Heading into the NBA All-Star break, teams are very close to one another in the Eastern and Western Conference standings. 

In the East, just 7.0 games separate the 1-seeded Miami Heat from the 8-seeded Brooklyn Nets and in the play-in tournament picture, the Wizards and Knicks are still “in the hunt” for the final couple of spots currently occupied by the Hawks and Hornets, two teams that are struggling to find their footing right now. 

Out West, the Suns and Warriors look like the two teams that will be fighting for a spot in the NBA Finals come playoff time, but there are a ton of middle-tier playoff teams like the Mavericks, Nuggets and Timberwolves trying to clinch their spots. 

In the play-in picture, the Lakers and Blazers are barely holding onto the last two spots with the Pelicans, Kings and Spurs still very much alive in the playoff race. 

LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Top Landing Spots For Buyout Bigs After Bulls Sign Thompson

Things are going to go right down the wire in terms of who does and who does not make the playoffs this season, making for some very exciting basketball yet to be played. 

There will be plenty of headlines and storylines written over the next few weeks leading up to the playoffs, but we have learned a lot about teams and players around the NBA so far this season. 

Here are some of the biggest takeaways and stories from around the league as we head towards the home-stretch of the 2021-22 NBA season.