1. Boston Celtics – Prior to an impressive blowout win over the Suns, the Celtics had lost back-to-back games for just the third time this season. However, they still have a six-game lead on the Pistons for the No. 1 seed. MVP candidate Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce combined for 57 points in the victory over Phoenix, showing how they can carry the load on any given night. In addition to their star power, the Celtics are also deep with everyone fulfilling key roles, which makes them the favorites in the East.

2. Detroit Pistons – Suffered an embarrassing loss to Toronto last time out, but had previously fought to a tough overtime win over the surging Suns. Phoenix played the East’s top two teams in back-to-back games, and after they played both, Shaquille O’Neal had to this to say about them: “In order to come out of the East, they're going to have to go through each other, no doubt about that.” Detroit has lost three of four, but is still virtually guaranteed at least the No. 2 seed in the East.

3. Orlando Magic – Are sitting comfortably with the No. 3 seed in the playoffs, and will have a chance to make a run in the Eastern Conference riding the success of Dwight Howard. Howard’s numbers are freakishly impressive, averaging 21.2 points, 14.5 rebounds, 2.3 blocks and 1.0 steal a night, while having the league’s third best field goal percentage (59.7%). They are 8-2 against Eastern Conference opponents in March and 32-13 on the year. Any team with Superman in the paint could be a tough out.

4. Cleveland Cavaliers – At 23 years old, LeBron James is amazingly the Cavs all-time leading scorer, but he is also their only hope for a championship. Despite the upgrade in supporting cast since the trade, King James still holds the success of the team on his broad shoulders. James is averaging a Jordan-esque 30.7 points, 8.1 rebounds, 7.3 assists and 1.8 steals a game.

5. Philadelphia 76ers – Are one of the hottest teams in the NBA, and are coming off an impressive win versus Boston. The win sent the Sixers' record over .500 for the first time this season. They are peaking at the right time with 13 wins in their last 16 games. The inside-outside combo of Samuel Dalembert and Andre Iguodala, along with a revitalized Andre Miller running the point, has fueled this run, and no team would want to see the Sixers come round one.

6. Washington Wizards – Have won three of their last four and nine of their last 12. They are 5-2 with Caron Butler back in the lineup, and could get another boost in the next week with the return from Gilbert Arenas (knee). Currently the Wizards are two-and-a-half games behind the Cavs for the all-important fourth seed and first-round homecourt advantage in the playoffs. Antawn Jamison is leading them with 22.4 points and 10.4 rebounds a game.

7. Toronto Raptors – The Raptors are stumbling to the finish, so it’s beneficial to still have a five-game lead on the Hawks for the seventh playoff spot. They just beat the Pistons 89-82 on Thursday, but had dropped 12 of their previous 14 before that. Chris Bosh is back from an ankle injury, and they will need him and his 22 points and nine rebounds come playoff time.

8. Atlanta Hawks – Atlanta currently owns the eighth playoff spot, but anything could happen down the stretch. There are three teams within three games of Atlanta fighting for the right to play Boston or Detroit in the first round. Mike Bibby is settling in nicely at the point, and Joe Johnson is reaping the benefits, having his best scoring month of the season, pouring in 25.7 points a night. ROY candidate Al Horford does the dirty work in the paint, and Josh Smith wreaks havoc with a range of abilities on the wing.

9. Indiana Pacers – Despite being handcuffed by injuries to Jermaine O’Neal and Jamaal Tinsley, the Pacers have somehow managed to stay in the playoff race. Help should be on the way; O’Neal is expected suit up for the first time since Jan. 16 sometime next week. Since the break, Mike Dunleavy and Danny Granger have been outstanding. In the second half, Dunleavy has averaged 22.5 points per game and Granger has continued his stellar play with 22.1 points and 6.5 boards.

10. New Jersey Nets – Are right in the thick of things, only a half game out of the eighth playoff spot. Vince Carter has single handedly kept the Nets afloat, averaging 27.7 points a game in his last seven games, including a 39-10-8 effort in a big win over the Hawks. Over Carter's hot streak, during which the Nets have a 4-3 record, young building blocks Josh Boone (9.4 rebounds) and Devin Harris (8.7 assists) have played some of their best basketball.

11. Chicago Bulls – You know the Eastern Conference is weak when the Bulls are 15 games under .500 and only three games behind the Hawks for the eighth and final playoff spot. Chicago cannot mathematically reach the .500 mark, despite Drew Gooden and Larry Hughes filling in nicely with since arriving from Cleveland. The Bulls don’t seem to have an identity or any chemistry, however, and the future looks cloudy in the Windy City.

12. Charlotte Bobcats – Have been very streaky as of late, losing six of eight after a five-game win streak. The Bobcats are 19 games under .500, but come off a shocking upset of the Lakers on Thursday. Jason Richardson is one of few bright spots, averaging 25.2 points a game in March, a month that wing mate Gerald Wallace missed most of with a concussion.

13. Milwaukee Bucks – The Bucks lost to Miami twice in less than a week, and have dropped 11 of their last 13 games overall. Other than fantasy contributions from Michael Redd (23.3 points, 4.4 rebounds), Maurice Williams (17.8 points, 6.4 assists) and Andrew Bogut (13.9 points, 9.5 rebounds) Milwaukee's 2007-08 season should be an afterthought.

14. New York Knicks – Have only won two of their last 14, and those two wins came against the only team lower team in these rankings, the lowly Miami Heat. Isiah Thomas is trying to get his younger guys some more playing time, but the results are the same, and the nightmare season can’t end soon enough in New York. Upon the season's completion, expect another carnival offseason in the Knicks front office.

15. Miami Heat – In addition to losing 12 of their last 14 games, the Heat are now struggling to put a competent team on the floor since Dwyane Wade and Udonis Haslem were lost for the season. The injuries have continued to mount with Jason Williams and Shawn Marion now day-to-day. They are in position to become the ninth team since 1967-68 to finish with less than 15 victories, according to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.

WESTERN CONFERENCE RANKINGS

1. Los Angeles Lakers - The Lakers have dealt with a lot - injuries to Kobe Bryant, Andrew Bynum, Pau Gasol and Trevor Ariza - and still stand a game back of the New Orleans Hornets for the top seed in the West. Gasol made a speedy recovery from an ankle sprain, and Bynum (knee) is expected back for the last handful of regular season games. Seventy-five percent of each of them is also Bryant and Lamar Odom need to make a deep playoff push.

2. New Orleans Hornets - Expectations were that New Orleans would snap back to reality and fade down the stretch, but it has been quite the contrary for the current West leaders. If Chris Paul was an MVP candidate before the team's latest run, he should be a favorite after averaging 24.5 points and 13.3 assists in March. Got a feeling that forward David West will become a household name come playoff time, and Tyson Chandler and Peja Stojakovic provide a nice inside-outside punch.

3. Phoenix Suns - Consider it safe to drink the Phoenix Kool-Aid; their overhauled system is finally starting to click. O'Neal's presence, though not significant in the box score, has taken a great deal of pressure off point guard Steve Nash. Nash isn't getting any younger, and going at a breakneck speed was no longer possible for 82 games or more. The Suns are a game and a half back of possible homecourt advantage, but a fifth or sixth place finish would yield a likely first-round matchup vs. Houston or Utah.

4. Utah Jazz - Holding strong at the No. 4 spot, despite Phoenix and San Antonio both having better overall records. Given the relative certainty that they stay ahead of Denver (3 games back) in the Northwest Division, the Jazz, owners of the NBA's best home record (31-4), is entrenched in the West's top four. A tough draw for Houston, San Antonio or Phoenix in the first round, especially with the stellar play of point guard Deron Williams and forward Carlos Boozer.

5. San Antonio Spurs - Are tied with Houston with a 49-23 record and have a leg up in the matchup with a home court date against the Rockets this Sunday. A soft stretch on the schedule has helped the limping Spurs get back on track. After losing six of seven over a brutal run that featured a home loss to Boston and road losses to Detroit, New Orleans and Phoenix, San Antonio has feasted on some weaker competition during a five-game win streak.

6. Houston Rockets - This team has managed to stay confident and keep racking up quality wins after Yao Ming's season-ending foot injury. Oft-injured Tracy McGrady has found a way to stay healthy and earn MVP consideration with 21.8 points, 5.2 rebounds and 5.8 assists a night. The emergence of big men Luis Scola (9.7 points, 6.1 rebounds) and Carl Landry (8.8, 5.1) has eased the transition post-Yao.

7. Golden State Warriors - Golden State is on the road for five of its next six games, including four versus current playoff teams, and still must fend off Denver and Dallas to even make the playoffs. Once they get there, the Warriors will be just as disruptive as last year when they upset the top-seeded Mavericks. This could be a trap series for either New Orleans or Los Angeles.

8. Denver Nuggets - The high-scoring Nuggets have their foot on the throttle with a playoff berth in their sights. Denver has won four straight and scored more than 100 points in its last 13 games. The remaining has schedule has tricky matchups scattered throughout, but is pretty manageable overall with the Kings, Sonics, Clippers and Grizzlies representing four of their final seven opponents.

9. Dallas Mavericks - Hanging on by a thread and hoping to keep their heads above water without Dirk Nowitzki (ankle). Dirk is expected back at the end of the regular season, at which point the Mavs could find themselves trailing Denver or Golden State for the final playoff spot.

10. Portland Trail Blazers - It's a long fall from Dallas to Portland on these rankigns, and a long fall down to the Sacramento Kings at No. 11. Got tough news with Brandon Roy expected to miss the next four games, but got good news for next season when center Greg Oden returned to physical activity.

11. Sacramento Kings - Sacramento has cleaned house and will do so again, likely cutting ties with Ron Artest in the offseason. The youth movement has gotten off to a good start, with players like center Spencer Hawes and point guard Beno Udrih getting valuable experience.

12. Los Angeles Clippers - Are hoping that Elton Brand's brief return from a ruptured Achilles can generate some optimism following a lost season. Rookie Al Thornton's emergence, plus the returns of Brand and point guard Shaun Livingston (knee) should make for a better start to the 2008-09 season.

13. Minnesota Timberwolves - Neck and neck with the Grizzlies for this spot. Get the nod because they're trending upward with a 6-4 record in their last 10 games.

14. Memphis Grizzlies - Close the season with an easier schedule than Minnesota, but probably still just outlast Seattle in the West standings. Hodge-podge of young talent could yield some solid pros, but the pieces don't quite fit together.

15. Seattle Supersonics - Oklahoma City seems to be a desirable relocation, and is looking like the city that will do so next season. Kevin Durant, Jeff Green and a ton of draft picks and cash could make this rebuilding process short and sweet.

COMPOSITE TOP 15
1. LA Lakers
2. Boston
3. Detroit
4. New Orleans
5. Phoenix
6. Utah
7. San Antonio
8. Houston
9. Orlando
10. Golden State
11. Cleveland
12. Denver
13. Dallas
14. Philadelphia
15. Washington

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