The talent gap across the NBA has closed tremendously this season and heading into the All-Star break, it is very apparent that playoff spots and awards this year are going to come down to the final few games of the regular season. 

In the Western Conference, the Phoenix Suns and Golden State Warriors appear to be the “teams to beat” across the league, as they hold the top two records in the NBA this year, but the Eastern Conference is filled with plenty of championship-contending teams. 

From the 1-seeded Miami Heat to the 8-seeded Brooklyn Nets, every team currently in the Eastern Conference playoff picture has a legit championship case that can be made, which could result in some of the best playoff series to date! 

There is a lot to be excited about as we hit the home stretch of the NBA schedule and there will be a different feel to every game from here on out, especially with playoff energy starting to enter every single arena. 

LATEST NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Major Takeaways From Around NBA Entering All-Star Break

Games played during the final month of the regular season just have a different feel to them, especially with teams looking to make last-ditch runs to the playoffs. 

However, while some teams prepare for what could be a long playoff journey, others are struggling to find their footing right now and could be sent on vacation sooner than they had planned at the beginning of the year. 

Some teams have definitely underachieved to this point and while these three teams had playoff aspirations entering the year, they are trending downwards at the wrong time.