Like slices of sandwich bread in a plastic bag or patrons in the latest hottest nightclub, the teams chasing the No. 5 seed in the Eastern Conference could not be more tightly packed. With a little more than two weeks remaining in the NBA regular season, just two games separate the six teams ranked fifth through 10th in the East. The Hawks (41-32) currently hold the No. 5 spot, but the Raptors (40-32), 76ers (40-33), Magic (39-34), Hornets (39-34) and Heat (39-34) are within sniffing distance. The scramble for the No. 5 spot — as well as the No. 6 spot, for that matter — is key because the top six seeds in the conference will be guaranteed a playoff spot and avoid the Play-In Tournament. On...
