Check Out The Schedule: The NBA 2012 Playoffs Starts Today!

Photo Credit: RMTip21

The moment we have all been waiting for is once again finally here. The NBA playoffs celebration begins at 1 PM ET on Saturday, 4/28. The #8 Philadelphia 76ers and the #1 Chicago Bulls series [TNT] will tip-off as the first game on Saturday followed by the #2 Miami Heat and the #7 New York Knicks showdown at 3:30 PM ET [ABC].

On the same day, there will be two late games played at night. The #3 Indiana Pacers and the #6 Orlando Magic collide at 7 PM ET [ESPN] with the last and final game to be played at Oklahoma as the #2 Oklahoma City Thunder battle the #7 Dallas Mavericks at 9 PM ET [ESPN].

In the Eastern Conference, the Knicks/Heat series is a must watch. Led by All-Star Carmelo Anthony, the Knicks have had a rollercoaster type regular season, but have been on a tear as of late. Can the Knicks pull off an upset and erase the one-seeded Miami Heat from the playoffs? Like many of us, you’ll just have to wait and see.

There are two more series in the East that’s worth your attention. The #4 Boston Celtics and the #5 Atlanta Hawks series will take place in Boston for Game 1 as well as the matchup between the #3 Indiana Pacers and #6 Orlando Magic. Both series will for sure be fire-starters.

As for the Western Conference, there are only two series in the first-round worth the excitement. The major series will be between the #4 Memphis Grizzlies and the #5 Los Angeles Clippers. Both teams had posted identical records winning at least 40 games in the regular season and will be a momentum driven series. Another Los Angeles team will be playing as the #3 Lakers square off with the #6 Denver Nuggets. Don’t be surprised if the Nuggets keep this series close.

Overall, this year’s NBA playoffs have the potential to become a dynamic and exciting postseason.

Will LeBron James finally quiet the “naysayers” and win his first NBA championship? In what ways will the Chris Paul signing affect both L.A. teams — can the Lakers go deep into the playoffs without a premier point guard, such as CP3 and with the Chris Paul signing, is it enough to get the Clippers over the hump?

Are the Boston Celtics now too “old” to compete and will the Oklahoma City Thunder finally step up to the challenge and take control of the Western Conference?

There are so many questions in place and there’s only one stage where they can all be answered.

It’s playoff time! Get ready to be amazed.

2012 NBA Playoffs Schedule

WESTERN CONFERENCE – FIRST ROUND

San Antonio vs. Utah
Game 1 – Sun. April 29, Utah at San Antonio, 1 p.m. ET, ESPN
Game 2 – Wed. May 2, Utah at San Antonio, 7 p.m., TNT
Game 3 – Sat. May 5, San Antonio at Utah, 10 p.m., TNT
Game 4 – Mon. May 7, San Antonio at Utah, TBD
Game 5 * Wed. May 9, Utah at San Antonio, TBD
Game 6 * Fri. May 11, San Antonio at Utah, TBD
Game 7 * Sun. May 13, Utah at San Antonio, TBD

Oklahoma City vs. Dallas
Game 1 – Sat. April 28, Dallas at Oklahoma City, 9:30 p.m., ESPN
Game 2 – Mon. April 30, Dallas at Oklahoma City, 9:30 p.m., TNT
Game 3 – Thu. May 3, Oklahoma City at Dallas, 9:30 p.m., TNT
Game 4 – Sat. May 5, Oklahoma City at Dallas, 7:30 p.m., TNT/R
Game 5 * Mon. May 7, Dallas at Oklahoma City, TBD
Game 6 * Thu. May 10, Oklahoma City at Dallas, TBD
Game 7 * Sat. May 12, Dallas at Oklahoma City ,TBD, TNT

L.A. Lakers vs. Denver
Game 1 – Sun. April 29, Denver at L.A. Lakers, 3:30 p.m., ABC/R
Game 2 – Tue. May 1, Denver at L.A. Lakers, 10:30 p.m., TNT
Game 3 – Fri May 4, L.A. Lakers at Denver, 10:30 p.m., ESPN
Game 4 – Sun. May 6, L.A. Lakers at Denver, 9:30 p.m., TNT
Game 5 * Tue. May 8, Denver at L.A. Lakers, TBD
Game 6 * Thu. May 10, L.A. Lakers at Denver, TBD
Game 7 * Sat. May 12, Denver at L.A. Lakers, TBD, TNT

Memphis vs. L.A. Clippers
Game 1 – Sun. April 29, L.A. Clippers at Memphis, 9:30 p.m., TNT
Game 2 – Wed. May 2, L.A. Clippers at Memphis, 9:30 p.m., TNT
Game 3 – Sat. May 5, Memphis at L.A. Clippers, 4:30 p.m., ESPN
Game 4 – Mon. May 7, Memphis at L.A. Clippers, TBD
Game 5 * Wed. May 9, L.A. Clippers at Memphis, TBD
Game 6 * Fri. May 11, Memphis at L.A. Clippers, TBD
Game 7 * Sun. May 13, L.A. Clippers at Memphis, TBD

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EASTERN CONFERENCE – FIRST ROUND

Chicago vs. Philadelphia
Game 1 – Sat. April 28, Philadelphia at Chicago, 1 p.m., TNT
Game 2 – Tue. May 1, Philadelphia at Chicago, 8 p.m., TNT
Game 3 – Fri. May 4, Chicago at Philadelphia, 8 p.m., ESPN
Game 4 – Sun. May 6, Chicago at Philadelphia, 1 p.m., ABC
Game 5 * Tue. May 8, Philadelphia at Chicago, TBD
Game 6 * Thu. May 10, Chicago at Philadelphia, TBD
Game 7 * Sat. May 12, Philadelphia at Chicago, TBD, TNT

Miami vs. New York
Game 1 – Sat. April 28, New York at Miami, 3:30 p.m., ABC/R
Game 2 – Mon. April 30, New York at Miami, 7 p.m., TNT
Game 3 – Thu. May 3, Miami at New York, 7 p.m., TNT
Game 4 – Sun. May 6, Miami at New York, 3:30 p.m., ABC/R
Game 5 * Wed. May 9, New York at Miami, TBD
Game 6 * Fri. May 11, Miami at New York, TBD
Game 7 * Sun. May 13, New York at Miami, TBD

Indiana vs. Orlando
Game 1 – Sat. April 28, Orlando at Indiana, 7 p.m., ESPN
Game 2 – Mon. April 30, Orlando at Indiana, 7:30 p.m., NBA TV
Game 3 – Wed. May 2, Indiana at Orlando, 7:30 p.m., NBA TV
Game 4 – Sat. May 5, Indiana at Orlando, 2 p.m., ESPN
Game 5 * Tue. May 8, Orlando at Indiana, TBD
Game 6 * Fri. May 11, Indiana at Orlando, TBD
Game 7 * Sun. May 13, Orlando at Indiana, TBD

Boston vs. Atlanta
Game 1 – Sun. April 29, Boston at Atlanta, 7 p.m., TNT
Game 2 – Tue. May 1, Boston at Atlanta, 7:30 p.m., NBA TV
Game 3 – Fri. May 4, Atlanta at Boston, 7:30 p.m., ESPN2
Game 4 – Sun May 6, Atlanta at Boston, 7 p.m., TNT
Game 5 * Tue. May 8, Boston at Atlanta, TBD
Game 6 * Thu. May 10, Atlanta at Boston, TBD
Game 7 * Sat. May 12, Boston at Atlanta, TBD, TNT

Source: NBA

* if necessary
All times are Eastern
TBD – To Be Determined