[BB73]

Let's have a 'pick the winners' contest for the NBA playoffs. The winner will get v$100,000. Second place will get a mocking PM from the winner.

Before the first round starts this weekend, pick the playoff winners round-by-round, and the number of games each series will go. First round winners are worth 5 points, second round 10, third round 15, and picking the correct champion is worth 20 points. For each correct pick in the round, there are 5 bonus points for getting the correct number of games, 3 if only off by 1 game, and 1 bonus point if off by 2 games. No bonus points are given if you don't have the correct winning team in a series.

For example:
In the first round, you pick Pistons in 5 and they sweep, you get 8 points (5, plus 3 bonus for being off by one game).

In the second round, you pick Pistons in 5 and they win in 7, you get 11 points (10, plus 1 bonus for being off by 2 games).

Points will be awarded based on teams winning a round. So for example, in the finals, if you pick the Pistons in 7 and they win in 7, you get 20 points plus the 5 bonus, even if you didn't correctly pick the opponent that won the other conference.

To make your picks, cut/paste this sample and pick the winners and the number of games for each series.

Entry deadline is this Saturday at 1 p.m.

Round 1 - pick 8 winners with # games predicted:
(BOS or ATL) in (4,5,6,7)
(DET or PHL) in (4,5,6,7)
(ORL or TOR in (4,5,6,7)
(CLEV or WASH) in (4,5,6,7)
(LAL or DEN) in (4,5,6,7)
(NewO or DAL) in (4,5,6,7)
(SA or PHX) in (4,5,6,7)
(UTAH or HOUS) in (4,5,6,7)

Second round - pick 4 winners with # games predicted:
(BOS or ATL or CLEV or WASH) in (4,5,6,7)
(DET or PHL or ORL or TOR) in (4,5,6,7)
(LAL or DEN or UTAH or HOUS) in (4,5,6,7)
(NewO or DAL or SA or PHX) in (4,5,6,7)

Third round - pick 2 winners with # games predicted:
Your Eastern Champ in (4,5,6,7)
Your Western Champ in (4,5,6,7)

Finals - pick Champion and # games:
Your NBA Champ in (4,5,6,7)