Team This Season Last Season
NEW JERSEY NETS 16-7, 1st place  26-56, 6th place  
The Buzz: Jason Kidd has arrived. Kerry Kittles, Kenyon Martin and Keith Van Horn are healthy. The Nets are not going to go away anytime soon.
BOSTON CELTICS 15-8, 2nd place 36-46, 5th place
The Buzz: Paul Pierce is a superstar, and Antoine Walker is getting comfortable as his sidekick. The Celtics lack inside muscle, but who in the East has any?
WASHINGTON WIZARDS 12-12, 3rd place 19-63, last place
The Buzz: Michael Jordan is averaging 23.5 points, Richard Hamilton is scoring 20.3, and Brendan Haywood is one of the best draft picks the Magic never signed.
ORLANDO MAGIC 13-14, 4th place 43-39, 4th place  
The Buzz: At least their misery (Grant Hill out again after season-ending ankle surgery, Tracy McGrady ailing with a back strain) yields consistent results.
NEW YORK KNICKS 12-13, 5th place  48-34, 3rd place
The Buzz: The Knicks lead the NBA in 6-foot-8 power forwards, but not much else. The refrain once again is that they need more from Allan Houston.
PHILADELPHIA 76ERS 10-15, 6th place  56-26, 1st place  
The Buzz: Injuries to Allen Iverson, Aaron McKie and Eric Snow have hurt. But they are playing now, and the Sixers still can't figure things out.  
MIAMI HEAT 5-18, last place  50-32, 2nd place  
The Buzz: Alonzo Mourning has been in and out of the lineup, and Brian Grant has struggled. This team really misses Anthony Mason.