Each Monday down the stretch, we'll take a look at the upcoming stretch for each team mathematically alive in the East and West playoff races, and break down what they need to do to stay alive in the postseason hunt. 
 EAST 
 1. Chicago Bulls (46-14) *clinched a playoff berth, clinched division Status: Firm hold on No. 1 seed Schedule: vs. Washington, at Charlotte, at Miami, vs. Dallas This week: The week's first two games give Derrick Rose an opportunity to reacclimate himself with the Bulls' offense. Barring collapse, Chicago should cruise to the No. 1 seed. 
 2. Miami Heat (42-17) *clinched a playoff berth, clinched division Status: Firm hold on No. 2 seed Schedule: at New Jersey, vs. Toronto, vs. Chicago, vs. Washington, vs. Houston This week: Is it time for Erik Spoelstra to ease off the gas and give his three superstars some rest? Even short-handed, Miami should have little problem winning three games this week, in turn clinching the No. 2 seed. 
 3. Indiana Pacers (38-22) *clinched a playoff berth Status: Firm hold on No. 3 seed Schedule: vs. Minnesota, at Philadelphia, vs. Milwaukee, vs. Philadelphia This week: The scorching Celts are still within striking distance, but there's no reason to believe the Pacers, 8-1 in April, won't do enough to hang on to the No. 3 spot. 
 4. Boston Celtics (36-25) *clinched a playoff berth, division leader Status: Fighting for home court Schedule: at Knicks, vs. Orlando, at Atlanta This week: The final two weeks set up nicely for the Celtics, with plenty of time to get the aging core some rest. How important is home court in the first round to Doc Rivers? We'll get an idea Friday when the Celtics head to Atlanta. 
 5. Atlanta Hawks (35-25) Status: Fighting for home court Schedule: at Toronto, vs. Detroit, vs. Boston, vs. Knicks This week: After the Raptors and Pistons, Atlanta finishes the year with four serious tests. A chance to prove they can hang with playoff-caliber teams on the eve of the postseason? 
 6. Orlando Magic (35-25) *clinched a playoff berth Status: Trying to survive without Dwight Schedule: vs. Pihladelphia, at Boston, at Utah, at Denver This week: A 3 1/2 game lead on the Sixers isn't safe with Dwight Howard sidelined. An 0-4 week -- which is a distinct possibility -- could mean a first-round match-up with the Heat or Bulls. 
 7. Philadelphia 76ers (31-28) Status: Fighting for No. 7 seed Schedule: at Orlando, vs. Indiana, at Cleveland, at Indiana This week: Philly is going to spend a lot of time on the road over the final two weeks. Three wins this week -- which won't be easy -- could go a long way in avoiding the Heat and Bulls in the first round. 
 8. Knicks (31-29) Status: Fighting for No. 7 seed Schedule: vs. Boston, at New Jersey, at Cleveland, at Atlanta This week: It's easy for the Knicks to look ahead at the Magic and Sixers, and see a chance to leapfrog two struggling teams. But a loss to the Nets or Cavs would put the Bucks right back in the playoff chase. 
<hr width="50%"> 
 9. Milwaukee Bucks (29-31) Status: Must-win territory Schedule: at Washington, at Indiana, vs. New Jersey This week: It's simple for Milwaukee: They need a 3-0 week to stay in contention. 
 Eliminated 
 10. Detroit Pistons (22-38) 
 11. New Jersey Nets (22-39) 
 12. Toronto Raptors (22-39) 
 13. Cleveland Cavaliers (20-39) 
 14. Wasington Wizards (14-46) 
 15. Charlotte Bobcats (7-52) 
 WEST 
 1. Oklahoma City Thunder (44-16) *clinched a playoff berth, clinched division Status: Fighting for No. 1 seed Schedule: at Clippers, at Phoenix, at Sacramento, at Lakers This week: OKC needs to come away with several road wins to hold off San Antonio. 
 1. San Antonio Spurs (42-16) *clinched a playoff berth, clinched division Status: Fighting for No. 1 seed Schedule: at Golden State, at Lakers, at Sacramento, vs. Lakers, vs. Cleveland This week: The Spurs have the league's busiest schedule for the final two weeks. Gregg Popovich could decide to rest his players instead of gunning for the Thunder. 
 3. Los Angeles Lakers (39-22) *clinched a playoff berth, division leader Status: In divisional battle Schedule: vs. San Antonio, at Golden State, at San Antonio, vs. Oklahoma City This week: Brutal stretch for the Lakers. Will Kobe be around to help? 
 4. Los Angeles Clippers (37-23) Status: In divisional battle Schedule: vs. Oklahoma City, at Denver, at Phoenix, vs. New Orleans This week: If the Clippers hope to overtake the Lakers in the Pacific, this will be the week to do it; their schedule is easier, though not by much, than the cross-arena rivals. 
 5. Memphis Grizzlies (35-25) Status:&nbsp;Fighting for home court Schedule: at Minnesota, vs. New Orleans, at Charlotte, vs. Portland This week: The Grizz get four teams in full tank mode. Could the No. 3 seed, in addition to the No. 4 seed, be in play? 
 6. Dallas Mavericks (34-27) Status: Fighting for playoff spot Schedule: at Utah, vs. Houston, vs. Golden State, at Chicago This week: Dallas took care of business last week, going 3-1. Barring collapse, the defending champs are in good shape. 
 7. Denver Nuggets (33-27) Status: Fighting for playoff spot Schedule: at Houston, vs. Clippers, at Phoenix, vs. Orlando This week: It's a Tour de Contenders for Denver, with massively important games against the Rockets and Suns on the schedule. Wins in both games should secure Denver's playoff spot. 
 8. Houston Rockets (32-28) Status:&nbsp;Fighting for playoff spot Schedule: vs. Denver, at Dallas, at New Orleans, vs. Golden State This week: That three game losing streak could turn into five games real quick at the beginning of this week. Kyle Lowry needs to step up for the Rockets to hang on. 
<hr width="50%"> 
 9. Phoenix Suns (31-29) Status:&nbsp;Outside but in play Schedule: vs. Portland, vs. Oklahoma City, vs. Clippers, vs. Denver This week: If it's any consolation, at least most of the Suns' brutal season-ending stretch comes at home. 
 10. Utah Jazz (31-30) Status: Outside but in play Schedule: vs. Dallas, at Portland, vs. Orlando This week: Utah struck gold in beating San Antonio and Houston, then fell flat on its face in a loss to the Hornets. It will probably take 35 wins to make the postseason, so Utah can't afford any slip-ups this week. 
 11. Portland Trail Blazers (28-33) Status: Counting down to lottery Schedule: at Phoenix, vs. Utah, at Memphis 
 Eliminated 
 12. Minnesota Timberwolves (25-36) 
 13. Golden State Warriors (22-37) 
 14. Sacramento Kings (20-41) 
 15. New Orleans Hornets (18-42)

Each Monday down the stretch, we'll take a look at the upcoming stretch for each team mathematically alive in the East and West playoff races, and break down what they need to do to stay alive in the postseason hunt. EAST 1. Chicago Bulls (46-14) *clinched a playoff berth, clinched division Status: Firm hold on No. 1 seed Schedule: vs. Washington, at Charlotte, at Miami, vs. Dallas This week: The week's first two games give Derrick Rose an opportunity to reacclimate himself with the Bulls' offense. Barring collapse, Chicago should cruise to the No. 1 seed. 2. Miami Heat (42-17) *clinched a playoff berth, clinched division Status: Firm hold on No. 2 seed Schedule: at New Jersey, vs. Toronto, vs. Chicago, vs. Washington, vs. Houston This week: Is it time for Erik Spoelstra to ease off the gas and give his three superstars some rest? Even short-handed, Miami should have little problem winning three games this week, in turn clinching the No. 2 seed. 3. Indiana Pacers (38-22) *clinched a playoff berth Status: Firm hold on No. 3 seed Schedule: vs. Minnesota, at Philadelphia, vs. Milwaukee, vs. Philadelphia This week: The scorching Celts are still within striking distance, but there's no reason to believe the Pacers, 8-1 in April, won't do enough to hang on to the No. 3 spot. 4. Boston Celtics (36-25) *clinched a playoff berth, division leader Status: Fighting for home court Schedule: at Knicks, vs. Orlando, at Atlanta This week: The final two weeks set up nicely for the Celtics, with plenty of time to get the aging core some rest. How important is home court in the first round to Doc Rivers? We'll get an idea Friday when the Celtics head to Atlanta. 5. Atlanta Hawks (35-25) Status: Fighting for home court Schedule: at Toronto, vs. Detroit, vs. Boston, vs. Knicks This week: After the Raptors and Pistons, Atlanta finishes the year with four serious tests. A chance to prove they can hang with playoff-caliber teams on the eve of the postseason? 6. Orlando Magic (35-25) *clinched a playoff berth Status: Trying to survive without Dwight Schedule: vs. Pihladelphia, at Boston, at Utah, at Denver This week: A 3 1/2 game lead on the Sixers isn't safe with Dwight Howard sidelined. An 0-4 week -- which is a distinct possibility -- could mean a first-round match-up with the Heat or Bulls. 7. Philadelphia 76ers (31-28) Status: Fighting for No. 7 seed Schedule: at Orlando, vs. Indiana, at Cleveland, at Indiana This week: Philly is going to spend a lot of time on the road over the final two weeks. Three wins this week -- which won't be easy -- could go a long way in avoiding the Heat and Bulls in the first round. 8. Knicks (31-29) Status: Fighting for No. 7 seed Schedule: vs. Boston, at New Jersey, at Cleveland, at Atlanta This week: It's easy for the Knicks to look ahead at the Magic and Sixers, and see a chance to leapfrog two struggling teams. But a loss to the Nets or Cavs would put the Bucks right back in the playoff chase. 9. Milwaukee Bucks (29-31) Status: Must-win territory Schedule: at Washington, at Indiana, vs. New Jersey This week: It's simple for Milwaukee: They need a 3-0 week to stay in contention. Eliminated 10. Detroit Pistons (22-38) 11. New Jersey Nets (22-39) 12. Toronto Raptors (22-39) 13. Cleveland Cavaliers (20-39) 14. Wasington Wizards (14-46) 15. Charlotte Bobcats (7-52) WEST 1. Oklahoma City Thunder (44-16) *clinched a playoff berth, clinched division Status: Fighting for No. 1 seed Schedule: at Clippers, at Phoenix, at Sacramento, at Lakers This week: OKC needs to come away with several road wins to hold off San Antonio. 1. San Antonio Spurs (42-16) *clinched a playoff berth, clinched division Status: Fighting for No. 1 seed Schedule: at Golden State, at Lakers, at Sacramento, vs. Lakers, vs. Cleveland This week: The Spurs have the league's busiest schedule for the final two weeks. Gregg Popovich could decide to rest his players instead of gunning for the Thunder. 3. Los Angeles Lakers (39-22) *clinched a playoff berth, division leader Status: In divisional battle Schedule: vs. San Antonio, at Golden State, at San Antonio, vs. Oklahoma City This week: Brutal stretch for the Lakers. Will Kobe be around to help? 4. Los Angeles Clippers (37-23) Status: In divisional battle Schedule: vs. Oklahoma City, at Denver, at Phoenix, vs. New Orleans This week: If the Clippers hope to overtake the Lakers in the Pacific, this will be the week to do it; their schedule is easier, though not by much, than the cross-arena rivals. 5. Memphis Grizzlies (35-25) Status: Fighting for home court Schedule: at Minnesota, vs. New Orleans, at Charlotte, vs. Portland This week: The Grizz get four teams in full tank mode. Could the No. 3 seed, in addition to the No. 4 seed, be in play? 6. Dallas Mavericks (34-27) Status: Fighting for playoff spot Schedule: at Utah, vs. Houston, vs. Golden State, at Chicago This week: Dallas took care of business last week, going 3-1. Barring collapse, the defending champs are in good shape. 7. Denver Nuggets (33-27) Status: Fighting for playoff spot Schedule: at Houston, vs. Clippers, at Phoenix, vs. Orlando This week: It's a Tour de Contenders for Denver, with massively important games against the Rockets and Suns on the schedule. Wins in both games should secure Denver's playoff spot. 8. Houston Rockets (32-28) Status: Fighting for playoff spot Schedule: vs. Denver, at Dallas, at New Orleans, vs. Golden State This week: That three game losing streak could turn into five games real quick at the beginning of this week. Kyle Lowry needs to step up for the Rockets to hang on. 9. Phoenix Suns (31-29) Status: Outside but in play Schedule: vs. Portland, vs. Oklahoma City, vs. Clippers, vs. Denver This week: If it's any consolation, at least most of the Suns' brutal season-ending stretch comes at home. 10. Utah Jazz (31-30) Status: Outside but in play Schedule: vs. Dallas, at Portland, vs. Orlando This week: Utah struck gold in beating San Antonio and Houston, then fell flat on its face in a loss to the Hornets. It will probably take 35 wins to make the postseason, so Utah can't afford any slip-ups this week. 11. Portland Trail Blazers (28-33) Status: Counting down to lottery Schedule: at Phoenix, vs. Utah, at Memphis Eliminated 12. Minnesota Timberwolves (25-36) 13. Golden State Warriors (22-37) 14. Sacramento Kings (20-41) 15. New Orleans Hornets (18-42)

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NBA playoff picture: Do Nuggets hold key to West?

Each Monday down the stretch, we'll take a look at the upcoming stretch for each team mathematically alive in the East and West playoff races, and break down what they need to do to stay alive in the postseason hunt.

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