The landscape of the playoffs has changed with Russell Westbrook's injury, while the landscape of sports could now be repaved after Jason Collins' decision to publicly come out. Check out our predictions and analysis in this week's roundtable. 

1) Russell Westbrook is out for the rest of the playoffs, undergoing knee surgery after being bumped into by the Rockets' Patrick Beverley. How does his injury do to the playoff race in the West?

Jacob Freedman: What the injury does is make the West into an actual race. The Thunder dropped their second game in a row to Houston on Wednesday night, while San Antonio looked dominant in dispatching the hapless Lakers. For all the flak Westbrook gets as Kevin Durant's second banana, his absence means that an early Thunder exit is not only a thought, but now, a likelihood. 

Bo Kwan: His injury makes the West a toss-up. Whether Memphis or the Clippers go to the second round, it is very possible that either team stops the Thunder from even making it to the Western Conference Finals. 

Law Murray: Westbrook's knee injury is unfortunate, and in a sense, the Thunder are now in a similar position as last year's Chicago Bulls. That said, the Thunder are still going on to the second round. The challenge will be getting past the Grizzlies or Clippers, two teams with players who can defend Kevin Durant for stretches at a time. But this is where my Injury Theory comes in: Teams don't lose because of injuries alone, but they will lose by failing to overcome the challenges. OKC will need to be sound defensively, players like Durant, Serge Ibaka, Kevin Martin, and Reggie Jackson have to exceed their usual production, and head coach Scott Brooks needs to continue putting his team in a position to win. The Thunder are still better than every team in the Western Conference.

2) Recent Washington Wizards center Jason Collins made national headlines after coming out on Monday. Do you think he'll be on an NBA roster next fall, and do you think this decision will hurt or help him (or have no effect) in finding a spot this offseason?

Freedman: I think he'll end up somewhere. He hasn't averaged more than five points since 2004-05, but always finds himself on a roster thanks to his diligent defense and 7-foot size. He won't be an impact player by any means, and I don't think his decision to come out will affect the mindset of NBA GMs, but Collins will find himself a job next October. 

Kwan: I think the team that considering sign him might face the pressure from players, as locker room is a place lack of privacy. But it could also be a good PR for the team that sign Collins. I believe he will be on the roster next fall, he is a good center, and a man with gut.

Murray: I do believe Jason Collins will be on a roster next season. I feel like Collins has always had respect around the league as a fifth big man, and he has never missed a training camp since being drafted in 2001. The NBA is the most diverse league out of the four major professional sports, so if Collins is not on a roster, it isn't because of his sexual orientation. It will be because he is a fringe player turning 35 years old next season.

3) And just like that, the Lakers are done after being swept by the Spurs. If you are Mitch Kupchak, what moves are you making this offseason to avoid another disaster like this past season? Is Dwight Howard going to be in Purple and Gold next season?

Kwan: I will prefer not to keep Howard, because his presence limits the performance of Gasol. The Lakers are still Kobe's team, and the squad would be able to afford more players if Howard leaves. 

Murray: I don't think this season was a complete disaster for the Lakers; it could have been worse! The Lakers played their way into a playoff spot, and that is something they can hang their hat on. The problem with the Lakers is that they throw money at winning a championship, but the process in which to do so the last two seasons has exposed a complete lack of direction within the organization. With that said, if I'm Mitch Kupchak, I'm lowering expectations immediately. The draft and free agent class of 2014 should be the priority, and the Lakers should trade Pau Gasol (if Howard re-signs), amnesty Metta World Peace, find some cheap shooters for 2013-2014, and reload properly when the only players under contract are a (retiring?) Steve Nash and Howard. Missing the playoffs next year might be the best thing for the future of the franchise.