http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/hollinger/playoffodds

In the west, Hollinger's playoff odds strike me as very strange -

LA - 100.0%

Denver - 99.3%

New Orleans - 98.9%

Portland - 97.4%

Houston - 95.4%

San Antonio - 95.3%

Phoenix - 85.9%

Utah - 72.0%

Dallas -51.9%

That's right - nine teams with over a fifty percent chance of making the playoffs. I guess the West really is stacked? I know there must be some mathematical explanation for this, but I still won't be able to buy it. Anyway, the good news is that the Blazers are currently firmly in 4th place on this list - a very good sign.