NBA Playoffs 2012: Series Sweeps Waiting to Happen

The 2012 NBA Playoffs has its share of epic first-round clashes and obviously lopsided pairings. Some matchups are more lopsided than others, and are destined to end in a sweep.

These series were over the second the pairings were announced. 

 

Spurs. vs Jazz

This series will be high scoring and fun to watch, but Utah will not win a game. The Spurs are the West's best team and will flex their collective muscles in fine fashion.

The Spurs are an incredibly experienced team with the ability to score in bunches. They have eight players averaging at least nine points per game. Utah's depth is not even close to that level.

Utah barely got into the playoffs, and they will make an early exit. The Utah frontcourt is as deep and as talented as anyone else's but their backcourt sorely lacks a dynamic playmaker. 

San Antonio walks the fine line between experienced and just plain old. They do not play flashy basketball but they epitomize the team concept. 

The Jazz are a good team with better years ahead. The Spurs are a championship-ready team with everything going in their favor in this first-round matchup. 

 

Bulls vs. Sixers

The Sixers started the year strong but faded tremendously over the second half of the season. The Bulls have been a contender from the very beginning and that is not going to change anytime soon. 

Normally the Sixers hold an advantage defensively, and with their bench scoring. They do not have that advantage in this series. 

Chicago's bench players are the same caliber. C.J. Watson, Taj Gibson and Kyle Korver are all capable offensive threats in reserve roles. This negates Thaddeus Young, Evan Turner and Lou Williams' presence off the Philadelphia bench. 

The Sixers lack star power, and rely on their defense to win contests. The Bulls are an excellent defensive team who have no problem playing a grinding, stingy style of game. 

Derrick Rose is still not in tip-top shape but he will have plenty of time to adjust. The Bulls have won without Rose throughout the season and the Sixers are merely a playoff tuneup. 

This series will be over before Philadelphia knows what hit them. The Bulls have been there all year and are not going anywhere. 

 

Pacers vs. Magic

The Pacers are the best NBA team that no one talks about. Without Dwight Howard the Magic will exit the 2012 NBA Playoffs very quickly. 

Indiana plays team basketball on both ends of the court. Their inexperience will hurt them further down the line but not in this series. 

The Pacers ability to defend all five positions will stifle the Howard-less Magic. Ryan Anderson is a contender for the NBA's Most Improved award but he is not ready to be the leading man on a playoff team. 

Howard's absence will give Roy Hibbert an obvious advantage down low. This opens up the entire Pacer offense and allows their perimeter players to create for themselves. 

Indiana's youth will not be an issue in this series because the talent is so lopsided. The Pacers will run away with this series.

Source: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1163903-nba-playoffs-2012-series-sweeps-waiting-to-happen

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