The Eastern Conference contenders can be readily described as: reeling, storming, holding and lurking.
Miami, Milwaukee, Philadelphia and Boston have all held those titles at points this season, which is why they’re so tightly bunched they can smell each other’s mouthwash with 15 days remaining in the regular season.
A half-game separates the four teams, and the recent knee injury to Celtics big man Robert Williams III morphs the conversation even more as their surge hits a speed bump.
It still is the stronger conference despite Phoenix running away from everyone and hiding, with so many teams capable of making a trip to June or being sent home before the calendar turns to May.