Key questions as the postseason races take shape

	With Shaquille O'Neal back, the Heat finally are starting to get their act together. Doug Benc/Getty Images

Listen! Can you hear it? That crunching sound toward the rear of the pack.

It's the Miami Heat. (It's probably Shaq's footsteps we hear.) They're coming. They had won five in a row through Wednesday, and the Big Fella isn't even fully out of hibernation yet. He scored only nine points on Wednesday night and the Heat won easily, 91-79. Then again, they were playing the Boston Celtics.

With Valentine's Day looming, I'm starting to think about playoff scenarios. In fact, with so many teams playing so well (the top five in the West and Detroit in the East) and so many teams playing so poorly (you could consider 10 just about mathematically eliminated before the All-Star Game), you can start to sketch out your playoff brackets.

But not quite yet. Here is a five-pack of intriguing playoff questions.

1. How high for the Heat?

They've already marched into eighth place and next in their sights is the Orlando Magic, sitting a half-game in front of them. Then they would have to pick off Indiana to get sixth. Beyond that they would have to go on a protracted winning streak to catch either Cleveland or Chicago, or, for that matter, Washington in their own Southeast Division.

Best guess: Consider the Magic disappeared, and Miami will get by the Pacers, too. That puts the defending champs in sixth, which means a first-round date with either Chicago or Cleveland.

2. Will either New Jersey or New York catch Toronto to grab the Atlantic Division spot?

Lord, let's hope not. The Raptors have turned into a cohesive and interesting team, and, in case you haven't noticed, one that has gotten itself above .500 by winning nine of its last 11 games. The Nets and the Knicks seem to be as good or better on paper but both are sadly inconsistent.

Best guess: Toronto wins the division, and the metro New York area turns its attention to the April debate it finds most engaging: Yanks or Mets?

3. Which two teams get home court edge all the way through?

Somewhat quietly, the Pistons have gotten it back together with four straight wins. It appears they have control of the Central Division and as of Wednesday were two up in the loss column on Washington for best record.