Playoff Picture: Sept. 10

After battling in Sacramento with just nine active players last night, the Storm is taking a well-deserved day off. That gives us a chance to look at the playoff picture, which came further into focus when San Antonio won at Madison Square Garden.

We know this: The four West playoff teams will be the Storm, San Antonio, Los Angeles and Sacramento.

With one win or one Sparks loss, the Storm clinches at least second place and home-court advantage in the first round.

With one win or one Storm loss, San Antonio clinches the top seed in the West.

With one win or one Sacramento loss, the Sparks clinch at least third place.

It's possible, then, that everything could be set in the West by the end of the Storm's game on Friday. All that would require is the Silver Stars beating Connecticut and Los Angeles beating Atlanta tomorrow and the Storm defeating the Dream at KeyArena Friday (7:00 p.m., 1150 AM KKNW, TIX). (Another equivalent scenario would have both the Sparks and Sacramento lose their next games; the Monarchs play in Houston on Friday.)