Western Conference Playoff Update

With the playoffs starting in three weeks, here's a quick peek at what's going on in the Western Conference playoff race:

1. Dallas - Virtual lock to be the first seed in the West. Chances of Phoenix catching the Mavs are about as good as Jessica Alba and Jessica Biel mud wrestling for a date with me.
2. Phoenix - Struggling down the stretch a bit, and there's a four-game road trip coming up, and one of those games is at San Antonio. I'd say there's a 40 percent chance the Spurs overtake the Suns for the No. 2 seed.
3. San Antonio - Have you seen what Manu Ginobili's been doing lately? This is the most underrated team in the league right now, and my pick to represent the West in the finals.
4. Utah - Tenuous grip on the fourth seed. It'll probably be gone by 9 p.m. when the Rockets beat them. But Carlos Boozer is having some kind of season (21 points, 11 rebounds, 56 percent field goals).
5. Houston - Probably will nab the fourth seed, and I wouldn't be surprised if they gave the Mavericks a series - or won it - in Round 2.
6. Lakers - Can slip down to 8th, but probably won't. Nobody's talking about it, but these guys haven't beaten a team with a winning record in over a month (February 26).
7. Clippers - Surging! But let's hold off on the coronation. Next five are against playoff teams or candidates. Outside chance they pass the Lakers ... but they actually could miss the playoffs altogether.

8. Denver - Lost four of five and sunk to eight; chances are about 30 percent that they may miss the playoffs, especially if they don't begin to play defense. Keeping a team under 100 points would be a great place to start.
9. Golden State - Everybody seems to be pulling for these guys, and why not? Can you believe Monta Ellis leads the Warriors in scoring? Two of their next five are against Memphis; the other three are Houston, San Antonio and Utah. It won't be easy.
10. New Orleans - Favorable schedule (four of next five are at home and against non-playoff teams), but three games to make up with nine to play is probably too much to ask.
11. Sacramento - Five games back of the Nuggets and the Kings. Next five games are against teams currently in the playoffs. No shot. None.