http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=AuS087tZnK31LNZnUg1mlbi8vLYF?slug=cnnsi-tobedetermined&prov=cnnsi&type=lgns

To be determined

Marty Burns, SI.com

1. Will anyone take control of the East?

No. The East is going to be wide open right to the finish, with the Pistons, Cavs, Bulls and Wizards battling it out for the best record until the final weeks. If I had to pick a team, I'd go with Detroit because of its starting five and its experience. But Chicago is learning to play together and has the depth and style of play to withstand injuries. The Bulls, with the hardest part of their schedule behind them, could be a good darkhorse candidate to finish with the best record and the No. 1 seed.

2. Who's most likely to make a late-season surge into the playoffs?

In the East, it's the Knicks. They quietly have crept back into the Atlantic Division race. Eddy Curry has been dominating inside (at least at one end), and Stephon Marbury was playing some of his best ball in a long time before suffering some knee pain recently. With team president and coach Isiah Thomas facing a win-or-else ultimatum from management, he will be pushing hard for that final spot. Assuming they stay healthy, the Knicks have a chance (albeit a slim one) to catch the Raptors and/or Nets for the division lead. Out West, keep an eye on the Hornets. They were playing well at the start of the season, before injuries to Peja Stojakovic, David West, Bobby Jackson and Chris Paul derailed them. If Paul returns to health (West and Jackson already have returned), it's not inconceivable that OKC/NO could make up the four games they need to catch the T'wolves for the No. 8 spot.


3. Who is most likely to stumble down the stretch?

The Nets right now seem to be a prime candidate. With Nenad Krstic done for the season, Richard Jefferson out another six weeks with an ankle injury, Jason Kidd going through a messy divorce and Vince Carter thinking about opting out of his contract after the season, New Jersey is walking a tightrope. Already the Raptors, who have been playing very well of late, have moved ahead of them in the Atlantic standings. It's going to take a superhuman effort from the soon-to-be 34-year-old Kidd if the Nets are going to hold off Toronto (and maybe New York) for the division title. In fact, there is already talk Nets GM Rod Thorn might look to re-tool on the fly by trading Carter or Kidd.

4. Does this figure to be a busy trade deadline?

Yes. The consensus among GMs and player personnel types right now is that there are likely to be several moves. With the Eastern race so wide open, there are few teams that don't have a shot at making the playoffs. In addition, there are already good teams such as the Pistons, Bulls, Spurs and Lakers that might seek to do something to push them over the top.

5. Who will be the biggest name dealt?

Kevin Garnett, Pau Gasol, Corey Maggette, Ron Artest, Morris Peterson, Jamaal Magloire and Carter are the biggest names who will be mentioned on the block. Garnett, obviously, would be the biggest fish -- though it's unlikely he will be traded at midseason. Gasol is much more likely to be wearing a different uniform at season's end. The Grizzlies say they are in no rush to trade the 7-foot All-Star, but the fact is they are going nowhere this season and it might behoove them to move him now. Plus, they can go into full rebuilding mode now and get as many ping pong balls as possible for a possible shot at Greg Oden.

6. Can Shaq save the Heat's season?

Maybe, but he's going to need some help. Shaq just recently returned to the Heat lineup after sitting out two months to rehab his surgically-repaired knee. It remains to be seen how long it will take the 7-1 giant to regain his form. Even if he does get back in shape quickly, the fact is that the soon-to-be-34-year-old has been on the decline the past few years. Shaq doesn't have to score 20 points a night for the Heat to win. His mere presence as a threat forces defenses to collapse on him, opening up driving lanes for Dwyane Wade. It also strengthens the Miami bench, since it enables Alonzo Mourning to provide his high-energy boosts off the bench. But the Heat are going to need role players such as Antoine Walker, Jason Williams and James Posey to step up again like they did a year ago, and so far they have shown little to indicate they will.

7. Who will grab the No. 1 seed in the West?

Mavs. Suns. Suns. Mavs. Who can honestly pick between the two right now? Let's just say that the Mavs appear to have a slightly easier path to the conference's best record. As of Friday Dallas had only 17 games left against likely playoff teams while Phoenix had 21. Of those games, the Mavs had only eight on the road while the Suns had 10. In fact, Phoenix still has tough road games at Dallas, at San Antonio, at Houston, at Utah, at the Lakers and twice at Denver. Of those opponents, Dallas only has to play at Houston, at the Lakers, at Phoenix and at Denver. Also, the Mavs have superior depth, which should help them down the stretch. Finally, Dallas owns a 2-0 series lead over the Suns this season. If the Mavs can win one of their two remaining games against Phoenix, they would own the head-to-head tiebreaker.

8. Will anyone in the Atlantic finish with a winning record?

Yes. Even if the Nets collapse, the Raptors or Knicks will find a way to break the .500 barrier. Toronto, in particular, is playing better of late, and appears to be heading upward. With a playoff berth at stake, the Raptors and Knicks will continue to push down the stretch. Keep in mind, they will be facing a lot of Eastern Conference doormats in the final weeks -- some of whom will be playing for ping pong balls. It should be enough for one of them to get their heads above water. Last year at this time there was similar talk of a sub-.500 champion in the Titanic, er Atlantic, Division. But the Nets put it together and wound up 49-33. It's a long season. Right now, it's only the midway point.

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