NBA Playoffs 2012: Ranking Competitiveness of Each Playoff Series

Well, we're two or more games into each NBA playoff series.  Some series seem to be just getting started, while others are at the point where Around the Horn panelist Bill Plaschke would decry them "over" (to be fair to the man, most NBA series that start 2-0 do end with the 2-0 team taking it).

In the spirit of Plaschke, here are the eight playoff series ranked from least to most "over."

8. Boston vs. Atlanta

Behind command performances from Jose Smith and Paul Pierce, this series is tied at a game apiece.

With Boston wresting back home-court advantage, we could see a tough series similar to the one in 2008 when the sub-.500 Hawks took the Celtics to seven games.

I think it's a safe assumption that the image of Paul Pierce Tebowing will rally the Hawks.

Another burning question is: will either team have any personnel left when the series is over?  Ray Allen is out, Josh Smith may be as well.

Verdict: Keep watching

7. L.A. Clippers vs. Memphis

Another series that's knotted at a game apiece. Memphis should have won Game 1, then did win Game 2.  The point differential for the two games is just six points.

This series offers some intriguing matchups, including Blake Griffin vs. Marc Gasol (in what may very well be a prequel to the gold-medal match at the Olympics) and Chris Paul vs. Mike Conley, a matchup of the NBA's two best defensive point guards.

Verdict: Still anyone's series

6. Indiana vs. Orlando

Who'd have thought that the series with the least talent would be one of the most exciting?

Some say that a playoff series doesn't really start until the road team wins.  Well, in the only series that's had three games so far, we've had two road wins, one by each team in a series Indiana leads 2-1.

A tellling statistic on how even this series could get are each team's regular-season shooting percentages: from three, Orlando shoots 37.5 percent, Indiana 36.8.  From the field, Orlando shoots 44.1, Indiana 43.8.

Not having Dwight Howard may eventually catch up to Orlando, but it hasn't yet.

Verdict: Not over...until lack of No. 12 catches up to Orlando

5. Chicago vs. Philadelphia

This is the one-all series that I'm most ready to call over...for Chicago.

For Chicago to advance, it will have to win at least one game in Philadelphia without Derrick Rose. Philadelphia is a tough place to play, and the Bulls couldn't even win without Rose in Chicago. Not only did they lose, they lost by 17.

Tom Thibodeau is a good coach, but Doug Collins is at least as good.

Until Chicago gets a road win to take back control of the series, I'm penciling in the upset by Philly.

Verdict: Chicago is running out of time

4. Oklahoma City vs. Dallas

This is the only series where the higher-seeded team is up 2-0 and I'm not ready to call it over.

Though Oklahoma City is up 2-0, either win was within Dallas' reach.  The two wins were by a combined four points.

Dallas certainly has the veteran personnel to make this an interesting series.

Verdict: Don't count out the Mavs quite yet

3. L.A. Lakers vs. Denver

The Lakers rolled in Game 1, then followed it up with a victory in Game 2.  I know that the Lakers' victory in Game 2 was only by four points, but Denver never led. The Nuggets also never led in Game 1.

Another stat to indicate Denver's futility: The Lakers have 23 blocked shots to the Nuggets' 12.

All this coming without Metta World Peace.

The big question is: How many games can the Lakers afford to go without Metta World Peace in a playoff series against the Thunder?

Verdict: Over

2. San Antonio vs. Utah

The Jazz barely squeaked into the playoffs. Now the Spurs are showing everyone why they shouldn't be in at all.

San Antonio has won the first two games by a total of 46 points.  The Spurs are shooting 52 percent from the field; 41 percent from three.  They've also forced nine more turnovers than they've committed.

I'm thinking sweep.

Verdict: Over

1. Miami vs. New York

The LeBron James-led Heat opened the series with a 33-point trouncing of the Knicks.  They followed that with a Game 2 victory that was punctuated by Amare Stoudemire putting his fist to glass.

True, the series has yet to go back to New York. But when it does tonight, the Knicks will be without Stoudemire and Iman Shumpert.  By the time vaunted Knicks point-guard Jeremy Lin is ready for a comeback, the Heat probably will have swept.

Only having Chris Bosh miss Game 3 would provide the Knicks a ghost of a chance to make this series interesting.

Verdict: Over