The Atlantic Division's contenders... If you can call them that

The NBA's Atlantic Division began the season losing on a regular basis.

Through 40-plus games this season, the first place team in the NBA's Atlantic Division is one game over .500. However, the division's playoff contenders -- the New Jersey Nets, Boston Celtics, Philadelphia 76ers and the New York Knicks -- are finally starting to take shape. Of those four teams, three probably will make the playoffs.

The New Jersey Nets have too much talent to miss the playoffs. Jason Kidd is a great point guard and Kenyon Martin is an above average power forward.

However, with virtually the same group of players who lost in the Eastern Conference Finals the last two years, it does not seem likely their playoff fortunes will get better.

If anything, without Keith Van Horn and his random scoring outbursts, they will be knocked out of the playoffs earlier this season than in the past.

The Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers have similar characteristics -- both are mediocre teams with glaring weaknesses and they each have a superstar in Paul Pierce and Allen Iverson, respectively.

A quality second option also appears on each team -- the young and dynamic Ricky Davis on the Celts and the older but still talented Glenn Robinson on the Sixers.

If the Sixers get healthy, they could be a daunting opponent in the playoffs for highly seeded teams such as the Detroit Pistons and Indiana Pacers.

This is contingent on Marc Jackson and Derrick Coleman playing well underneath the boards, which is difficult to do when injured.

The Celtics are not as likely to upset a better team because of their lack of size.

Now, with center Vin Baker suspended indefinitely, the team is even smaller.

On their present team, the only hope at center is seven-footer, Chris Mihm, who has the potential to be a solid starter.

If Mihm fails to improve, look for Celtics President Danny Ainge to make a move.

If he can acquire a big man that can grab rebounds and keep the games close, everyone knows what Pierce does when the game is put in his hands in the fourth quarter -- he wins.

The last team is the New York Knicks.

Until recently, they were thought to have no chance at a playoff berth.

However, with the recent additions of Stephon Marbury and Penny Hardaway, the Knicks have reeled off a number of wins under new coach Lenny Wilkins.

Now, playoff guarantees are flying everywhere in the Knick's organization.

Most recently, the team's all-star shooting guard Allen Houston reiterated the guarantee.

I would not make the same guarantee.

While on their run, the Knicks have defeated lowly teams that include the Toronto Raptors and Chicago Bulls.

It will be interesting to see how the team responds when faced with a contending opponent.

Will the momentum they are gaining now be enough to bring home a playoff birth?

At this juncture, it is too early to determine how the Marbury-New York relationship will develop.

For now, we have to wait and see.