Ira Winderman

We take a look at what each playoff contender faces, with three weeks remaining in the NBA regular season:

Cleveland Cavaliers
Potential first-round opponent: Miami, Charlotte, Toronto, Chicago.

Still needs to learn ... How Shaquille O'Neal is going to figure back into the equation upon his return from thumb surgery. Remember, Shaq also is playing for a contract for next season, so a deferential approach in the postseason might not fall within his objectives.

Cleveland is looking to ... Secure homecourt advantage throughout the playoffs (they already have a comfortable edge over the Magic in the East). Considering it went 1-3 against Charlotte, avoiding the Bobcats in the first round would be welcomed, too.

Orlando Magic
Potential first-round opponent: Miami, Charlotte, Toronto, Chicago.

Still needs to learn ... Whether Vince Carter can step up to the challenge and drive a team deep into the playoffs. Carter finally made it to 50 victories for the first time, now can he play as a catalyst as Hedo Turkoglu did during last season's Finals run?

Orlando is looking to ... Avoid complacency over the season's final games, having been practically locked into second in the East for weeks. Avoiding the Heat after a competitive 2-2 regular-season series wouldn't hurt, either.

Boston Celtics
Potential first-round opponent: Milwaukee, Miami, Charlotte, Toronto.

Still needs to learn ... Whether Paul Pierce can make it all the way back from his injuries to re-emerge as the definitive game changer he was during the Celtics' 2008 title run. Without much in the way of a post threat, the Celtics' need Pierce's "A" game.

Boston is looking to ... Avoid finishing as the No. 4 seed in the East, which would mean a likely second-round matchup against Cleveland. Steering clear of a Nos. 4-5 matchup against the surging Bucks wouldn't be a bad idea, either.

Atlanta Hawks
Potential first-round opponent: Milwaukee, Miami, Charlotte, Toronto.

Still needs to learn ... Whether Josh Smith truly is reformed when it comes to stepping away from the jump shot and stepping up with play closer to the rim. There seems to be a degree of regression after playing the right way the first half of the season.

Atlanta is looking to ... Avoid finishing as the No. 4 seed, which could mean a second-round matchup against Cleveland, which annihilated the Hawks in last year's second round. Steering clear of a first-round rematch with the Heat wouldn't hurt, either, after a 1-3 season series.

Milwaukee Bucks
Potential first-round opponent: Atlanta, Boston.

Still needs to learn ... Whether rookie point guard Brandon Jennings and veteran center Andrew Bogut are up to this type of moment, with minimal big-game exposure for either despite their disparate degrees of experience.

Milwaukee is looking to ... Hold its ground at either Nos. 5 or 6 in the East, having already recorded victories over both the Hawks and Celtics. Having come so far so fast under coach Scott Skiles, a competitive series would do wonders to legitimize the franchise.

Charlotte Bobcats
Potential first-round opponent: Cleveland, Orlando, Atlanta, Boston.

Still needs to learn ... Whether Tyson Chandler can stay healthy enough and mesh with the starters after missing so much time because injuries. The Bobcats already were pretty stout defensively without him.

Charlotte is looking to ... Possibly bring an end to the LeBron James era in Cleveland. The Bobcats finished 3-1 against the Cavaliers, a potential first-round opponent. Atlanta would be a consolation prize, with one win and an overtime loss to the Hawks.

Miami Heat
Potential first-round opponent: Cleveland, Orlando, Atlanta, Boston.

Still needs to learn ... Whether Dwyane Wade is capable of lifting the franchise through an entire postseason series like he did in the 2006 NBA Finals against Dallas. The Heat not only haven't won a series since, but have won only three playoffs game since that title.

Miami is looking to ... Get to at least No. 6, if Atlanta finishes No. 3, or No. 5 if Atlanta finishes No. 4, after going 3-1 against the Hawks in the season series and taking the Hawks to seven games in last season's first round.

Toronto Raptors
Potential first-round opponent: Cleveland, Orlando, Atlanta, Boston.

Still needs to learn ... To, uh, play a little bit of defense. As remarkable as it would be for the Raptors to actually advance with the approach they call defense, it would be practically unfathomable for them to advance without a modicum of resistance.

Toronto is looking to ... Salvage any chance of retaining Chris Bosh by just making the postseason. Success has been minimal against the top of the conference, so one-and-done might be as good as it gets for the end of the Bosh era.

Chicago Bulls
Potential first-round opponent: Cleveland, Orlando.

Still needs to learn ... Whether Luol Deng can get himself back on the court and whether Joakim Noah can stay there. Injuries have crippled the Bulls' season and only a turnabout in injury fortune can salvage it at this stage.

Chicago is looking to ... Somehow sneak into the playoffs, if only to somewhat slightly improve its resume to attract a prime-time free agent, which was the sole reason John Salmons' contract was cast aside at the trading deadline.