NBA CURRENT STANDINGS AND PLAYOFF PICTURE

EASTERN CONFERENCE

NBA Atlantic	W	L	PCT	GB	CONF	DIV	HOME	AWAY
y-Toronto	56	24	.700	-	35-16	12-4	31-9	25-15
x-Philadelphia	50	30	.625	6.0	30-20	8-8	30-10	20-20
x-Boston	48	32	.600	8.0	34-16	10-6	28-12	20-20
Brooklyn	40	40	.500	16.0	27-23	8-8	22-18	18-22
New York	15	64	.190	40.5	9-40	2-14	8-31	7-33
NBA Central	W	L	PCT	GB	CONF	DIV	HOME	AWAY
e-Milwaukee	59	21	.738	-	39-12	14-2	32-7	27-14
x-Indiana	47	33	.588	12.0	32-18	11-5	29-11	18-22
Detroit	39	40	.494	19.5	26-24	8-8	25-14	14-26
Chicago	22	58	.275	37.0	16-34	3-13	9-31	13-27
Cleveland	19	61	.238	40.0	15-36	4-12	13-26	6-35
NBA Southeast	W	L	PCT	GB	CONF	DIV	HOME	AWAY
Orlando	40	40	.500	-	28-22	9-6	25-16	15-24
Miami	38	41	.481	1.5	22-27	7-9	18-22	20-19
Charlotte	37	42	.468	2.5	27-22	10-5	25-15	12-27
Washington	32	48	.400	8.0	19-31	7-9	22-18	10-30
Atlanta	29	51	.362	11.0	16-34	6-10	17-23	12-28

WESTERN CONFERENCE

NBA Northwest	W	L	PCT	GB	CONF	DIV	HOME	AWAY
y-Denver	53	26	.671	-	33-16	11-2	33-7	20-19
x-Portland	50	29	.633	3.0	26-23	5-10	30-9	20-20
x-Utah	49	30	.620	4.0	29-20	7-8	28-12	21-18
x-Oklahoma City	46	33	.582	7.0	26-24	8-7	26-14	20-19
Minnesota	36	43	.456	17.0	22-28	5-9	25-14	11-29
NBA Pacific	W	L	PCT	GB	CONF	DIV	HOME	AWAY
y-Golden State	55	24	.696	-	33-16	12-3	29-11	26-13
x-L.A. Clippers	47	33	.588	8.5	27-23	11-4	25-15	22-18
Sacramento	39	41	.488	16.5	21-29	4-12	24-16	15-25
L.A. Lakers	36	44	.450	19.5	24-26	9-7	21-18	15-26
Phoenix	19	61	.238	36.5	11-39	3-13	12-29	7-32
NBA Southwest	W	L	PCT	GB	CONF	DIV	HOME	AWAY
y-Houston	52	28	.650	-	31-19	10-6	30-10	22-18
x-San Antonio	46	34	.575	6.0	29-22	9-6	31-9	15-25
Memphis	32	47	.405	19.5	23-27	8-7	20-19	12-28
New Orleans	32	48	.400	20.0	22-28	8-8	19-21	13-27
Dallas	31	48	.392	20.5	16-33	3-11	23-17	8-31

LEGEND

e	Clinched eastern conference
w	Clinched western conference
y	Clinched division
x	Clinched playoff berth

PLAYOFF PICTURE 

EASTERN CONFERENCE

RANK	TEAM	GB
1	Milwaukee	-
2	Toronto	3.0
3	Philadelphia	9.0
4	Boston	11.0
5	Indiana	12.0
6	Brooklyn	19.0
7	Orlando	19.0
8	Detroit	19.5
^^ IN PLAYOFFS ^^
9	Miami	20.5
10	Charlotte	21.5
11	Washington	27.0
12	Atlanta	30.0
13	Chicago	37.0
14	Cleveland	40.0
15	New York	43.5

WESTERN CONFERENCE

RANK	TEAM	GB
1	Golden State	-
2	Denver	2.0
3	Houston	3.5
4	Portland	5.0
5	Utah	6.0
6	L.A. Clippers	8.5
7	Oklahoma City	9.0
8	San Antonio	9.5
^^ IN PLAYOFFS ^^
9	Sacramento	16.5
10	Minnesota	19.0
11	L.A. Lakers	19.5
12	Memphis	23.0
13	New Orleans	23.5
14	Dallas	24.0
15	Phoenix	36.5

NBA SCOREBOARD FROM SATURDAY

NETS 133, BUCKS 128

MILWAUKEE -- D'Angelo Russell had 25 points and 10 assists, and the Brooklyn Nets beat the short-handed Milwaukee Bucks 133-128 on Saturday to improve their positioning in the Eastern Conference playoff race.

Brooklyn (40-40) made 19 3-pointers and placed eight players in double figures. Caris LeVert had 24 points, and Jared Dudley finished with 16.

The Nets, who had dropped four of five, moved into sixth place in the East. Orlando also is 40-40, and Detroit is a half-game back with a 39-40 record.

Milwaukee played without MVP candidate Giannis Antetokounmpo, who was sidelined by a left calf injury. The Bucks (59-21) clinched the NBA's best record with a road victory against Philadelphia on Thursday night.

Eric Bledsoe had 33 points and 11 assists for Milwaukee, and Khris Middleton finished with 24 points.

76ERS 116, BULLS 96

CHICAGO -- Joel Embiid had 20 points and 10 rebounds and JJ Redick scored 23, leading Philadelphia to the road win.

Embiid dominated inside, Redick supplied the outside touch and the 76ers got back to winning after dropping three in a row, even though guard Jimmy Butler missed his second consecutive game because of back tightness. They also bumped their lead over idle Boston for the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference to two games.

Embiid had five assists and blocked three shots in his second straight start after missing three in a row. The All-Star center has been dealing with a sore left knee, and the Sixers are managing his workload with the playoffs approaching.

JaKarr Sampson led Chicago with a career-high 29 points. But the Bulls lost for the sixth time in seven games.

NFC EAST ROSTER RESET

The NFC East is in flux. What's new? For the 14th consecutive year, a different team in the league's most TV-friendly octant won the division. It makes sense. Rents are soaring in metropoles like New York, D.C., Dallas and Philly. It's hard to stay in the penthouse for long.

The Super Bowl LII champion Eagles learned that the hard way in 2018, struggling through Carson Wentz's injuries and a Lombardi hangover that took half a season to get over. Philly only looked Super Bowl-bound again when Big (Game) Nick Foles re-entered the starting lineup. But now Foles has flown south with the geese, and Philly is set to move on with the MVP-caliber, IR-acquainted Wentz for the foreseeable future. The Eagles still have the best situation in the division, from general manager Howie Roseman on down, and though they might be favorites to win the NFC East in 2019, they can't claim to be division champions heading into the new campaign.

That's the domain of the Cowboys, who surged through the conference with a dominant last half, thanks to an at-the-time-ridiculed trade for Amari Cooper. It looked as if Dallas was mortgaging its future by surrendering a first-round pick -- potentially a high one -- for the receiver, and that might still be true. But the addition of Cooper jump-started Dallas' one-dimensional offense and propelled the 'Boys to their first playoff victory in four years. If recent history is any indication, Dallas is due for a downturn. The Cowboys have alternated playoff seasons for the past five years, and no NFC East team has gone back-to-back since Andy Reid's Eagles won four straight division titles in the early aughts. But before Dallas can even think about January football, it needs to ensure its stars will have stars on their helmets for 2019 and beyond.

The Giants sent their biggest star packing this offseason when they rid themselves, in their minds, of Odell Beckham Jr., who gets to join an organization on the rise in Cleveland (more on that below). The move was an indication of a greater identity crisis taking hold in East Rutherford. New York's honchos insist Big Blue can win while rebuilding and keep Eli Manning under center all the while. The rest of the Giants' offseason will provide a hint as to whether that's truly the plan.

Identity crises are nothing new for the Redskins, who are stuck between a rock and Alex Smith's boondoggle of a contract. The injured Smith, who likely won't play in 2019 and might never play again, will be the highest-paid player on Washington's roster this season. Again, the 'Skins are hamstrung by an aggressively large contract not paying out in wins or, in this case, availability. Washington, which struggles with injuries and on-field mediocrity every year, is at risk of suffering from the same ills again in 2019.

FREE AGENCY NOTABLES

BIGGEST ADDITION: Landon Collins, safety.

Old Team: New York Giants. New Team: Washington Redskins.

By biggest, do we mean "largest contract signed" or "most impactful on-field acquisition" or "most outsized body-mass index"? My editors did not outline this. So, I'll take it to mean a mix of the first two definitions. Whether Washington's signing of Collins for $84 million total (and $45 million in guarantees) over six years was the right move for the team or for the safety is not the issue at hand here; D.C. needed help in the secondary, and Collins has a sincere reverence for Redskins great Sean Taylor, so it can be seen as a personnel and personal match. But the move was BIG because it helped Washington and hurt/embarrassed one of its rivals at the exact same time. The Giants were supposed to franchise tag Collins on a tender worth $11.15 million for safeties. Desiring an extension instead of a tag, Collins was not expected to immediately sign the tender, but that's not the point. Instead of even handing him the tag, New York let Collins hit free agency, where he was quickly scooped up by the division-rival Redskins, who made him the highest-paid safety in the league ($14M per). Washington saw value in the three-time Pro Bowl safety where the Giants did not. New York thinks it replaced Collins with Jabrill Peppers, whom they acquired from Cleveland in the OBJ trade and whom Big Blue brass will argue is a cheaper, rangier option with higher upside. But letting Collins Amtrak down to a hated division rival without a fight was a questionable move by New York.

BIGGEST LOSS: Odell Beckham Jr., wide receiver.

Old Team: New York Giants. New Team: Cleveland Browns.

Speaking of questionable moves ... Forget the division -- there might not be a bigger loss in the entire league this offseason than that of Beckham. The Giants shocked the football world when they traded the transcendent wide receiver to the Browns. It was considerably surprising because Beckham carries a $16 million dead-money hit on New York's cap in 2019. New York has since "replaced" OBJ with slot man and YAC-god Golden Tate. If Tate is to be the No. 1 WR in NY, then the Giants are paying out roughly $31 million for him to fill in Beckham's production, which at his peak was over 100 receiving yards per game. The Giants will say this is for the best over time, that the future of the franchise rests on the legs of Saquon Barkley and the arm of the franchise-quarterback-to-be-named-later, both of whom deserve to be the focal point of the offense, and not on the gluey gloves of an eccentric wide receiver with special field-stretching capabilities and a penchant for sideline hysterics. Ten years from now, New York's front office might be proven right. But Beckham's absence will linger over this franchise until the Giants emerge from their rebuild as winners. That is, unless the Browns win a Super Bowl first with OBJ on the field -- then the swap will haunt the G-Men for all eternity.

SLEEPER ADDITION: Jordan Howard, running back.

Old Team: Chicago Bears. New Team: Philadelphia Eagles.

Philly's low-risk, high-reward trade for Howard came more than two weeks after the start of free agency, on a nondescript Thursday evening, when some Eagles fans might have actually been snoozing'. A small-potatoes acquisition that just might've filled one of the only holes on Philadelphia's roster, it was the very definition of a sleeper pickup. The Eagles were held back by a lack of balance on offense last season. With Jay Ajayi and Darren Sproles sidelined with injuries, Philadelphia averaged just 98.1 rushing YPG and 3.9 YPC (28th and 30th in NFL). That was a far cry from 2017, when a Super Bowl-winning trio of Ajayi, LeGarrette Blount and Corey Clement guided Philly's running game to 132.2 YPG (third) and 4.5 YPC (tied for third). Howard, who is third in the NFL in rushing since entering the league in 2016 (behind only Ezekiel Elliott and Todd Gurley), has the potential to be the lead back that Ajayi, still a free agent, could not be last year. Even better for Roseman and Co., Howard costs just $2 million in 2019, after which his contract is up. It's a prove-it year for a 24-year-old running back with high upside. Plus, if Howard performs well and Philly lets him hit free agency after the year, the Eagles can recoup a compensatory pick.

WHAT'S NEXT?

DALLAS COWBOYS: its big decision(s) time in Big D. The Cowboys have a slew of contract extensions to work on, with nearly every one of their above-the-fold playmakers. DeMarcus Lawrence, currently on his second franchise tag, wants to be the highest-paid edge rusher in football. According to NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport, though, talks are at an "impasse" as Lawrence holds off getting shoulder surgery. (UPDATE: Lawrence agreed to a five-year deal worth more than $100 million with Dallas on Friday, per Rapoport.) Starting quarterback Dak Prescott's rookie deal is up at the end of the 2019 season, and Dallas has to decide whether to pay him like a franchise starter. Ezekiel Elliott could have his fifth-year option picked up to extend his deal through 2020, unless the Cowboys strike a team-friendly extension beforehand. And then there's Amari Cooper, for whom Dallas traded a first-round pick and who is entering the fifth year of his rookie deal. Aside from Lawrence's new deal, none of these contract situations look to be resolved before the draft later this month, where the Cowboys don't currently hold a pick until Day 2. And we thought "Who shot J.R.?" was the biggest question to ever hang over Dallas.

NEW YORK GIANTS: One of the most important drafts in franchise history, that's what's next. New York's selection of Offensive Rookie of the Year Saquon Barkley with the second overall pick last year was lambasted by some, given that Manning was thought to be aging out of the starting QB job and Sam Darnold, Josh Allen and Josh Rosen were still on the board. If the Giants don't acquire the right franchise signal-caller in this year's draft, then WFAN callers will rise from the sofas, storm the Meadowlands and call for GM Dave Gettleman's head. The OBJ trade netted New York a second first-round pick (No. 17) to go with the sixth and 37th overall selections, giving Gettleman an arsenal of valuable picks to use to trade up into the top five for a quarterback, if he so desires. Big Blue could also use them to swing a trade for Rosen, whom the Cardinals could sell off in between the first and sixth overall picks (if they take Kyler Murray No. 1 overall, as has been rumored). New York has a lot of holes to fill -- right tackle, edge rusher, wide receiver, etc. -- but the success of the organization's offseason and Gettleman's tenure will be judged squarely on their ability to acquire a successor to Eli.

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES: Having escaped from cap hell and filled needs at defensive line and running back, Philly can kick back and focus on building depth and a future through the draft. The Eagles have three selections in the first 57 picks and could use them to choose an eventual successor to Jason Peters at tackle or an immediate replacement for Jordan Hicks in the linebacking corps. Philly should also keep an eye on an extension for Wentz, whom the Eagles might want to pay before Prescott, Jared Goff and Patrick Mahomes get their franchise deals.

WASHINGTON REDSKINS: The 'Skins will have to decide whether their future at the QB position is in this upcoming draft. Washington sits at No. 15, which is probably too late for Murray or Dwayne Haskins, but could be the sweet spot for Drew Lock or Daniel Jones. D.C.'s decision makers have sounded confident that either Case Keenum or Colt McCoy can get the job done under center this year, but I'm not so sure they actually believe that. Washington should also be in the market for a young receiver and edge rusher to replace the production of Jamison Crowder and Preston Smith, respectively.

NFC NORTH ROSTER RESET

BEARS TO FEND OFF RETOOLED DIVISION RIVALS?

A new order took hold in the NFC North last season. The insurgent Bears rose to the top of the heap while a malaise hung over the disappointing Packers and Vikings. At the bottom of the pecking order were the Lions, sputtering through a search for a new identity with a first-time head coach.

Now, Chicago seeks something it has experienced only once since the Ditka era -- consecutive division titles -- with retooled challengers seeking to make sure the Bears' grip on the top spot doesn't become a stranglehold.

The defending NFC North champs, led by reigning Coach of the Year Matt Nagy, are expecting progress in the development of third-year QB Mitch Trubisky and more dominance from their monstrous defense to propel them back to the postseason, despite a change at D-coordinator and significant turnover in the secondary.

In Green Bay, they're trying to rejuvenate Aaron Rodgers and Co. on the fly, bringing in young offensive whiz Matt LaFleur to reheat what went cold in 2018 while breaking from their recent standard by spending big in free agency to fill some glaring holes.

The Vikings are counting on basically the same core to do what it failed to accomplish in Kirk Cousins' first year in town -- contend for a Super Bowl -- after making some tweaks, primarily in the trenches.

As for Detroit, the franchise was highly aggressive in free agency, landing one of the biggest prizes on the market. If things go belly up for the Lions and Vikings again, though, the pitchforks could be out for Matt Patricia and Mike Zimmer.

FREE AGENCY NOTABLES

BIGGEST ADDITION: Trey Flowers, defensive end.

Old Team: New England Patriots. New Team: Detroit Lions.

There's a case to be made for four-time Pro Bowl selectee Anthony Barr, since he nearly did depart for a Jets team offering greener pastures, but we'll go with a true newbie to the NFC North who's more deserving of the nod here anyway. He doesn't arrive with sexy numbers (21 sacks in four NFL seasons), but make no mistake: Flowers was a big fish to reel in and fills a huge need off the edge. The 25-year-old DE's a palate cleanser after a year of Ezekiel Ansah playing on the franchise tag left a bad taste in the mouths of Lions fans. Flowers knows his role in the defense, having blossomed under Patricia during their three years together with the Patriots, and he was the third-highest-graded edge rusher in the league last season, per Pro Football Focus. Expectations will be high for a player who just received $56 million in guarantees, and the fact that Bill Belichick was willing to let him walk might make some folks suspicious, but he'll be well worth the investment if he can play at the level he's displayed over the past couple seasons.

BIGGEST LOSS: Vic Fangio, defensive coordinator

Old Team: Chicago Bears. New Team: Denver Broncos.

The Bears are replacing safety Adrian Amos (Packers) and nickelback Bryce Callahan (Broncos) with cheaper options (Ha Ha Clinton-Dix and Buster Skrine), but the absence that will be felt the most is on the coaching staff. The reigning NFL Assistant Coach of the Year is now the head man in Denver thanks in large part to his long-established reputation as one of the brightest defensive minds in the league. He has 19 seasons of experience as an NFL defensive coordinator. Fangio's replacement, former Colts head Coach Chuck Pagano, has just one (2011 with the Ravens). Pagano's a good coach who left Indianapolis with a winning record (56-46, including playoffs), but his defenses ranked 26th, 30th and 30th in his last three seasons at the helm. Yes, he has better talent to work with in Chicago. However, Fangio casts a long shadow after overseeing a top-10 defense in each of the past two seasons and a top-10 D in six of the last eight seasons (including 2011-14 with the Niners), never ranking lower than 15th.

SLEEPER ADDITION: Josh Kline, right guard.

Old Team: Tennessee Titans. New Team: Minnesota Vikings.

This isn't a suggestion that Kline, who was released by the Titans after reportedly refusing to take a pay cut, is set for a breakout year at 29 years old after the lowest-graded season of his career, per PFF. It is, however, an acknowledgement of how consequential he could be to the Vikings in 2019. The offensive line was a disaster for Minnesota last season, and thus far, Kline has been the only addition to the group. That figures to change come the draft, but Kline is penciled in as the starter at right guard and he has to be at least functional for his new team if Minnesota doesn't want to relive the nightmares from its disappointing 2018 campaign. He's made 46 consecutive starts at right guard, which is the longest active streak among NFL guards, per the Pioneer Press, and the Vikes are going to need the consistency -- along with solid play -- up front that they sorely lacked.

WHAT'S NEXT?

CHICAGO BEARS: With limited draft capital (five picks; second-fewest in the league), including no selections in the first or second round, the Bears will need to use the middle rounds to supplement their depth at positions like edge rusher, tight end -- where a blocking specialist is needed -- and running back, now that Jordan Howard has been dealt. Oh, and then there's the matter of making sure they don't go through another painful season at kicker.

DETROIT LIONS: GM Bob Quinn did a nice job of filling holes in free agency, but one area that remains a glaring need is at outside cornerback, where he must find competition for 2017 second-round pick Teez Tabor.

GREEN BAY PACKERS: The Packers added Preston Smith, Za'Darius Smith and Adrian Amos to the mix on defense, shoring up the biggest deficiencies on that side of the ball. Now, doesn't Aaron Rodgers need another weapon? Davante Adams is great, but be it at wide receiver, tight end or running back, LaFleur's offense could use another jolt of electricity if it's going to join the ranks of the elite in the NFC. That is, unless the Packers draw an inside straight and get a breakthrough from one or more of the three receivers they selected on Day 3 in last year's draft (J'Mon Moore, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Equanimeous St. Brown), a renaissance for Jimmy Graham and a fully healthy season from Aaron Jones.

MINNESOTA VIKINGS: Priority No. 1 is still the offensive line. They should be looking to add another starter there, likely at left guard or left tackle (if they want to kick starting LT Riley Reiff inside). Adding depth at defensive tackle, where Shamar Stephen was signed to replace Sheldon Richardson, and running back should be on the to-do list, too.