The NBA playoffs have arrived for the 2012 season.  The teams look more eager than ever to get that ring and to fly that banner high in their home arena.  This accomplishment is difficult to attain and many will never experience the thrill; therefore, it’s all down to business for the players and coaches.

The top seeds had a tough time getting through the first round with most of the lower seeds putting up quite a fight.  The Philadelphia 76ers, who are the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference, beat the top seeded Chicago Bulls.  On the other hand, the top seed in the west, the San Antonio Spurs, made it past the first round defeating the Utah Jazz.  The Chicago Bulls had a tough time losing their primary player and possible MVP to an achilles tear during their first games.

Samuel True Hurst-MacDonald, a student at IHS and an avid basketball viewer, feels, “I feel (Derek) Rose would have brought the team far in the playoffs and they could have done real damage and possibly could have won the Title with the run that they were having.”  

Two teams in the first round had an easy time getting by.  The San Antonio Spurs and the Oklahoma City Thunder both swept their opponents in 4 games, which gave them ample rest time to make runs deep into the playoffs.  Other teams in the first round had a tough time getting to the second round.  Some match-ups that went to six and seven games were Chicago and Philadelphia, Boston and Atlanta, LAL and Denver, and LAC and Memphis.  Going six or seven games is both tough on a player’s moral and fatigues them.  Going back and forth with a team tends to discourage you, which makes it harder on you personally and as a team.  Not to mention playing that many games will just make you tired.

The Miami Heat are looking to be a likely candidate for the opening spot in the championship round for the east.  Before the season had begun, they were the talk of the league, mainly because of their variety of special talent.  They had lived up to their hype for most of the season placing second in the Eastern Conference.  Lebron James could arguable be considered one of the best in the league with his profound talents as a scoring threat and also a passer.  One part of his game that has really hurt the Heat and many of the teams he has played for was his inability to preform for his team late in the game in times where he is needed.  Lebron James did not have a clutch performance during game two against the Indiana Pacers.  He missed two free throws that could have potentially won the game and given Miami a 2-0 lead in the series. Being the player that he is, he will need to forget about his misfortune in game two if they hope to move onto better teams in later rounds.  

The Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers are looking to have a long series due to the aging of Boston's core players.  It will be tolling on them to stay with the young athletes on the 76ers.  The match-ups that present themselves for both teams are for the most part even, except for the work of Boston's three man, Paul Pierce, who will need to have a solid series to pull off the win.  It will be tough. 

Jack Carey, a NBA fan of Revere, states, “I remember the good Celtics - Sixers match-ups over the past couple decades...They all seem to have great competition and keep you invested in the game.”

Basketball at this day and time has gotten to be about flash and show and rarely you have a competitive game that’s an entire team effort.  Many who watched basketball can agree with that and this is why the playoff atmosphere is much more enjoyable.  When you have everything from the 82 game season on the line, you have to do what you need to in order to win.