Thoughts of the playoffs are slowly creeping into the minds of the Bucks and their fans as the team closes in on its first Central Division title since 1986 (when a 57-25 finish bested Atlanta by seven games). Of course, with a slim advantage over Charlotte, the Division crown is no lock.

As it so happens, the title will be more than window dressing on the Bucks' best campaign in 15 years. Instead, it could be the difference between the No. 2 Eastern Conference seed (with its favorable first-round matchup) or missing home-court advantage entirely while staggering home as a No. 5. Clearly, all 15 remaining regular-season games loom large for Milwaukee.

As it stands currently, Milwaukee maintains a precarious 1-game lead over the Knicks and a 1 1/2-game cushion over Miami. So a 3 or 4 seed is eminently possible, with 5 being the worst-case (barring a major slide). Whatever happens, they are likely to meet one of two teams in the opening round:

Vince Carter's Raptors are one potential playoff foe

Toronto Raptors

Current position: No. 7 (36-32)
Record vs. Bucks: 1-2 (one game remaining)
Matchup: Vince Carter exploded on the Bucks for 48 points in a November meeting as Milwaukee was limping out to its 3-9 start. VC sat out the second half of the next meeting, a Bucks win, and was held to 24 in a March 13 Milwaukee win. Everyone struggles to stop Carter, but can the Bucks neutralize the rest of the Raptors?

One decided Toronto advantage is its inside beef. F Antonio Davis is pulling down 10.1 rebounds each night while veteran Charles Oakley adds 9.5 and loads of playoff savvy. Davis was a constant thorn in the Bucks' side while with Indiana and would likely give Darvin Ham or Scott Williams plenty of trouble.

The Bucks have a decided advantage nearly everywhere else, as F Morris Peterson, G Alvin Williams and C Keon Clark supply the rest of the offense for Toronto. Plus, Mark Jackson's trade to New York for Chris Childs is definitely in Milwaukee's favor; the veteran point guard seemed to make all the key plays against Milwaukee as a Pacer. If the Bucks could partially neutralize Carter or at least make him work for the 30 points he inevitably gets, their offensive strength would likely lead them past Toronto in a best-of-five matchup.

Orlando Magic

Current position: No. 6 (37-31)
Record vs. Bucks: 0-2 (two games remaining)
Matchup: The teams meet Friday in Milwaukee and once more before the season closes, games that are critical for both teams in regards to playoff positioning. For whatever reason, the Bucks have Orlando's number, having won the last seven meetings between the teams. Orlando does like to get out and run, and they are often out-manned in this regard against Milwaukee.

With Grant Hill sidelined for all but four games this year, fourth-year forward Tracy McGrady has blossomed into a 27.0 ppg star for Doc Rivers‚ Magic. But similar to Toronto, the rest of the roster has a rag-tag feel. Point Darrell Armstrong (16.2 ppg) can be a devious matchup problem, but Sam Cassell has an edge there. Young F Pat Garrity teams with Bo Outlaw inside, but neither gives Orlando a decided edge on the glass. And like the Bucks, Orlando lacks a clear middle presence, instead relying on journeyman C John Amaechi.

Basically, the Bucks have won seven straight against the Magic for a reason. But a first-round series wouldn't be a cakewalk, either. George Karl's negative comments about Magic management last spring didn't endear him to Rivers, considered one of the league's brightest young minds. McGrady's explosiveness and Rivers' cajoling are certainly capable of causing trouble and perhaps pulling an upset.

While the Raptors or Magic are most likely, the Bucks could possibly meet Miami or New York in the opening round (Charlotte is out of the question until later); neither matchup is as attractive. The Knicks took two of three from the Bucks during the regular season and have a slight mental edge. Latrell Sprewell, Allan Houston and Glen Rice give them a similar offensive mentality, but Marcus Camby's emergence inside gives Milwaukee troubles. Jackson's addition at the point also helps the Knicks.

The Heat, who still play the Bucks twice more, helped spark Milwaukee's early-season revival by blowing a 22-point fourth quarter lead at home on Nov. 28 in a 102-101 loss. Miami still has the cachet that coach Pat Riley brings, but the Heat increasingly look like a paper tiger, especially if C Alonzo Mourning is unable to return from a kidney disease this year. Still, the Heat's inside duo of Anthony Mason and Brian Grant is formidable, and G Tim Hardaway is always dangerous.

Stay tuned: the Bucks finish with nine road games, including a six-game Western swing. And the home games -- Utah, Toronto, and Miami among them -- are also difficult. A tight Division race figures to get tighter.