By MIKE BALDWIN, The Oklahoman

Trying to predict first-round playoff matchups in the Western Conference is as complicated as solving a Rubik's cube.

Just when you think you've got one side figured out, a couple of wrong colored squares pop up.

The West playoff race is like Oklahoma's weather. Wait a few days and the forecast could change.

NBA tiebreakers are simple if one team wins the season series.

But if two teams play four games, and split, the tiebreaker procedure can get complicated.

Over the past decade, playoff teams have finished in a tie 21 times, an average of one tie per season in each conference.

The Los Angeles Lakers acquired Pau Gasol in a trade deadline deal two years ago, instrumental in their run to the NBA Finals.

After the Pistons acquired Rasheed Wallace at the deadline, he proved to be the missing piece in Detroit's 2004 title.

Maybe it's time to stop tossing out the jokes about how the Eastern Conference stinks.

Is the East as deep as the West? No.

Would three or four East playoff teams fail to reach the playoffs in the West? Yes.

But for a change, the Eastern Conference could produce eight quality playoff teams. All eight might finish .500 or better.

Having nearly matched last year's win total halfway into the season, the Oklahoma City Thunder is a viable contender to grab the final playoff berth in the Western Conference.

But here's the weird twist to the Western race: If a team has a shot at the No. 8 seed, it might be in contention for much higher stakes, like the 4 or 5 seeds.

Coaches are hired to be fired. It's hard to believe, but Lawrence Frank was the longest tenured coach in the Eastern Conference before he was fired by the New Jersey Nets.

In case you haven't been keeping count, more than half of the 30 teams -- 17 -- have changed coaches the past two seasons.

The worst pro sports franchise?

The Los Angeles Clippers.

It's not even close.

Based on win-loss percentages the past 30 years, the Clippers are the worst of the worst among NFL, MLB and NBA franchises.

Changing one component sometimes can alter the entire picture.

That's what the Portland Trail Blazers, Los Angeles Lakers, Houston Rockets and Orlando Magic believe. All four made at least one significant offseason change to their roster.

Portland added Andre Miller, an underrated point guard in Philadelphia.

Jordan Hill has overcome obstacles more difficult than any adjustment he will face as an NBA rookie.
Lottery pick? There was a time he wasn't even on college coaches' radars.
Hill lived in four different residences with six different caregivers. He was 3 years old when his mother died of breast cancer.

A lot of pro athletes complain to officials. They're competitors. They want a fair shake. That's understandable.
Any guess how many technical fouls were assessed this past season in the NBA? A lot.
Complaining isn't exclusive to the NBA.
NFL players constantly ask referees to watch for holding, a receiver pushing off or a defender's cheap shot tactics.