The 2013 MLS playoff picture may still be a fuzzy mess considering that all 10 postseason spots are still seemingly up for grabs, but that doesn't mean the current league standings can't offer a preliminary glimpse of the potential matchups we might see once November rolls around.
Interestingly enough, if the regular season ended today and the playoffs began this weekend, we'd see a pair of first-round matches that we just tuned into on Sunday. In the Eastern Conference, the Philadelphia Union would take on the New England Revolution in a wild-card match at PPL Park, while the Portland Timbers would host arch-rival Seattle in the Western Conference's opening playoff game.
The winner of those respective battles would go on to face the No. 1 seeds in their conference in a two-legged series in the next round, with Real Salt Lake playing either the Timbers or Sounders and the Montreal Impact meeting the winner between the Union and Revolution.
In the other conference semifinals games, the LA Galaxy and Colorado Rapids would square off while the New York Red Bulls and Sporting Kansas City would lock horns.
There is still plenty of time for all of this to change and then some, what with another eight rounds of games to be played and numerous games in hand to be reconciled, but don't expect the playoff picture to stay out of focus for much longer.
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Wild Card: (4) Philadelphia Union vs. New England Revolution (5)
Semifinals: (2) New York Red Bulls vs. Sporting Kansas City (3), (1) Montreal Impact vs. Philadelphia Union/New England Revolution
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Wild Card: (4) Portland Timbers vs. Seattle Sounders (5)
Semifinals: (2) LA Galaxy vs. Colorado Rapids (3), (1) Real Salt Lake vs. Portland Timbers/Seattle Sounders
