Of the eight series in the first round of the NBA playoffs, four are currently tied at 2-2 (Sacramento vs San Antonio, Washington vs Cleveland, Indiana vs New Jersey, and Chicago vs Miami).  The top-seeded Detroit Pistons lead their series against the Milwaukee Bucks at 2-1.  Only three series have a predictable scenario so far:  the Dallas Mavericks are 3-0 against the Memphiz Grizzlies, the Los Angeles Lakers are 3-1 against the Phoenix Suns, and the Los Angeles Clippers are 3-1 against the Denver Nuggets.

This is just the first round but things are getting really tight for  most of the teams.  The standings in the regular season also don’t seem to measure up to the playoffs.  In the Eastern Conference Playoffs, the defending champions Detroit Pistons just can’t shake off last qualifier Milwaukee, second seed Miami finds a tough customer in 7th seed Chicago, New Jersey (3rd seed) and Indiana (6th seed) are evenly matched, and even Cleveland’s LeBron James is having a hard time against the Washington Wizards.

In the Western Conference,  former champs San Antonio Spurs are challenged to the hilt by lowest ranked Sacramento,  the second-seeded Phoenix are close to saying good bye against the Lakers, and the LA Clippers are well on their way to knocking out the higher ranked Denver Nuggets.

Excitement is, therefore, mounting up this early in the NBA Playoffs and it will be tighter when the series shrink in the second round.