In just a few days, the 2012 NBA Playoffs will commence, giving us New Yorkers full reason to celebrate. With a rough start to their shortened season, the New York Knicks fueled all the skeptical beliefs that making it to the playoffs would be nothing but a dream. However, with the birth of Linsanity and the continued success of Coach Woodson, the disbelievers were soon converted to zealous enthusiasts. Guaranteed with at least the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference, the hopes for a Knicks playoff run are at their highest since the days of Patrick Ewing.

So we have officially clinched a spot in the playoffs. Hallelujah! Now, one burning question remains. For the first round, will the Knicks draw the Miami Heat or the Chicago Bulls? Both are amazing teams; both yearn for that ring now more than ever.

To answer that question honestly, does it really even matter? The Knicks roster is stacked with incredible talent and potential — so much so that they are undoubtedly comparable to last year's Dallas Mavericks, who won the 2011 NBA Finals. In prevailing through times that would normally lead to destruction (key players such as Lin and Amare Stoudemire were injured, and the team switched coaches mid-season), the Knicks have proven that they are on a clear path to triumph.

The finalized NBA playoff schedule will be released this Thursday, April 26, the concluding day of the regular season. Our Knickerbockers have the capacity to beat any team in the running, and the outcome of this series is up in the air for anyone. Luckily, for iPhone, iPad, and Android users, there are a ton of apps specifically designed to ensure that you basketball enthusiasts don’t miss out on any of the action.

A personal favorite, NBA Game Time, the official app released by the National Basketball Association, provides its users with free news, schedules, player info, stats, and play-by-play game coverage. For those fans that need more, $2.99 delivers you Game Time Plus — an extension of the free app featuring live video broadcasts and video highlights from around the league. Additionally (and released just in time for the playoffs!), a one-time $16.99 fee provides you with League Pass Mobile, which affords users live streaming of the playoffs anytime, anywhere.

Other apps to check out are the official New York Knicks app — Knicks Now — and ESPN’s ScoreCenter. Obviously, nothing compares to watching these games live (no one should miss a game if they can help it), but for those of us who don’t have the time, we have to settle for the next best thing.

That being said, happy playoffs! Bring on the heat and let them bulls charge!