital Games
The Los Angeles Clippers and Memphis Grizzlies will settle their first round series, and the Miami Heat will host the Indiana Pacers in their series opener. Both games should be exciting contests.
I knew when the playoff pairings were made official that the Clips and Grizz series was going to be the most exciting first round matchup.
The series has featured huge comebacks and some memorable plays, but it all comes down to Sunday's clash to determine who will face the top-seeded San Antonio Spurs in Round 2.
The Heat completed a five-game "sweep" of the New York Knicks in the first round. I know the Knicks technically won Game 4, but the result of the series was never in doubt. In my opinion, it's almost as though that game never happened.
Now the Heat will face their first true test in the young and hungry Pacers. LeBron James has claimed his third MVP award and he will be looking to put an exclamation point behind that honor.
That must be done with a championship—but first, the Heat must defeat the Pacers.
That starts with a strong Game 1 performance. The Heat need to get on top of this team early; Miami doesn't play from behind well, and the sooner they take control, the more confidence they'll carry throughout the series.
Here is my prediction for these two important games:
Clippers over Grizzlies in Game 7
Are the Grizzlies tough at home?
Yes, they are. But four of the six games in this series have been decided by four points or less. This game will be close, and the Clips have won all the close games in this series—except Game 6.
The reason for that is the presence of Chris Paul. When crunch time has arrived, he has shown that he's the best player in the series, and I believe he will lead the Clips to a Game 7 victory on Sunday.
In Game 6 he and Blake Griffin were less than 100 percent, but both stars will push their physical ailments aside to lead the franchise to a place it has seldom seen: the second round of the NBA playoffs.
LeBron Will Make a MVP-Validating Statement in Game 1
James earned his third MVP award this week and deservedly so, but as I've said before, it will be an empty accomplishment without a championship. In Game 1, LeBron will do his part by attacking the Pacers hard.
He will have a difficult matchup if the Pacers elect to put Paul George on him—King James vs. King George, if you will—but James is intent on proving he's the best player in the world.
His aggression level so far this postseason has been exemplary, and if he continues that, he and the Heat are an unstoppable freight train ticketed for an NBA championship.
Expect James to have a 30 point, 10 rebound, eight assist night to open the series as the Heat take Game 1.
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