As Heat flops about, so does most of the rest of the East

Udonis Haslem recently compared Eastern Conference teams to "crabs in a bucket." 

Well, they're still all snapping in each other's space. 

The Heat went just 5-5 in the past 10 games, entering this road swing's capper in Oklahoma City, Sunday at 7 p.m. Eastern.

But it's not like many teams have gotten away.

Sure, Cleveland has, going 9-1, but we expected that.

And Toronto is playing well, 7-3 in the past 10.

Beyond that? 

The Knicks are Bucks are 6-4, but both are still outside the playoff picture. The Bulls are 6-4, but they just lost Joakim Noah to a shoulder injury, likely for the season. The Hawks, Pistons and Wizards, like the Heat, are 5-5, though Detroit's latest win, against Golden State, was unexpected and impressive.

The Pacers and Celtics are 4-6.

The Magic and Hornets? Well, they always seemed like the shakiest of the East's playoff contenders, and both have looked like that lately. Orlando is 3-7 in its past 10. Charlotte, missing Al Jefferson, is 1-9. 

And so, Miami, even after a lackluster stretch, has only slipped to 5th, just 0.5 games behind third.