Get Ready! NBA Playoffs Tip Off Saturday
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With the post-lockout, shortened regular season finally in the books, the 2012 NBA Playoff is set to tip off tomorrow afternoon with just as many storylines (if not more) than that of the 66 game season that preceded it.
Saturday begins with Derrick Rose and the Chicago Bulls hosting a Philadelphia 76ers team back in the playoffs, as Philly plays for a shot at their first NBA Finals appearance in 30 years (1 p.m., TNT) followed by the match everyone asked for - including Tyson Chandler - when the Miami Heat host the New York Knicks in Game one of the Eastern Conference quarterfinals (3:30 p.m., ABC).
It'll end with the Pacers hosting an Orlando Magic team without Dwight Howard (7 p.m., ESPN) then with all eyes on Oklahoma City as Durant, Westbrook and company lead the favored Thunder against the defending NBA champion Dallas Mavericks in the Western Conference quarterfinal (9:30 p.m., ESPN).
The rest of the West will tip off on Sunday as the Utah Jazz host San Antonio (1 p.m., ESPN) to open the Western Conference playoffs, followed by Denver traveling to Los Angeles to take on Kobe and the Lakers, who'll be without Metta World Peace (formerly Ron Artest) for the series.
L.A. remains in the spotlight on Sunday as the Clippers return to the playoffs for the first time in six seasons and travel to Memphis, a team back in the playoffs after losing in the Western Conference Semis last year (9:30 p.m., TNT)
WIth Dwight out for the Magic for the playoffs, along with World Peace out for the quarterfinals for L.A., and the Clippers back for the first time in six years, along with the much anticipated Knicks/Heat matchup and LeBron looking for his first ring, who's got who this year?
Source: nba.com
