Pelton: Computer Simulations Suggest Blazers Now "Doomed" To West's No. 5 Seed?

Kevin Pelton of ESPN.com (Insider) runs 1,000 computer simulations and updates his postseason projections. He expects the Portland Trail Blazers (42-21) to land in the Western Conference's No. 5 seed after recent losses to the Los Angeles Lakers, Dallas Mavericks and Houston Rockets.

Meanwhile, Portland's 1-3 week has likely doomed the Blazers to the fifth seed. In more than 40 percent of simulations, Portland faces Houston in the first round, and last night's Rockets victory will make it difficult for the Blazers to hold home court in that scenario.

Basketball-Reference.com's playoff probability chart also has the Blazers in the No. 5 spot and projects 54 wins on the season, with the Rockets in the No. 4 seed.

ESPN.com's Hollinger playoff odds has the Blazers in the No. 5 spot with 54 wins projected and the Rockets in the No. 4 seed.

-- Ben Golliver | benjamin.golliver@gmail.com | Twitter