...I think I found a way Portland can jump the Lakers for No. 5 by May 2. It's highly unlikely, but not impossible.

If Portland goes on a six-game win streak (MEM, MEM, @ IND, @ MEM, @ BKN, @ BOS) while the Lakers both a) win two straight in Dallas and b) follow that up with a four-game losing streak (@ ORL, @ WAS, SAC, TOR), I believe that puts Portland in No. 5 at the end of play May 2.

That would also put us into a tie with Denver for No. 4 if they went on a six-game losing streak (@ GSW, HOU, MEM, NOP, TOR, @ LAC), though they own the tiebreaker over us.

None of this is likely, but technically mathematically possible!

This should be enough basketball talk for me tonight. I should go back to watching "Community."

...but I have an idea.