If the playoffs started today...

The Associations regular season is entering its final lap, with each team having less than 20 games remaining on the schedule. Curious what the postseason matchups will look like if the playoffs started today? Wondering who will advance? Say no more then...

Eastern Conference
(1) Miami Heat vs. (8) Milwaukee Bucks
Prediction: Heat in 6
LeBron & Co. will advance in absolutely any matchup they draw in the first round. But Milwaukee is actually the opponent that might give the Heat the most trouble. Quick talented guards, along with Larry Sanders protecting the rim, does not match up well against the boys from South Beach.

(2) Indiana Pacers vs. (7) Atlanta Hawks
Prediction: Pacers in 5
Indiana's frontcourt will be able to contain Al Horford and the rest of the Hawks big men. A certain Club Bosh contributor has managed to get his with Al Horford's cousin in the VIP of the Club, but I digress.  Indiana's one of the few contenders in the East to challenge the Heat, and the lowly Hawks won't give them much trouble in the first round. 

(3) New York Knicks vs. (6) Boston Celtics
Prediction: Celtics in 6
The NY Knicks have screamed mediocrity recently (20-20 in last 40 games), while the Celtics have played impressive ball since Rondo's injury (15-6 without him). The aging C's should put away the Knicks with relative ease.

(4) Brooklyn Nets vs. (5) Chicago Bulls
Prediction: Nets in 7
This matchup seems the most difficult to pick, mostly due to the uncertainty of Derrick Rose's availability for the postseason. I don't think he will play, which tips the scale ever so slightly to the Nets squeezing past the Bulls in seven games.

Western Conference
(1). San Antonio Spurs vs. (8) Los Angeles Lakers
Prediction: Spurs in 6
This would be a helluva matchup to witness. Kobe vs. Timmy D. again for a chance to keep a title hope alive. Don't think anybody knows exactly what the Lakers will bring come the postseason, but I know the Spurs & Coach Pop wouldn't exactly be thrilled with drawing Kobe & D-12 in the first round.

(2) Oklahoma City Thunder vs. (7) Houston Rockets
Prediction: Thunder in 5
Another great matchup if this were to happen, with OKC meeting with former star James Harden the same year he was dealt to Houston. Harden and the Rockets have no problem filling the bucket, but would struggle mightily trying to contain RussRuss & KD.

(3) Memphis Grizzlies vs. (6) Golden State Warriors
Prediction: Grizzlies in 6
The contrast in styles in this matchup would make for an interesting playoff matchup. The Griz might be the best halfcourt team in the league behind Z-Bo & the other Gasol, while the Warriors run the floor in transition under the direction of Steph Curry with ease. Halfcourt basketball always tends to be more important in the postseason, thus giving Memphis a bid into the second round.

(4) Los Angeles Clippers vs (5). Denver Nuggets
Prediction: Clippers in 7
The Denver Nuggets have been excellent (especially at home) throughout the season, but a draw against Lob City would mean the end for the Nuggies. CP3 would be able to control Ty Lawson's quick transition game, likely creating problems for Denver to score. Would be a great series, but I don't see the team game that Denver plays being able to overcome Chris Paul & Co. in LA.

State of the Thunder Address: Really Just February 12 Review

The Thunder found a way to lose to the Jazz last night in a game that they shot 56% from the field compared to the Jazz's 48%.  In normal circumstances, I'd put the loss on Russell Westbrook's wild layup clinic, but he was a solid 8/14 from the field last night.  Next I'd move to turnover differential, which Russ Russ certainly contributed to abundantly, but once again, I'd be wrong.  Though Russ Russ did have 7 turnovers, the Jazz ended the game with only a +3 turnover differential.  That leads me to the real answer.  An answer that had Russ Russ noticeably upset after the game and a notion that shakes me to my very core.  You see in the video below, just off camera, sources close to OKC confirm that a reporter from the The Daily Oklahoman was holding up a cue card that read "where's James"?  Short and sweet.  Warm and nostalgic.  Love and loss.  As soon as Russ Russ saw it, it was game over.

The bench lost the game for the Thunder last night, which scares the shit out of me.  You know who else it scares shitless?  Fucking, Presti.  Kevin Martin was invisible, finishing with just 6 points on 3/8, and the rest of the bench combined for a skinny 19 points. Presti made this bed.  He cashed this check. He pumped this fist.  This was a prime game last year where Harden would put up 30 points on a ridiculous 12/16 from the field and carry the Thunder to a win.  They counted on that guy.  I'm worried what is going to happen in June when they don't have that guy.  I know Smooth J had a rough finals last year, but all signs pointed to a breakout this year.  He is having that breakout but not in OKC.

Poppa Perk was not happy about the absence of Jeremiah (more so than Smooth J) and he took it out in an elbow to the side of Al Jefferson's dome that would've made Ron Ron proud.

K. Smooth can do no wrong.  LeBron.

Oh shit (part 6)

On Saturday night James Harden and the Rockets brought their beards to South Philly.  The Sixers picked up a great win to hopefully jumpstart their climb back into the playoff picture.  Jeremiah took a second to shake the bejeezus out of Jrue with a behind the back through the legs crossover, with about 3 double-dribbles mixed in there.  But who cares about that.  Soak this in




Absurd move, but it probably should have been called back, and they lost the game.  4/5 Paul Pierces here.

Presti Puts Curse on Harden

Last night marked the return of Smooth J to OKC and a reunion with K. Smoove, Russ Russ and Poppa Perk.  The gang was officially back together and a post game rendevous with Kate Upton produced familiar results.

Something unfamiliar to Smooth J was Presti's use of voodoo magic.  That fuck put some kind of curse on Smooth J and Jeremiah that caused him to go 3-16 from the field and only end up with 17 points.  The curse also inhibited James' ability to get off shots as illustrated below.

PS K. Smoove ended up with a monster 37, 7, 4 line that made the queen weep.

Smooth J and the Contract Caper

Time to address the elephant in the room, Smooth J's expiring contract.  The Thunder and Super GM, Sam Presti, have until October 31 to sign Smooth J to a contract extension or he's destined to become a restricted free agent on July 1.  The implication here is if Harden gets to free agency on July 1, he will receive multiple max offers (4 years, $60mil) which the Thunder will not be able to match.  In interviews leading up to this year, Harden has stated that he is willing to "sacrifice" to keep the Thunder's Big Three intact, just like Westbrook did before the beginning of last year and Durant prior to that.  What the Thunder have is special.  Never in the history of the league has a team been so good and so young at the same time.  It would be a shame if J can't see that.

According to our sources close the situation, the major hold up on getting a deal hashed out is not Smooth J himself, but his beard, Jeremiah.  After all the attention Jeremiah has received over the last 3 years, he has become a full blown diva.  Demanding a cut of the profits on any beard related sales (in addition to Smooth J's cut), his own personal assistant, his own seat on the bus and even his own white woman, Jeremiah has become the Elton John of basketball; high demands but not much production when the lights turn on.

For now, we all wait with bated breath to see if Smooth J, Jeremiah and Presti can work a miracle.  Smooth J would never leave on his own (too scared of Poppa Perk), but with the influence of the power hungry, Jeremiah, no one can say for sure how this saga will end.

Ron-Ron's Dating Tips

Looks like we may have missed a video during today's recap. Take a look below to see Metta World Peace teach all you fools a thing or two about how to treat a lady: