2012 NBA Playoffs Preview: Eastern Conference Semifinals

While we await the conference semifinal pairings out West, we look first at the Eastern Conference semifinal pairings to be played out over the next two weeks. Sorry Bulls fans, but better luck next year.

(2) Miami Heat vs. (3) Indiana Pacers

Regular Season: Miami won 3-1

The Indiana Pacers enter unfamiliar territory. A bulk of the roster have never won a playoff series, which means Indiana will play underdogs to a powerful Heat team that have one too many players with series victory experience. Miami's 'Tres Amigos' of James, Wade and Bosh, plus a slew of playoff-hardened veterans, will have their hands full against a Pacers team with something to prove. Only David West, George Hill, Lou Amundson and Leandro Barbosa have won a series before while playing for the Hornets, Spurs and Suns, respectively; the rest of Indiana's roster are in their first second-round series.

Indiana's hot April landed them in third place, and exploited Orlando's lack of 'Superman' in a five-game warmup. However, they now face a superpower in Miami, who easily disposed another star-studded yet mercurial team in the Knicks in five. The Heat dominated the Pacers all season, winning three of four. Now the East's team to beat, Miami needs to outgun and slow down the much-improved Pacers at every turn in hopes of returning to the Eastern Conference Finals.

(4) Boston Celtics vs. (8) Philadelphia 76ers

Regular Season: Philadelphia won 2-1

Classic battles between Boston and Philadelphia have been well-documented in NBA history. From 'Havlicek stole the ball' to Bird vs. Dr. J, this rivalry had it all, and it reached its highest  points during the 1960s and 1980s. In 2012, a new chapter in the rivalry begins anew.

The Celtics are expected to be here, but the 76ers? They were lucky to have beaten a wounded Bulls crew without reigning MVP Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah in six games, and now drew an aging crew from Boston whose time is ticking fast. Philadelphia dominated Boston in two of three regular season games, but their late-season slump helped the Celtics steal the division title from them. Still, by winning the first round series over Chicago, they appeared to have redeemed themselves from that slump. But they need to prove that their win was not a fluke by overcoming the playoff-hardened Celtics, which is easier said than done. Andre Iguodala, Elton Brand, Jrue Holiday and Evan Turner will have their hands full against Boston's Big Four of Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, Paul Pierce and Rajon Rondo, which makes Boston a tough assignment in the playoffs against younger, faster competition. 

NBA Midseason Report (Part 3)

We've reached the All-Star Break aka the midpoint of the NBA season. Some teams have so far exceeded expectations, others didn't. We look at all 30 teams at a glance on how the first half of the season has been. 

Indiana Pacers

At 21-12, the Pacers have surprised the league with their strong defense and excellent rebounding. Roy Hibbert has blossomed into an All-Star, while David West has influenced the team's play with his leadership. Provided they keep this play at a high level, they may afford themselves of home court advantage in the first round of the playoffs. 

Los Angeles Clippers

The 20-11 Clippers have so far supplanted the legendary Lakers as the darlings of L.A. Chris Paul and Blake Griffin have forged a successful on-court partnership with Paul's brilliant passing and Griffin's electrifying dunks drawing oohs and ahhs all over America. The Clippers hope to nail their first division title in team history if they continue their strong, magnificent play.

Los Angeles Lakers

They may be at 20-14, but the road hasn't been kind for the Lakers, chalking up a 6-12 mark away. Not even Kobe Bryant's 40-point games will help, and neither will Andrew Bynum's breakout season. It is clear the Lakers were utterly distracted by Pau Gasol trade rumors, and if it continues, it may be the end of the road for the purple and gold.

Memphis Grizzlies

They sit at 19-15 during the break, a similar pace from last season. Again a key injury (Zach Randolph's knee) brought the team together, and they have responded to the challenge. Marc Gasol is having an All-Star year, while Rudy Gay has bounced back well from a shoulder injury. Still, anything can happen, so hope the Grizzlies continue their strong play towards the end of the season.

Miami Heat

The way the trio of LeBron, Wade and Bosh have played seem to infect the entire Heat roster. And it did, resulting in a 27-7 mark at the break. Trust a rookie like Norris Cole, play hard like Udonis Haslem, Joel Anthony and Shane Battier, and find a way to shoot like Mario Chalmers, Mike Miller and James Jones, and you find a Heat team that seems to get even hotter with every game. The second half will be a big test on how far they've come as a team.