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They're not just for breakfast anymore. Sure, the East is decidedly mediocre but the two top clubs, Philadelphia and New York, have shown they can play in either side of the league and prosper. One of them is going to get to the NBA Finals in June. And none of the Western teams -- be it the Blazers, Lakers, Spurs or Kings -- is a lock to devour them in the series.
|  | | Latrell Sprewell and the Knicks appear headed in the right direction. |
As we head into the long stretch run of the season, the Heat holds and the Bucks become more and more interesting. That's good news if you like a dollop of fun with your hoops.
Here's the forecast for the two-month long run:
 Philadelphia: First Eric Snow, now Theo Ratliff and in between Toni Kukoc takes a seat. Is this the finish of a storybook season? The Sixers could use Matt Geiger about now, but he's on a ranch doing rehab work. With Snow about to return, it says here that Larry Brown will patch the Sixers up and keep them going until Ratliff returns to the middle. If that happens by mid-March there's enough to time to make a serious playoff run with a chance at a title.
 New York: The Knicks dump Patrick Ewing and make it to the NBA Finals? Why not? Unless Philadelphia can get healthy, the Knicks are in good shape with a deep perimeter attack and the nice addition of power forward Othella Harrington. So much for the tabloid rips at GM Scott Layden and coach Jeff Van Gundy. With Charlie Ward healing, Latrell Sprewell under control and Marcus Camby a legitimate shot-blocking force, New York is on pace to meet the 76ers in the East finals, if the Sixers heal up in time.
 Miami: This is how bad things are at Camp Riley: The drill sergeant gave his troops a five-day weekend pass. Riley understands the Heat is one serious injury away from mediocrity. Brian Grant is wearing down in the middle and Tim Hardaway is going to last just so long as his bum knees can. Miami is going to finish third in the Atlantic, but looks more and more like another early playoff round casualty.
 Milwaukee: By George, Karl has done it, turned a wretchedly bad franchise around in a few short years. The Bucks aren't near ready to win a title. In fact, they have to prove they can win a playoff series before anybody takes this Run TMC hybrid (Glenn Robinson, Ray Allen, Sam Cassell -- Call 'em GAS) is really taken seriously. Like fellow UNC alum Brown, George loves to bare his soul and his daily soap opera is almost as entertaining as the team that has raced to the top of the Central Division and is likely to stay there.
 Charlotte: If there is a more destructive force than Rod Strickland (see below) it is Derrick Coleman. Single-handedly, Coleman has destroyed Charlotte's chance to be a serious contender. His teammates, his coaches, the press intensely dislike him. GM Bob Bass gave him "stupid" money and now they're stuck with D.C. for two more years. Some think Paul Silas will take the hit. It says here that the Hornets are too cheap to fire a coach with three more years on his deal at $2-million-plus a season. Besides, they're a playoff lock.
 Toronto: Hard to believe only a few years ago Glen Grunwald apologized for the Raptors' sad performance and was booed. They've settled into the middleground of the playoff pack in the East, probably never to reach the heights now that Tracy McGrady bolted and left cousin Vince to carry all the load. GM Grunwald brought his club through the Butch Carter fiasco and achieved respectability with Lenny Wilkens. But this placid coach, makes it plainly clear he's only here to collect his checks and pad his record for victories. Wilkens teams don't last in the playoffs.
|  | | Because of guys like Tracy McGrady, the Magic believe they can make a move in the second half. |
 Orlando: When the Magic won their sixth in a row, Doc Rivers said, "look, I'm coach of the year; I'm supposed to have a winning streak now and again." He's doing it with Tracy McGrady, a little smoke and a few mirrors. This magic act speaks to the impact a bright, imaginative coach with a savvy assistant (Dave Wohl) can have on a team with a few nice players and some hungry journeymen. Though based in a blase town where they are largely ignored by fans, the Magic are objects of admiration around the NBA, particularly among general mangers who cannot extract the best from their overpaid babies.
 Indiana: Only Atlanta has tried more lineups than Isiah Thomas' dozen. Hard as Zeke experiments, he can't put the juice back in Reggie Miller's legs, can't turn Jalen Rose into a point guard, can't bring Rik Smits out of retirement. Some of his kids are so young they need a stint in the developmental league that is killing the CBA Cruel world. The hiring of Thomas camouflaged Donnie Walsh's renovation of an old roster. How high is Isiah's threshold before boredom sets in? Another year. Two? Maybe.
 Boston: Was it always that simple? Dump Little Ricky and the shamrocks return to Boston. Antoine Walker bolted Kentucky to escape Pitino and then played three-plus seasons like he wanted to get him out of Boston. Funny, how Walker came around after Pitino finally conceded he does not belong in the NBA. Even with Walker and Paul Pierce, this is a marginal team, capped out and needing a broad-based overhaul. Larry Bird anyone?
 New Jersey: Stephon Marbury had a chance to be part of something special in Minneapolis, but Steph wanted to be the brightest star in his own little world and opted for New Jersey. This is the ultimate in big fish, little pond. Now, poor Steph talks about the heart break of toiling with a bad team. Please, Steph, stop with the crocodile tears. You live in the swamp, you smell of the swamp. Cursed with bad luck, bad decisions and vain owners the Nets are everything you don't want to be: objects of ridicule.
 Cleveland: Once upon a time it was the Cuyahoga River that burned brightly as it flowed gently through the city. Now, it's the Cavaliers. Even the trainer goes down with an injury on this poor team. Did Jim Paxson make a pact with the devil when he got rid of Shawn Kemp? Is this the price he pays? (Okay, Pax, I'll take Kemp off your hands, but you lose your center.) No Zydrunas Ilgauskas. No bench. No prospects. How lucky was Mike Fratello when they broomed him?
 Atlanta: It's a grand idea, going young, building with kids who will mature into solid players. Will it work? The Hawks have so few offensive weapons they heap the entire load on 180-pound converted point guard Jason Terry and ride the poor kid until he collapses. Usually, that happens before the fourth quarter. Dropping with a bullet.
 Washington: The Curse of David Falk upon ye, Abe Pollin. Used to be Falk ripped old Abe for his cheapness. Then Falk got his revenge. Pollin paid Falk client Rod Strickland $40 million. Think about it: Abe pays the guy to ruin his own team. Nothing like a little sado-masochism in the nation's capital. Hey, Rod, don't forget the whip.
 Detroit: Look, if giving the ball to Jerry Stackhouse 35 times a night is the best you can do, start over. Joe Dumars figures he will have $11 to $15 million under the cap next season. But tell us, Bayou Joe, who in today's me-first NBA wants to freeze his butt off in the frozen wilds of rural Michigan?
 Chicago: These aren't Bulls, but the byproduct of Mad Cow's disease. Lost in Jerry Krause' egocentric world, going nowhere, stuck on the Dark Side of the Moon. And the persistent report holds that fishing pal Pink Floyd is on his way to Bloomington, Indiana where he will not install the Triangle Offense.
Jeffrey Denberg, who covers the NBA for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, is a regular contributor to ESPN.com.
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