It's been almost a week, and the Sixers have yet to resurrect themselves into the playoff race. I'm not sure if anyone's surprised by this, but hey -- you never know. As you have probably noted, it's been rather dead on LB the past few days. That end of season hangover is lingering for all of us and it's tough to muster up that will power and hard apple cider it takes to write something on this B.

So instead, I'll let you guys duke it out. There's a whole rest of the playoffs going on and you probably want to talk about it with some of your closest and faceless friends. That's why we're here! So without any more excuses, here is your Tuesday playoff thread.

7:00 - Boston vs. Miami (1-0) - Celtics Blog vs. Peninsula Is Mightier

9:30 - Memphis (1-0) vs. Oklahoma City - Straight Outta Vancouver vs. Welcome to Loud City

Have at it, hosses. I miss Sixers.

With the Sixers now eliminated, who are you rooting for in the second round Celtics vs Heat matchup?

Most of you are already familiar with the Official Liberty Ballers Drinking Game, which can be seen and read in it's entirety here. And while I had planned on putting up a few additional rules before the playoffs started, I reconsidered because it could be seen as a gateway to depression if I'm forcing you to drink after each loss. But now that the Sixers have won a game, that's all out the window!

In honor of the fifth (and possibly last) game of this series, here are five brand spanking new addendums to the drinking game we've been enjoying since November:

1. Whenever LeBron James flexes on camera, down a 40.

Teenage girls feel the need to smile like there's no tomorrow every time their friend shoves a point-and-shoot camera in their direction. LeBron makes a muscle, which is the male equivalent. He's the guy who would show his guns whenever the jib swings around after the commercial at a WWE event. Cool, LeBron. In your honor, we'll shove 40 ounces of bad beer down our throats. Hats off.

2. If Miami gets a foul called on them, take a shot.

There's no telling whether or not this one will get put into play, but by the small chance that it happens, it's worth a Dongaila shot or two. With the foul discrepancy favoring the Heat by 22 in four games, I wouldn't hold my breath. Although if you do, that would probably make the shot more effective. Worth considering.

3. Do a kegstand each time Erik Spoelstra looks like a chipmunk

This is all the time. Have someone spot you for blood flow problems.

4. For each point the Heat outscore the Sixers in the 2nd quarter, drink.

A little-known fact in the NBA rulebook is that you're not allowed to try in the second quarter. It's in the back close to the glossary and the index, but it's there. While Doug Collins and the Sixers have been following that rule to a T, Erik Spoelstra and his team of rule-breakers seem to be above such laws. I've protested with the league, but David Stern and company haven't responded to my texts. Adam Silver texted me back, but that was about something different. We're cool. Anyway, drink for their lawless ways.

5. If the Sixers win the series, rob your nearest convenient store and put as much alcohol in your system as you can before you pass out.

This one needs no explanation.

Go Sixers/Drinking!

Well, the shine from Sunday's win is starting to wear off a bit, and I'm ready for Wednesday night to come around. The Sixers still face elimination, this time in front of the "raucous" Miami crowd. A win would be absolutely ridiculous. Taking the series back to Philly with a two-game win streak would send the media into a frenzy and probably result in a few more Heat tears. Winning the series isn't yet a consideration. It's all about taking this game and continuing to put pressure on the heavily favored Big Three.

Until then, here are some things to talk about amongst yourselves.

• Should Evan Turner start over Jodie Meeks in Game Five? Jodie's role has been very limited in his first playoff series. He's failed to score in double-digits in all four games, something he had only done six times total since February. Turner's had two fantastic games, most recently hitting the two biggest foul shots of his life. Doug hasn't deviated from this starting lineup unless there's been an injury, so as of now it's just baseless speculation.
• Who should get minutes between Spencer Hawes, Tony Battie, and Marreese Speights? Doug's still figuring this out. Hawes had a few very nice plays last game, but Battie was much more effective protecting the glass in less time. Doug even tried playing them both together for a few minutes. Unfortunately, Hakeem Olajuwon isn't walking through that door so we've got to deal with who we have.
• The Heat have a Defensive Rating of 117.08 when Joel Anthony is off the court. When he's on, 82.13. That's an absurd net difference of 34.95. Offensive Rating, rebounding, and effective field goal percentage all skyrocket as well. We could really use a bad game from him.
• Memphis is up 3-1 on San Antonio and New Orleans is tied 2-2 with the Lakers and Kobe Bryant is banged up. How good have these playoffs been?

Post any links here you find newsworthy. Have at it, kids.

There are few more terrifying places in the world than the free throw stripe with the game on the line. Maybe the pitcher's mound in the 9th inning. Maybe in net for a shootout. Maybe under center at the goal line. But only at the foul line are you totally, completely, and overwhelmingly alone.

That's where Evan Turner found himself with 2.3 seconds left in the game.

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I don't dislike the Knicks as much as I do every other New York metropolitan area sports team, mostly because they haven't been good at the same time as the Sixers since....well, it's been a long time. And because I have a few Knicks friends, I usually root for the 'Bockers to succeed, especially against typical enemies like Boston and their archaic Big Three. Unfortunately for the Knicks, it was not to be this year and the Celtics completely pimp slapped them on the way to a 4-0 sweep. The matchup was close, like every series this playoffs, but Boston was too healthy (odd) and too full of chemistry and defense and Rajon Rondo to handle for Seth Rosenthal and Clyde Frazier.

But though I don't actively campaign against the NYK's, it does warm my cold little heart to know that those offensive-minded little men from the Garden are out of the playoffs before the scrappy and less talented Sixers. Mike D'Antoni isn't half the coach Doug Collins is, but because of the market, the Knicks get a ton more national coverage. And it's all well-deserved because New York is the biggest gig in town, but the adage of "big tree fall hard" feels great here, especially with all the Melodrama that was dangerously close to Bonds/Clemens/Landis/pre-Eagles Vick level of annoyance (not nearly Favre though). As a Syracuse basketball fan, it's hard to hate Carmelo Anthony though, even if he can be a punk from time to time.

Amare Stoudemire, who I liked when he was on Phoenix, is extremely annoying on the court, and I still harbor a ton of resentment towards Chauncey Billups for knocking the Sixers out of the playoffs about 42 times last decade. So the Knicks are out and though they'll be a better team with some more time together, they're looking up the Sixers skirts right now, which is pretty cool and arousing. NY probably would've had more success against Miami and the Sixers/Celtics would've been more equal as well. But I digress.

With the Hornets beating the Lakers (Chris Paul omg) and Atlanta taking game three over Dwight Howard's Magic, the first round of these NBA Playoffs has been pretty amazing. The Thunder can sweep the Nugs tomorrow, but I'll bet George Karl manages to grab one game from OKC and the Knicks will be the only sweep in round one. That's cool.

Discuss any non-Sixers related playoff basketball here, including Brandon Roy's resurrection, Chris Paul walking on water, Memphis trying to add to their David and Goliath tale, and other Easter-themed Bible metaphors relating to the NBA below. It's a good time to like professional basketball, at least until this summer...

It's safe to say the three games played this series have been pretty one-sided; there had been a total of four lead changes and four ties. However; today's game was tied eight times, with the lead changing hands 11 times. Somewhere Marc Zumoff got to use his patented "see-saw" phrase and everybody tuned in to the Easter matinee on ABC was finally treated to a competitive Sixers-Heat game.

Besides the game two debacle every game this series has followed the same script: The Sixers come out with a ton of energy and out-hustle and out-execute the lethargic Heat. Then the Heat realize they have LeBron James and Dwyane Wade and devour the lead before halftime – evidenced by the Sixers being +26 in the first quarters this series and -48 in the second quarters. Today's game was no different. The Sixers jumped out to an early double-digit lead only to see it evaporate as soon as Miami flipped the proverbial switch, tightened their defense and completely stifled the Sixers' half-court offense. At the 9:00 mark in the second quarter the Sixers held a 16-point lead, but went into the half down one.

(Speaking of the 9:00 mark, that's when the best part of the first half occurred. James Jones caught a pass, stepped out of bounds, but still attempted to shoot it. In KG-esque fashion Evan Turner tried to block it. Jones didn't enjoy Turner's gesture too much, so he pushed him, prompting Thaddeus Young to body-bump Jones. A mini-scuffle ensued, the crowd got into it, and Evan Turner proceeded to take his anger out on LeBron James the next possession by taking him off the dribble, giving him a half-spin-shimmy, followed by a sweet fadeaway. The crowd erupted, the game thread filled with goosebumps, and it felt like Turner had finally earned his Sixers stripes. Just a fantastic sequence – one of the best this season.)

Box Score

Peninsula is Mightier

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It's just one game but OH MY GOD DOES IT FEEL GOOD!

Stars: Evan Turner, Jrue Holiday, and THE BOSS HIMSELF, Louis Williams.

We're still fighting. We're still alive. I love you all.