NBA Playoff Schedule 2012: Pivotal Conference Semifinal Matchups Fans Can't Miss

LeBron James and the Miami Heat have severely underperformed in these 2012 NBA Playoffs and are on the verge of stalling out in the conference semifinals. Who would have thought? 

Just one year after coming within two wins of winning the NBA title, the Heat are now two losses away from going home and facing a long, tumultuous offseason that will surely feature swirling trade rumors and a number of changes within the franchise. 

Whether Miami rights the ship or sinks entirely, though, one thing is a guarantee: the next few days and nights will feature a ton of NBA playoff action and a handful of can't-miss, pivotal matchups for fans. 

No. 2 Oklahoma City Thunder vs. No. 3 Los Angeles Lakers - Game 4 - Saturday, May 19, 10:30 PM ET, TNT (OKC leads 2-1)

The young Oklahoma City Thunder missed a golden opportunity to put away the Los Angeles Lakers for good in Game 3, but they can still send LA into a 1-3 hole with a win at the Staples Center on Saturday night.

The back-to-back should favor the Thunder, who feature younger superstars in Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and James Harden.

Harden scored 21 points in Game 3, after scoring 30 points combined in Games 1 and 2 back in OKC. His playmaking will be vital for the Thunder's success on Saturday night. However, he has struggled to get the second unit involved in this series, averaging just over one assist per game in three games vs. the Lakers.

Considering that OKC still holds home-court advantage in this series, the Lakers are again facing a must-win situation and will still need to win on the road if they are to take down the mighty Thunder. 

Series Schedule (Courtesy of NBA.com):

Game 5 - Monday, May 21, 9:30 PM ET, TNT

Game 6* - Wednesday, May 23, TBD

Game 7* - Sunday, May 27, TBD

*if necessary

No. 2 Miami Heat vs. No. 3 Indiana Pacers - Game 4 - Sunday, May 20, 3:30 PM ET, ABC (Indiana leads 2-1)

Sunday's Game 4 in Indianapolis will likely decide the Miami Heat's 2012 season, as a loss would put them just one away from going home for good. After Game 1 in South Beach, it seemed like the Heat would make short work of the up-and-coming Pacers, but since Miami forward Chris Bosh went down with a strained abdominal muscle, the Heat have looked lethargic and incredibly vulnerable.

Indiana's 7'2" center Roy Hibbert has taken full advantage of Bosh's absence inside, especially in Game 3, when he went off for 19 points, 18 rebounds and five blocks. If Miami has any chance of winning on the Pacers' home floor, where they have won their last three playoff games in blowout fashion, they will need to find an answer for Hibbert at the rim. 

A win by Miami turns the tide of this series considerably and would put all of the pressure back on Indiana's shoulders as the Heat would enjoy two of the series' last three games at home, including a deciding Game 7.

Series Schedule (Courtesy of NBA.com):

Game 5 - Tuesday, May 22, TBD

Game 6* - Thursday, May 24, TBD

Game 7* - Saturday, May 26, TBD

*if necessary

No. 8 Philadelphia 76ers vs. No. 4 Boston Celtics - Game 5 - Monday, May 21, 7:00 PM ET, TNT (Series tied 2-2)

Boston blew a great chance to take control of their Eastern Conference semifinal series against the inexperienced Philadelphia 76ers in Game 4 on the road, letting go of an 18-point lead and getting outscored by 24 points in the second half to lose by nine, evening up the series as it heads back to Beantown. 

Celtics forward Kevin Garnett, who had been an assassin for the C's in this series before Game 4, averaging a double-double and shooting better than 63 percent from the field in the series' first three games, was a no-show in a pivotal Game 4 on the road, scoring just nine points and committing seven turnovers on just 3-of-12 shooting from the floor. 

Boston will be at home in Game 5, where the winner will take a 3-2 lead back to Philadelphia. Monday night's matchup may in fact determine which team wins this series, as the victor will be one win away from a trip to the Eastern Conference finals. 

Series Schedule (Courtesy of NBA.com):

Game 6 - Wednesday, May 23, TBD

Game 7* - Sunday, May 26, TBD

*if necessary

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