NBL22 has turned the corner on the road to the postseason, with five teams seemingly separating themselves from the pack.
With respect to the league's newest franchise in Tasmania -- who have without question been one of the great stories of the season -- Melbourne, South East Melbourne, Perth, Sydney and Illawarra look a class above the rest of the league.
Let's take a closer look at the contending pack, as five cannot fit into four playoff spots.
Melbourne United (12-4)
Schedule strength
The good news? Melbourne is done with the Sydney Kings, wrapping up the 3-game season series in the opening weeks of NBL22.
The bad news? With 12 games to play, United will face multiple matchups against Perth, Illawarra and South East Melbourne.
Get set for a monster weekend in Round 15, with United facing the Wildcats and Phoenix at John Cain Arena.
Stat to watch
Caleb Agada is United's X-factor on offence. Averaging 13.4 points on 12.9 shot attempts per game, the 27-year-old has been a terror in transition, but in isolation it has not been so pretty.
Agada is generating just 0.69 points per isolation chance in NBL22. Registering 39 isolation possessions, he is almost double that of the next highest 20 from Chris Goulding.
Shot selection will be key, but if he gets hot, United might be impossible to stop.
The big question
Will Melbourne make a roster addition?
With the league's best defence and a top-four offence, United are built to contend without an import addition, but the temptation to add some more scoring punch has to be real.
I was told earlier this week "no changes are on the cards at this stage", but I'm not totally sure I'm buying that.
South East Melbourne Phoenix (10-5)
Schedule strength
South East Melbourne is about to run the gauntlet of contenders.
After Friday night's matchup with Adelaide, the Phoenix will meet Illawarra, Melbourne, Illawarra again and then Sydney.
The brutal stretch will end the season series against the Hawks and Kings, leaving one more Throwdown and one matchup against Perth across the final eight games.
If they can at least split the four-game run, they should set themselves up to finish strong against teams near the bottom of the table.
Stat to watch
South East Melbourne's defence once again looms as a potential road block to a title.
Giving up 108.5 points per 100 possessions, only Illawarra have performed worse on that end of the floor among the contenders. In the half court, only New Zealand are giving up more points per possession.
They say defence wins titles. Phoenix boasts a high-powered offence, but can they slow down the best on the other end?
Which leads me to my next point...
The big question
How can South East Melbourne maximise Zhou Qi?
Averaging well over 30 minutes per game in recent seasons, he has been reduced to 20 minutes a night in the NBL. This has been partly due to foul trouble and partly due to defensive limitations as opposition teams lure him to the perimeter.
In back-to-back matchups against Melbourne and Sydney earlier in the season, the big man averaged 18.5 points and 11.5 rebounds, looking every bit the dominant force he was advertised as. Since then, those performances have been lacking.
It's possible Zhou Qi is the difference between another playoff exit and a championship.
Perth Wildcats (9-6)
Schedule strength
I'm not sure if you have heard, but the Wildcats are going home to play nine straight games at RAC Arena.
The lengthy stint at home is much needed, with the Wildcats posting a 5-5 record on the road this season. Perth feasted on lower ranked teams to start the campaign at home, and while they face some legitimate questions about the makeup of this year's squad, it's hard to imagine them missing the postseason with the benefit of home cooking for nine-straight.
Stat to watch
Perth lead the league in 3-point percentage (35.1 per cent) and are just 0.1 attempt per game behind Tasmania for the most in the league.
Bryce Cotton and Vic Law can rip any team apart in quick time, but can the supporting cast continue to knock down shots when it matters?
Todd Blanchfield, Mitch Norton, Luke Travers and company are set to play a big role in Perth's playoff push.
The big question
Will Michael Frazier II be with the team come playoff time?
Wildcats GM Danny Mills has thrown his support behind Frazier, while also acknowledging the time is fast approaching if a move is to be made.
"I think he would admit quicker than anyone that he's not performing to what he would expect or what we expect from him," Mills told ESPN. "We are definitely doing everything we can to turn around the season he's having. He's a pro, he's had success wherever he has played. We completely believe in Michael Frazier; we truly think he is going to turn this thing around."
"As a team, as an organisation and as a person in this role, you are always evaluating. A guy has to play seven games to qualify for playoffs so it's a short window if any team was to make changes. If opportunities come up to make change you would always look at them."
The clock is ticking.
Illawarra Hawks (10-7)
Schedule strength
The Hawks have looked shaky against any opposition of late, so the news that they have multiple matchups against both Melbourne teams to come is a concern.
The bigger concern might be the team hot on their tail, with more on Sydney's run home to come.
Stat to watch
Tyler Harvey's efficiency has taken a hit in NBL22, in particular from long range, where his clip has dropped from 37 to 31 percent.
As the ball handler in pick-and-roll scenarios, he is scoring 0.74 points per play, down from 0.87 a season ago.
I will get to the defensive question marks in the next section, but on offence, a return to MVP level Tyler Harvey could cover up a lot of the cracks.
The big question
Can the Hawks figure it out on the defensive end?
Ranked third last in defensive efficiency, the Hawks have been leaking points all season long, much to the frustration of Brian Goorjian.
Do they have the personnel to lock down the best in the league? The Hawks are 2-4 on the season against the other four teams in this article. One of those wins came against a Sydney squad without Jaylen Adams. It has not been convincing.
Sydney Kings (10-7)
Schedule strength
The Kings' fate is in their own hands.
Already done with Melbourne for the season, Sydney have also battled South East Melbourne, Perth and Illawarra on multiple occasions. This leaves them with three matchups against Cairns in a soft run home for a team just rounding into form.
If they don't make the playoffs, something has gone horribly wrong.
Stats to watch
The Kings have gone through NBL22 without a traditional centre on the floor. Despite playing 'small' throughout, they lead the league in defensive rebounding percentage (77.4 percent).
The Kings love to crash the defensive glass and push in transition, with Xavier Cooks and Jaylen Adams leading the charge.
Will the unique (and aesthetically pleasing) style hold up in the postseason?
The big question
When will Chase Buford shift Ian Clark to the starting lineup?
Clark has eased his way back into competitive hoops, making his first two appearances off the bench. Wani Swaka Lo Buluk has been one of the pleasant surprises of NBL22, though it is expected he will eventually slide to a reserve role on arguably the most loaded roster in the league.
Stats via SpatialJam.com and jordanmcnbl.com