Our shortened season is now over, which means it’s finally time for 2012 NBA basketball playoff predictions! This year, the postseason promises to be filled with high expectations, great games, and even matchups. The first predictions I’m going to make is that these 2012 NBA playoffs will have more twists and turns than people anticipated it would have.

In the Eastern Conference, the seedings go as follows:

• 1. Chicago Bulls
• 2. Miami Heat
• 3. Indiana Pacers
• 4. Boston Celtics
• 5. Atlanta Hawks
• 6. Orlando Magic
• 7. New York Knicks
• 8. Philadelphia 76ers

Naturally, the first round matchups will go as follows: Bulls vs Sixers, Heat vs Knicks, Pacers vs Magic, and Celtics vs Hawks. In the Western Conference, the final standings look like this:
 

• 1. San Antonio Spurs
• 2. Oklahoma City Thunder
• 3. Los Angeles Lakers
• 4. Memphis Grizzlies
• 5. Los Angeles Clippers
• 6. Denver Nuggets
• 7. Dallas Mavericks
• 8. Utah Jazz

The first round of the 2012 NBA Western Conference is: Spurs vs Jazz, Thunder vs Mavericks, Lakers vs Nuggets and Grizzlies vs Clippers. Now let’s get down to what people are here for: the 2012 NBA basketball playoff predictions! Beginning with the East, this is how betting oddsmakers believe each first round series will play out -- bet on 2012 NBA playoffs right here!:
 

• Bulls beat Sixers in 5 games
• Heat beat Knicks in 5 games
• Pacers beat Magic in 5 games
• Celtics beat Hawks in 6 games

In the West, 2012 NBA basketball playoff predictions specialists see each series ending like this -- get your free NBA predictions here:
 

• Thunder beat Mavericks in 5 games
• Spurs beat Jazz in 5 games
• Lakers beat Nuggets in 5 games
• Grizzlies beat Clippers in 7 games

So there you have it folks, you are all set to tipoff the first round of the chase for the Larry O’Brien Trophy! Which team will be hoisting the coveted hardware at the end? Check out our list of odds to win 2012 NBA championship:
 

• Miami Heat 2/1
• Chicago Bulls 11/4
• Oklahoma City Thunder 11/4
• San Antonio Spurs 7/2
• Los Angeles Lakers 10/1
• Boston Celtics 15/1
• Los Angeles Clippers 20/1
• Memphis Grizzlies 20/1
• New York Knicks 20/1
• Indiana Pacers 30/1
• Dallas Mavericks 30/1
• Denver Nuggets 60/1
• Atlanta Hawks 60/1
• Utah Jazz 100/1
• Orlando Magic 100/1
• Philadelphia 76ers 100/1

2012 NBA Basketball Playoff Predictions: Oklahoma City Thunder 11/4 Odds

If you're looking for the inside edge, subscribe to our free sports picks newsletter and get the insight you need to make an informed decision from the top 2012 NBA basketball playoff predictions handicapping experts before every sports wager!