And Introducing - Foul Balls HORSE 10-31-06

You all may remember our Baseball Tonight feature during the MLB regular season in which we picked three games a night. Then, in the playoffs I was challenged by Panger, a challenge I won.

Well, we enjoyed it just a little bit, and decided we'd like to expand the concept. So with the NBA season starting tonight, we came up with the idea to have the same competition for basketball. There are some changes, though.

It's still a competition, but no longer just between Panger and me. Nope, now we've invited two good friends of ours here at Foul Balls. Jeeves from the Chi-Sox Blog, and James from Fleece the Pig, Flog the Pony and Chi-Sox Blog to join us.

There are also some changes to scoring. We'll keep track of W-L records, but the contest will be based on points. Here are the ground rules:

• Each day will consist of 3 games (or less depending on schedule that day) for each contestant to choose from.
• Each contestant will choose the winner of the game. For every game they get correct, they earn 1 point.
• There is one Double Down allowed per day. What that means is that any contestant can choose a game in which they want to Double Down. If they pick the correct winner, they get 2 points. However, if they choose wrong, they lose 1 point. Contestants do not have to Double Down on any games if they choose not to.

Tonight there are two games for the four of us to choose from.

Miami Heat (0-0 Atlantic Division) vs. Chicago Bulls (0-0 Central Division)-The NBA season starts off with the defending champions facing the team that probably gave them more trouble in the playoffs last season than anybody. It's also the first game in which the Bulls will get to show off their big offseason free agent signing, Ben Wallace. (TNT 8:00PM Est.)

• Fornelli's pick-Chicago
• Panger's pick- Miami (Boooo!! Hiss!!!!)
• Jeeves' pick-Chicago (Double Down)
• James' pick-Chicago (Double Down)

Los Angeles Lakers (0-0 Pacific Division) vs. Phoenix Suns (0-0 Pacific Division)-It's a rematch of a first round playoff series in which Phoenix held off the Lakers in 7 games. Is this the year in which the Suns finally get over the hump and make the NBA Finals with their high scoring offense? Also it's possible that Kobe Bryant will not be playing for the Lakers. (TNT 10:30PME Est.)

• Fornelli's pick-Phoenix (Double Down)
• Panger's pick- Phoenix
• Jeeves' pick- Phoenix
• James' pick- LA Lakers