NBA Playoffs 2013: Sleepers That Will Make a Deep Run in Postseason

There is certainly a separation in the NBA between the top teams and the rest. However, a few middling teams have the ability to make a surprising run in the playoffs.

Teams like the Miami Heat, Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs will come into the playoffs with the highest expectations. Even the New York Knicks have reached the point where a loss in the first two rounds would be a disappointment.

Still, a few other teams can make some noise by winning a couple of series and advancing deep into the postseason. Here are the biggest sleepers to watch over the next few weeks.

Houston Rockets

Even the best teams in the league might struggle to keep up with Houston on the scoreboard.

The Rockets currently led the NBA with an average of 106.1 points per game and have reached triple digits in seven of eight games in April.

James Harden and Jeremy Lin team up to make a very quick backcourt, while Chandler Parsons and Omer Asik are each among the most improved players in the league.

Inexperience and a lack of defense could end up hurting this team in the postseason, but this team can beat anyone when the players make their shots. A few good shooting performances will have the Rockets into the second and third rounds.

Chicago Bulls

If Derrick Rose returns for the playoffs, this immediately becomes one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference. Even without him, though, the Bulls can surprise some people.

Joakim Noah returned to the court on Monday night, and he can combine with Carlos Boozer to make an intimidating duo in the frontcourt. When healthy, these players help make Chicago one of the best defenses in the league.

However, the problem is that points have been hard to come by. Luol Deng back in action makes a huge difference and Nate Robinson has been solid off the bench. If this group can score consistently, it can beat almost anyone in the conference.

Boston Celtics

There is simply no substitute for experience. The Boston Celtics have been in the playoffs in each of the past five years and have gone deep in most of them.

Although Rajon Rondo is hurt and Ray Allen is playing for the Heat, this is still the majority of the team that lost in seven games in the conference finals a year ago.

Aging players Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce have received plenty of time off to rest heading into the postseason and should be ready to go when the games matter most. Meanwhile, former role players Avery Bradley and Jeff Green have been exceptional in recent weeks and will be a big part of the Celtics' hopes of advancing.

As good as the Knicks have played toward the end of the season, Boston will play hard in this rivalry matchup and the team has the ability to pull off the upset.

Los Angeles Lakers

The Lakers still have not clinched the playoffs and need one more win to make sure they get the eighth spot over the Utah Jazz. To make matters worse, the team will need to play the rest of the year without Kobe Bryant.

However, it is important to remember that there is still an incredible amount of talent on the roster.

Dwight Howard and Pau Gasol are finally learning to play together and create quite an imposing tandem. Veterans Metta World Peace and Antawn Jamison can still get it done as well.

After heading into the All-Star break with a 25-29 record, the Lakers have posted a 19-8 mark in the second half. This momentum should carry over to the playoffs, and the top-seeded Thunder should be scared. 

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