*Team records as of 3/5/2012
1. Chicago Bulls (32-8) - Chicago has won seven straight, and boast both the league's best record and the reigning MVP. In order for the team to get past likely ECF opponent Miami, they'll need Richard Hamilton healthy to take the perimeter scoring burden off of Derrick Rose.
2. Oklahoma City Thunder (30-8) - Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and James Harden are perhaps league's premiere "closers" on the Western Conference's best team.
3. Miami Heat (28-9) - The team has lost two straight (@ Jazz, @ Lakers), but was without Chris Bosh for those games. Despite their recent struggles, Miami may still be the best team in the NBA when the "Big Three" are together.
4. San Antonio Spurs (25-12) - The team has yet to really play with a healthy roster, as Ginobili has been limited to just 10 games this season. A potential sleeper team in the West.
5. Orlando Magic (25-14) - Despite some struggles earlier in the season, Orlando is still 7-3 in their last 10 games.
6. Los Angeles Lakers (23-14) - It'll be interesting to see if the Lakers can carry over the effort they displayed in their win over the Heat. This team still needs more consistent point guard play to truly be a contender.
7. Indiana Pacers (23-13) - The team plays two-deep at every position, but need Danny Granger to start shooting better (38.8% from the field).
8. Los Angeles Clippers (22-14) - The addition of Kenyon Martin has helped the interior defense, but this team still needs to shoot free throws better (69.3%).
9. Atlanta Hawks (22-15) - The team has kept itself in the playoff race despite missing Al Horford, but the team is still too perimeter-oriented, and needs another post scorer even when Horford returns.
10. Memphis Grizzlies (22-15) - Like Atlanta, the team has kept itself afloat without its top post scorer (Zach Randolph), and is a real threat in the West with Rudy Gay and Marc Gasol playing alongside Z-Bo.
11. Denver Nuggets (22-17) - The Nuggets have been very hot-and-cold this season, but should be getting Nene and Gallinari back soon. The point guard duo of Lawson and Miller has done a great job of pushing tempo for perhaps the league's most exciting team.
12. Dallas Mavericks (22-17) - The Mavericks are not the same team as last year, but are still among the best in the league in team defense, and any team with two closers like Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Terry is still a team to be reckoned with.
13. Philadelphia 76ers (22-17) - The 76ers don't turn the ball over, and do a great job of forcing turnovers, but have struggled since the Spencer Hawes injury.
14. Boston Celtics (19-17) - If Danny Ainge is actually shopping Rajon Rondo, he needs to be put in a mental institution. The team has no successor in line, and he's the only key player that's not nearing the end of his career.
15. Houston Rockets (21-17) - Kyle Lowry could have easily been an All-Star this season, and the team's defense has been good with the addition of C Samuel Dalembert.
16. Minnesota Timberwolves (20-19) - With Derrick Williams in tow and the trade deadline just a few weeks away, I have to believe that Michael Beasley will be traded before the deadline.
17. New York Knicks (18-19) - Jeremy Lin is still far too turnover-prone, but if the team can find a way to avoid playing isolation basketball too frequently, they could be a tough out in the first round of the playoffs.
18. Portland Trailblazers (19-19) - Nicolas Batum has been stellar since being inserted as the starting shooting guard, and along with LaMarcus Aldridge, should be a cornerstone for the franchise for years to come.
19. Utah Jazz (18-19) - If Devin Harris can start playing like he's capable of, this team could make a push for a playoff spot, as they have great depth in the frontcourt.
20. Phoenix Suns (17-20) - Steve Nash and Marcin Gortat have been great this season, but the team needs someone else to step up as a third scorer. Will the Suns trade Nash before the deadline, or run the risk of getting nothing should they lose him in free agency?
21. Golden State Warriors (15-20) - Stephen Curry's ankle has to be a concern for the Warriors, as this team doesn't function properly when he's not running the offense.
22. Milwaukee Bucks (15-23) - Ersan Ilyasova is one of the most underrated players in the league, but the team still needs Andrew Bogut back soon if they want to make the playoffs.
23. Cleveland Cavaliers (13-23) - If it weren't for Anderson Varejao's injury, the Cavs would likely be a playoff team this season. With the playoffs becoming increasingly out of reach, will the team trade Antawn Jamison in order to get more minutes for #4 overall pick Tristan Thompson?
24. Sacramento Kings (12-26) - The team recently extended interim head coach Keith Smart's contract, as he's done a better job of getting results out of a talented (but young) roster.
25. New Jersey Nets (12-26) - D-Will dropped 57 on the Bobcats, but with Brook Lopez injured (again), one has to wonder if his time with the Nets will end when the regular season does.
26. Toronto Raptors (12-26) - The team needs some semblance of low-post scoring, as without Andrea Bargnani, they just aren't a very good team.
27. Detroit Pistons (12-26) - The team would love to unload the ugly contracts of Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva, but will there be a market for them after clearly under-performing since signing.
28. New Orleans Hornets (9-29) - The team has looked much better as of late, but the injury bug has hit the team hard. Will they trade Chris Kaman, or use the cap space from his expiring contract to give Eric Gordon an extension after the season?
29. Washington Wizards (8-29) - In what has been a long season in D.C., the Wizards need to give John Wall a low-post scorer that can take some of the play-making burden off of his shoulders.
30. Charlotte Bobcats (4-31) - Henderson, Walker and Biyombo are keepers, but the team needs to unload underachievers like Tyrus Thomas and DeSagana Diop (and their hideous contracts) before they can take the next step in their development.
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