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 (42-12) *clinched a playoff berth, division leader Status: Fighting for No. 1 seed Schedule: vs. Houston, vs. Boston, at Knicks This week: It's not likely Derrick Rose will be back next week. Couple of big games against the Celtics and Knicks, two potential first round match-ups. 
 2. Miami Heat (37-14) *division leader Status: Fighting for No. 1 seed Schedule: vs. Philadelphia, vs. Oklahoma City, vs. Memphis, vs. Detroit This week: The slumping Heat get just what they need: American Airlines Arenas. Miami is an NBA-best 21-2 at home. 
 3. Orlando Magic (32-21) Status: Clinging to home court Schedule: at Detroit, vs. Knicks, at Philadelphia This week: Orlando has just a 1/2 game cushion for homecourt in the first round. Dwight Howard missed Sunday's game against Denver with back spasms, but it looks like he'll be back soon. 
 4. Boston Celtics (30-22) *division leader Status: In divisional battle Schedule: vs. San Antonio, at Chicago, at Indiana, vs. Philadelphia This week: Unbeatable lately, Boston gets four big tests this week. A pair of wins would be big, especially Sunday afternoon's game against Philly. 
 5. Indiana Pacers (31-21) Status: Fighting for home court Schedule: vs. Knicks, at Washington, vs. Oklahoma City, vs. Boston This week: A 4-0 week would probably move Indiana to the No. 3 seed. Unlikely, though, with three playoff teams coming up. 
 6. Atlanta Hawks (31-23) Status: Fighting for home court Schedule: vs. Charlotte, vs. Detroit, at Charlotta This week: Atlanta again struggled against tough competition, and as a result, fell to sixth in the East. No reason they shouldn't bounce back with three wins this week, though. 
 7. Philadelphia 76ers (29-23) Status: In divisional battle Schedule: at Miami, vs. Toronto, vs. Orlando, at Boston This week: Sunday's game in Boston could be for control -- albeit temporary -- of the Atlantic. 
 8. Knicks (27-26) Status: In divisional battle Schedule: at Indiana, at Orlando, vs. Chicago This week: The Knicks will be underdogs in each game this week. Unless they pull off an upset, they could start next week in ninth in the East. 
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 9. Milwaukee Bucks (24-28) Status: Outside but in play Schedule: at Washington, vs. Cleveland, vs. Charlotte, vs. Portland This week: Anything less than three wins would be a major disappointment for Milwaukee. No reason they shouldn't pull back to .500. 
 10. Detroit Pistons (19-33) Status: Counting down to the lottery Schedule: vs. Orlando, vs. Washington, at Atlanta, at Miami 
 11. New Jersey Nets (19-35) Status:&nbsp;Counting down to the offseason Schedule: at Lakers, at Portland, vs. Washington, vs. Cleveland 
 12. Cleveland Cavaliers (17-33) Status: Counting down to the lottery Schedule: vs. San Antonnio, at Milwaukee, at Toronto, at New Jersey 
 13. Toronto Raptors (18-35) Status:&nbsp;Counting down to the lottery Schedule: vs. Charlotte, at Philadelphia, vs. Cleveland, at Oklahoma City 
 Eliminated 
 14. Wasington Wizards (12-40) 
 15. Charlotte Bobcats (7-43) 
 WEST 
 1. Oklahoma City Thunder (40-12) *clinched a playoff berth, division leader Status: Fighting for No. 1 seed Schedule: vs. Memphis, at Miami, at Indiana, vs. Toronto This week: The Thunder definitely have that road game against Miami circled on their calendar. They need to be careful not to overlook the Grizzlies, though, who look to be on the brink of a run. 
 2. San Antonio Spurs (36-14) *division leader Status: Fighting for No. 1 seed Schedule: at Cleveland, at Boston, vs. New Orleans, vs. Utah This week: You could see some Spurs starters resting this week. Three very winnable games surround an exciting road trip to Boston. 
 3. Los Angeles Lakers (33-20) *division leader Status: In divisional battle Schedule: vs. New Jersey, at Clippers, vs. Houston, at Phoenix This week: Will Andrew Bynum be back for a big road game against the Clippers? 
 4. Los Angeles Clippers (31-21) Status: In divisional battle Schedule: at Dallas, vs. Lakers, at Sacramento, vs. Sacramento This week: A 4-0 week could put the Clippers in first in the Pacific Division. Who saw that coming after all the drama surrounding the team and Vinny Del Negro two weeks ago? 
 5. Dallas Mavericks (30-23) Status: Fighting for playoff spot Schedule: vs. Clippers, vs. Memphis, vs. Portland, at Memphis This week: Three wins, and the defending champs should be able to cruise to the postseason. Three losses? Dallas could fall to eighth. 
 6. Memphis Grizzlies (28-22) Status:&nbsp;Fighting for playoff spot Schedule: at Oklahoma City, vs. Golden State, at Dallas, at Miami, vs. Dallas This week: The Grizz have the toughest schedule in the league this week. Don't be shocked if Memphis impresses, though. This team is on track to start clicking at the right time. 
 7. Denver Nuggets (29-24) Status: Fighting for playoff spot Schedule: at New Orleans, vs. Phoenix, at Golden State This week: The Nuggets have been alarmingly hot-and-cold lately. No reason they shouldn't win at least two of three this week, though. 
 8. Houston Rockets (28-25) Status:&nbsp;Fighting for playoff spot Schedule: at Chicago, at Lakers, at Sacramento This week: Goran Dragic's play could be the difference between one and two wins this week. 
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 9. Utah Jazz (27-26) Status: Outside but in play Schedule: at Portland, vs. Phoenix, vs. Golden State, at San Antonio This week: Back-to-back crucial games against other teams fighting for playoff spots. The road game in San Antonio is the first half of a home-and-home. 
 10. Phoenix Suns (26-26) Status:&nbsp;Outside but in play Schedule: at Sacramento, at Utah, at Denver, vs. Lakers This week: The Suns dropped two games to playoff teams last week. They'll need to at least split the week's last two games to keep the gap between them and 8th surmountable. 
 11. Portland Trail Blazers (25-28) Status: Outside and not looking good Schedule: vs. Utah, vs. New Jersey, at Dallas, at Milwaukee This week: A 3-1 week -- which looks possible -- keeps Portland in the playoff hunt. 
 12. Minnesota Timberwolves (25-29) Status:&nbsp;Outside and not looking good Schedule: at Sacramento, vs. Golden State, at New Orleans This week: The T-Wolves need to sweep this week's games. Based on how they've played without Ricky Rubio, don't be shocked if they fall short. 
 13. Golden State Warriors (20-31) Status: Counting down to offseason Schedule: at Memphis, at Minnesota, at Utah, vs. Denver 
 14. Sacramento Kings (18-34) Status: Counting down to the lottery Schedule: vs. Minnesota, vs. Phoenix, vs. Clippers, at Clippers, vs. Houston 
 Eliminated 
 15. New Orleans Hornets (13-40)

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 (42-12) *clinched a playoff berth, division leader Status: Fighting for No. 1 seed Schedule: vs. Houston, vs. Boston, at Knicks This week: It's not likely Derrick Rose will be back next week. Couple of big games against the Celtics and Knicks, two potential first round match-ups. 2. Miami Heat (37-14) *division leader Status: Fighting for No. 1 seed Schedule: vs. Philadelphia, vs. Oklahoma City, vs. Memphis, vs. Detroit This week: The slumping Heat get just what they need: American Airlines Arenas. Miami is an NBA-best 21-2 at home. 3. Orlando Magic (32-21) Status: Clinging to home court Schedule: at Detroit, vs. Knicks, at Philadelphia This week: Orlando has just a 1/2 game cushion for homecourt in the first round. Dwight Howard missed Sunday's game against Denver with back spasms, but it looks like he'll be back soon. 4. Boston Celtics (30-22) *division leader Status: In divisional battle Schedule: vs. San Antonio, at Chicago, at Indiana, vs. Philadelphia This week: Unbeatable lately, Boston gets four big tests this week. A pair of wins would be big, especially Sunday afternoon's game against Philly. 5. Indiana Pacers (31-21) Status: Fighting for home court Schedule: vs. Knicks, at Washington, vs. Oklahoma City, vs. Boston This week: A 4-0 week would probably move Indiana to the No. 3 seed. Unlikely, though, with three playoff teams coming up. 6. Atlanta Hawks (31-23) Status: Fighting for home court Schedule: vs. Charlotte, vs. Detroit, at Charlotta This week: Atlanta again struggled against tough competition, and as a result, fell to sixth in the East. No reason they shouldn't bounce back with three wins this week, though. 7. Philadelphia 76ers (29-23) Status: In divisional battle Schedule: at Miami, vs. Toronto, vs. Orlando, at Boston This week: Sunday's game in Boston could be for control -- albeit temporary -- of the Atlantic. 8. Knicks (27-26) Status: In divisional battle Schedule: at Indiana, at Orlando, vs. Chicago This week: The Knicks will be underdogs in each game this week. Unless they pull off an upset, they could start next week in ninth in the East. 9. Milwaukee Bucks (24-28) Status: Outside but in play Schedule: at Washington, vs. Cleveland, vs. Charlotte, vs. Portland This week: Anything less than three wins would be a major disappointment for Milwaukee. No reason they shouldn't pull back to .500. 10. Detroit Pistons (19-33) Status: Counting down to the lottery Schedule: vs. Orlando, vs. Washington, at Atlanta, at Miami 11. New Jersey Nets (19-35) Status: Counting down to the offseason Schedule: at Lakers, at Portland, vs. Washington, vs. Cleveland 12. Cleveland Cavaliers (17-33) Status: Counting down to the lottery Schedule: vs. San Antonnio, at Milwaukee, at Toronto, at New Jersey 13. Toronto Raptors (18-35) Status: Counting down to the lottery Schedule: vs. Charlotte, at Philadelphia, vs. Cleveland, at Oklahoma City Eliminated 14. Wasington Wizards (12-40) 15. Charlotte Bobcats (7-43) WEST 1. Oklahoma City Thunder (40-12) *clinched a playoff berth, division leader Status: Fighting for No. 1 seed Schedule: vs. Memphis, at Miami, at Indiana, vs. Toronto This week: The Thunder definitely have that road game against Miami circled on their calendar. They need to be careful not to overlook the Grizzlies, though, who look to be on the brink of a run. 2. San Antonio Spurs (36-14) *division leader Status: Fighting for No. 1 seed Schedule: at Cleveland, at Boston, vs. New Orleans, vs. Utah This week: You could see some Spurs starters resting this week. Three very winnable games surround an exciting road trip to Boston. 3. Los Angeles Lakers (33-20) *division leader Status: In divisional battle Schedule: vs. New Jersey, at Clippers, vs. Houston, at Phoenix This week: Will Andrew Bynum be back for a big road game against the Clippers? 4. Los Angeles Clippers (31-21) Status: In divisional battle Schedule: at Dallas, vs. Lakers, at Sacramento, vs. Sacramento This week: A 4-0 week could put the Clippers in first in the Pacific Division. Who saw that coming after all the drama surrounding the team and Vinny Del Negro two weeks ago? 5. Dallas Mavericks (30-23) Status: Fighting for playoff spot Schedule: vs. Clippers, vs. Memphis, vs. Portland, at Memphis This week: Three wins, and the defending champs should be able to cruise to the postseason. Three losses? Dallas could fall to eighth. 6. Memphis Grizzlies (28-22) Status: Fighting for playoff spot Schedule: at Oklahoma City, vs. Golden State, at Dallas, at Miami, vs. Dallas This week: The Grizz have the toughest schedule in the league this week. Don't be shocked if Memphis impresses, though. This team is on track to start clicking at the right time. 7. Denver Nuggets (29-24) Status: Fighting for playoff spot Schedule: at New Orleans, vs. Phoenix, at Golden State This week: The Nuggets have been alarmingly hot-and-cold lately. No reason they shouldn't win at least two of three this week, though. 8. Houston Rockets (28-25) Status: Fighting for playoff spot Schedule: at Chicago, at Lakers, at Sacramento This week: Goran Dragic's play could be the difference between one and two wins this week. 9. Utah Jazz (27-26) Status: Outside but in play Schedule: at Portland, vs. Phoenix, vs. Golden State, at San Antonio This week: Back-to-back crucial games against other teams fighting for playoff spots. The road game in San Antonio is the first half of a home-and-home. 10. Phoenix Suns (26-26) Status: Outside but in play Schedule: at Sacramento, at Utah, at Denver, vs. Lakers This week: The Suns dropped two games to playoff teams last week. They'll need to at least split the week's last two games to keep the gap between them and 8th surmountable. 11. Portland Trail Blazers (25-28) Status: Outside and not looking good Schedule: vs. Utah, vs. New Jersey, at Dallas, at Milwaukee This week: A 3-1 week -- which looks possible -- keeps Portland in the playoff hunt. 12. Minnesota Timberwolves (25-29) Status: Outside and not looking good Schedule: at Sacramento, vs. Golden State, at New Orleans This week: The T-Wolves need to sweep this week's games. Based on how they've played without Ricky Rubio, don't be shocked if they fall short. 13. Golden State Warriors (20-31) Status: Counting down to offseason Schedule: at Memphis, at Minnesota, at Utah, vs. Denver 14. Sacramento Kings (18-34) Status: Counting down to the lottery Schedule: vs. Minnesota, vs. Phoenix, vs. Clippers, at Clippers, vs. Houston Eliminated 15. New Orleans Hornets (13-40)

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