NBA Playoff Schedule 2012: Complete Guide to Thursday's Game 2 and 3 Action

With multiple season-ending injuries, player ejections, series sweeps and a first-round exit by the Chicago Bulls, you'd have been forgiven for thinking that the 2012 NBA playoff schedule had already thrown up enough drama.

Yet the drama looks set to continue with another night of playoff basketball ahead.

In the Eastern Conference, the Miami Heat will be looking to take the series lead over the Indiana Pacers despite the absence of big man Chris Bosh. In the West, the Los Angeles Clippers face the tough task of stopping the San Antonio Spurs, who haven't lost a game in the 2012 playoffs so far.

Both games have plenty at stake, and your complete guide to Thursday's Game 2 and 3 action is right here. So with that, let's roll!

Miami Heat at Indiana Pacers

7 p.m. ET at Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Indianapolis.

Series So Far

The Miami Heat entered their series against the Indiana Pacers with home-court advantage as the higher seed and started in the best possible way, with a dominating 95-86 victory in Game 1. However, an injury to star forward Chris Bosh and a clutch performance from the Pacers allowed Indiana to level the series at 1-1 and take away Miami's home-court advantage heading into Game 3.

Key for the Heat

Without Bosh, the Heat had one of the most bizarre offensive performances in Game 2 with only Dwyane Wade and LeBron James scoring more than five points. In fact, it was the first time in the 24-year history of Miami that only two players had recorded more than five points. Thus, it's crucial in Game 3 that they get their offense back into gear and find scoring options other than the star duo. 

For me, Joel Anthony could be a huge factor for Miami in this one. Indiana can be dominant inside—as we'll discuss shortly—and so it's crucial for the Heat to establish some presence in the paint early in Game 3. The absence of Bosh shouldn't force the Heat into hitting deep shots all night; Anthony must rebound well and set up good position to give the Heat some needed offensive assistance.

Key for the Pacers

Simply put: Don't let Miami shoot. After watching the Heat shoot 27-of-78 from the field and just 1-of-16 from deep on Tuesday night, the Pacers could be tempted to let the Heat take their shots from outside and banking that they don't go in. Only problem with that strategy is this is the Miami Heat—one of the most explosive offensive teams in the league and a team that will get it together offensively sooner rather than later.

The Pacers must do what they've done successfully throughout the playoffs so far and use their big men to lead them on both ends of the court. Roy Hibbert and David West are both averaging double-doubles for the series and will seek to stifle the Heat offense through strong defensive rebounding—just like we witnessed in Game 2. 

Game 3 Prediction

The Eastern Conference appears to be wide open with no team reaching out and claiming the mantle as the team to beat. For me, if the Miami Heat can win big here, they'll have justified themselves to be the No. 1 team left in the East.

They'll need to improve offensively—no doubt—but behind a strong defensive performance with plenty of turnovers, the Heat have the personnel and ability to steal back home-court advantage and take a 2-1 series lead heading in to Game 4.

With or without Bosh.

Miami Heat by eight points.

 

Los Angeles Clippers at San Antonio Spurs

9:30 p.m. ET at AT&T Center, San Antonio.

Series So Far

With just the one game played so far in the series, it's been all the San Antonio Spurs, who haven't been defeated in the 2012 NBA playoffs yet. After a series sweep of the Utah Jazz, they won Game 1 108-92 over the Los Angeles Clippers—hitting an incredible 13 three-pointers en route to victory.

Key for the Clippers

After watching the San Antonio Spurs dominate from both inside and outside the paint, the Los Angeles Clippers must bring a stronger defensive presence to Game 2 if they hope to level the series. The Spurs reeled in 11 offensive rebounds between four players in Game 1 and ended up winning the rebounding battle 47-34 for the game.

For me, the Clippers must be OK to watch the Spurs shoot from deep as long as they can rebound well when they miss. San Antonio is not going to have another franchise-best night shooting three-pointers in Game 2, and if Los Angeles can dominate inside, they'll force San Antonio into making more shots from deep and earning every point they get.

Key for the Spurs

Reflecting on Game 1, Spurs veteran guard Tony Parker commented on the Clippers defense, stating:

"

"From the beginning of the game, they wanted to take me out; trapping me and forcing me to give the ball up. If they want to do that strategy, Timmy [Duncan] is going to have a lot of wide-open shots and all our shooters is going to have a lot of open shots..."

"

For me, the key for the Spurs in Game 2 is the exact same as it was in Game 1—ball movement. There will be matchups that favor the Spurs at times and they must move the ball well to exploit any holes in the Clippers defense. Chris Paul and Blake Griffin are both carrying injuries for the Clippers—could some more traffic be directed their way in attack?

The Spurs had 29 assists in Game 1 compared to 19 by the Clippers and as Parker emphasizes above, their ball movement was paramount in getting good shots off at the right time. Strong and competitive across all fronts, the Spurs' ball movement will once again be the key in Game 2.

Game 2 Prediction

I do think that the Los Angeles Clippers will win a game in this series—I just don't think it's going to come in San Antonio. With the demolition that they received in Game 1 not quite forgotten, I expect the young Clippers to size up a lot more on the defensive end and force the Spurs in to some poor turnovers early.

However, San Antonio's defense will be just as good as whatever Los Angeles brings, and they too will force the Clippers into poor shooting. Paul will throw and Griffin will dunk, but ultimately, the San Antonio Spurs will control the game and run out comfortable winners in the end.

San Antonio Spurs by 15 points.

These are my thoughts and predictions for Thursday's action in the NBA playoffs. 

I would love to hear yours, so comment below or follow me on Twitter: 

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