NBA: Predicting the West playoff picture at the midway point of the 2017-18 season

CLEVELAND, OH – JANUARY 2: CJ McCollum #3 of the Portland Trail Blazers shoots over Jae Crowder #99 and Jose Calderon #81 of the Cleveland Cavaliers during the first half at Quicken Loans Arena on January 2, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)

6. Portland Trail Blazers

Current Seed: 5th

Record: 22-19

Games remaining vs .500 or better: 22

The Portland Trail Blazers are currently 5th in the Western Conference and a big reason is their defense, which ranks 3rd in the NBA. Oh, and don’t forget about Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum, one of the NBA’s best backcourts.

Portland should be a playoff team, and they will barring injury, although they will likely fall a couple spots by the end of the season.

Prediction: 6 seed