Time to look ahead to playoff schedules

	How long Ray Allen plays through bone spurs remains in doubt, since the Sonics are out of playoff contention in the West. AP

By Matt Satten, Special to SI.com, ProFantasySports.com

We'll start today's Lab with latest injury updates as an appetizer before getting to the main course, which will be some beefy tips for playoff-bound teams. We might even throw an amuse-bouche in there, too, between courses because the Lab is a classy establishment. Enough with the aperitif, let's get to the good stuff.

PG/SG Joe Johnson, Atlanta -- Deep bruise in calf caused complications, still out indefinitely with a very remote chance of a return
PG/SG Dwyane Wade, Miami -- Separated left shoulder, rehabbing the injury and still could return for final two weeks of the season but at less than 100 percent
F/C Jermaine O'Neal, Indiana -- Knee sprain, day-to-day but playing through the pain for now
G/F Jason Kapono, Miami -- High left ankle sprain, out indefinitely
SG Ray Allen, Seattle -- Bone spurs in ankle, playing through the pain for now
F/C Emeka Okafor, Charlotte -- Slightly torn left calf, still out indefinitely but is expected to start running next week
SG J.R. Smith, Denver -- Knee surgery, day-to-day
SF/PF David Lee, New York -- High ankle sprain, still out indefinitely
F/C Boris Diaw, Phoenix -- Back spasms, day-to-day but playing
SF/PF Andres Nocioni, Chicago -- Plantar fasciitis, out another two weeks
PF Sean May, Charlotte -- Bone bruise of the knee, day-to-day

Of the names mentioned above, we'd drop Kapono, May and possibly Lee for someone who can offer immediate help. You could cut JJ loose, if necessary, but don't in keeper leagues. Look for an increased role in the next week from Diaw and Smith. If you are religious, now is the time to pray for Okafor and Wade's speedy returns to action.

As promised this week, we're going to take a departure from breaking down the current week schedule and instead focus on the only schedule that matters, the head-to-head playoff schedule. Odds are you know whether or not you're in the playoffs, so it's time to tweak your roster. And if you don't think you're going to need to make a transaction or two to win, then you must really enjoy the feeling of sand slipping through your fingers.

With that in mind, recognize the best playoff schedules belong to Washington and Denver, which each have two four-game weeks, then a six-game playoff week. Other teams playing six games the final "week" are Boston, Dallas, Detroit, Indianapolis, Milwaukee, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Orlando, Philly, Portland, Sacramento, San Antonio and Utah. The best finals schedule, though, is found out in L.A., where the Clippers play a whopping seven games. That's what happens, though, when you have a two-game slate the previous week.