31.   Add a second tier of playoff games, introducing wild-card playoff teams, and fans of average teams will catch an uncontrollable championship fever.

32.   After starting the year in major rebuilding mode, the Pacers are quickly morphing back into a playoff team under Isiah Thomas.

33.   All that is left is to become the best playoff team anyone has ever seen.

34.   All three wins have come against Western Conference playoff teams from last spring -- Portland, Utah and Phoenix.

35.   Build around them and still have a playoff team.

36.   But as large as those numbers might be for playoff teams, they do not reflect the nature of the changes.

37.   But Belichick is attempting to treat the Patriots like a playoff team while projecting the future.

38.   But also, the Knicks, less than two weeks away from their first playoff game, did not resemble a playoff team.

39.   But for the second night in a row, the Wild gave a playoff team all it could handle.

40.   But for now, Vaughn reminded his listeners, the Sox are not yet a playoff team.