51.   The playoff picture became a little clearer Thursday, as the Lakers and Portland Trail Blazers took steps toward ensuring a first-round meeting.

52.   The New York Rangers are not out of the playoff picture, not just yet.

53.   The Raiders also tumbled even further out of the AFC playoff picture.

54.   The playoff picture begins to clear in March.

55.   The Rangers, who realistically took themselves out of the playoff picture three weeks ago, were officially eliminated from playoff contention last weekend.

56.   The Stars started the night in ninth place in the Western Conference, out of the playoff picture.

57.   The team that loses this game is basically out of the playoff picture.

58.   The Seahawks have lost five of their past seven games to slip to the outer fringe of the playoff picture.

59.   The streak put the Kings back in the playoff picture, but not for long.

60.   The team improved in final two months as Lopes refused to let the Brewers simply go through the motions despite being out of the playoff picture.