The Southeast Division of the NBA is the Eastern Conference’s most competitive thus far, at least at the top. As of Jan 3, the Heat is on top at 5-1 with Atlanta and Orlando following close at 4-2. Then there us 1-4 Charlotte and 0-5 Washington.

Miami got off to a 5-0 start until they ran into the Hawks on Jan 2. Tracy McGrady caught fire in the 4th to lead the Hawks to victory in Miami, 100-92. Before that, the Heat won on Jan 1 at Charlotte 129-90. Chris bosh had 24 points and Dwayne Wade added 22 for the Heat who ran their record to 5-0. Miami was 4-0 in their opening week with three road wins. They won at Dallas, at Minnesota, and at Charlotte. They also won the home opener against the Celtics.

The Heat are led statistically by Lebron James with 29.3 points per game and Dwayne Wade at 18.8 and Chris Bosh at 18.3 points. Udonis Haslem leads Miami with 10 rebounds per game. Bosh averages 8.2 rebounds per game.

Atlanta checks in at 4-2 thus far after dropping a close one to the Bulls on Jan 3. The Hawks had a nice third quarter lead but could not hang on as the Bulls out-scored them in the 4th quarter, 34-18. Derrick Rose scored 17 of his 30 points in the fourth quarter. The loss comes a night after the Heat got a big road win in Miami. In week one the Hawks went 3-1 with wins against New Jersey twice and Washington. They lost at Houston on Dec 31.

The Hawks are led by Joe Johnson at 17.2 points per game, Jeff Teague at 13.4 points, Al Horford at 12.4, Marvin Williams at 11.8, Tracy McGrady at 11.6 and Josh Smith at 10 points per game. Horford and Williams lead them in rebounding at 6+ per game.

Orlando is also in at 4-2 thus far. After losing the opener on Christmas at Oklahoma City and Jan 2 at Detroit, the Magic had a four game win streak sandwiched in between. They beat Houston and New Jersey at home and then at Houston and at Charlotte and at home again against Toronto.

The Magic’s leading scorers are Ryan Anderson at 19.2 points, Dwight Howard at 17.7 points, Hedo Turkoglu at 14.2, and J.J. Redick at 13.8 points per game. Howard leads at 15.3 rebounds per game. The Magic have Washington and Chicago at home this week.

Charlotte won a 96-95 squeaker on opening night against Milwaukee but have since lost four straight. Their first loss was at home to Miami by the identical score and then at home to Orlando 100-79. They have lost to Miami and Cleveland this week on the road. They have New York, Atlanta and Indiana the rest of the week.

The Bobcats are led by D.J. Augustin in scoring at 14.3 points per game and Gerald Henderson at 13.8 per game. Four other Bobcats average in double figures also. Kemba Walker and D.J. White average 11+ points and Boris Diaw and Corey Maggette average 10. Diaw leads them in rebounding at 8.8 a game.

Washington brings up the rear at 0-5. They lost to New jersey, Atlanta and Milwaukee in the opening week. This week they have lost back to back nights to the Celtics. They play at Orlando on Wednesday and at home against NY on Friday.

Washington is led by the trio of John Wall, JaVale McGee and Nick Young at 13+ points per game.