Also known as the "upset round" - the first week of the Kentucky Fried playoffs are crucial because they are the only postseason game that lasts for a single week. The conference semifinals and the championship games extend to a two week format, reducing the variance of each team's output and making upsets much less likely.
With this lively upset round in the books we can take a look at the teams likely to take the various league titles.
Original Recipe
In the Original Recipe, the Baltimore Brocheese laid out a four part plan to topple the heavily favored Provo Jomegamen. Provo GM JCPeery meanwhile, seems relatively unconcerned with the Empire conference match-up, but has become increasingly worried about his team's likely championship foe: Oscar Robertson and the Crispus Attucks Tigers. Ciwasko's flagship squad is fresh off a dominating 257.9 performance that was the highest score of the first round of the postseason and the second highest of the entire season. (Trantony's Sengir Vampires barely edged Oscar Robertson out with a 258.1 in Week 13.)
Either GM would bring the first OR title to their respective franchise and would join an ever less exclusive club that now sits at six members. (It's still better to be in it than out.)
The Key Stoner Conference currently holds a 4-3 edge over the Empire in Original Recipe Championships.
B-League
Trantony's prize pool winning Sengir Vampires appeared to have the Bleague title in the bag, but Younggod's Sunshine Megatron exploded for 254 points in the first round proving they have the firepower to keep up with - and potentially put away - the heralded Vampires.
The blood sucking Vampires will be seeking to expand on the Marbury Conference's 2-1 championship lead over the Iverson Conference, while Sunshine looks to even up the historical series.
The Greatest Show
The Big Top Conference - which has never lost a championship game - is still seeking this year's representative. Derf's 2004 champion Oinktown Flying Pigs take on Freelance's DAGO BARWHORES in an intriguing second round match-up. Both teams are coming off 225 point first week scores so the race figures to be tight.
Repping the title-less Western Conference will likely be Dierich's top seeded Manteno Jake-A-Moles. The Jake-A-Moles - who also posted 225 points to open the postseason - are the heavy favorites over Ciwasko's Wade-less Jackie Robinson and the Los Angeles Red Devils.
If Manteno fails to stop the West's three year slide, I plan to start a petition to rename it the Virgin Conference.
BBB.net
The Western Conference of the BBB.net meanwhile, looks set to keep its monopoly on league titles intact. The top two teams in the league - JtcBaller's College Park Renegades and ZZRay's John Birch Society - are set to duke it out in the conference semis. Think Duncan vs. Yao. The fate of the Leastern Conference's title game representative - radicalization or imprisonment - rests squarely on the outcome of the ideologically tainted struggle out West.
Special shout out to KFBA's ex-intern Crispy who's Big Pimpin squad has made it to the second round.
Turnpike
Two seasons ago Gstroh's Fort Myers Blue Streaks were humiliatingly knocked out in the first round - after completing one of only three perfect regular seasons in Association history - by the then 7-9 Milwaukee Mad Dogs. Last year they were again bumped in the first, in spite of a 13-3 regular season. This time it was at the hand the dodge city snipers - who at least went on to take the 2006 Turnpike title.
This season the Blue Streaks have finally carried regular season success (13-3) into the playoffs and made it past the hump of the first round. In order to have a chance at this year's title though they must now get past the same division rival Milwaukee Mad Dogs that ended their 16 game winning streak 24 months ago. Mattg's Mad Dogs are a much tougher match-up than they were in the regular season thanks to a rejuvenated Shaq and the series projects to be close.
Over in the Western Conference, a piping hot Inverarry Eagles squad takes on the top seeded, but ailing, DAGO REDEMPTION. The winner will try to wrestle the Turnpike title from the Eastern Conference for the first time in league history.
The Sugar Ray
In yet another historically lopsided conference rivalry, Robinson has defeated Leonard in all three title bouts.
JCPeery's Happy Valley Voles - losers of last year's Sugar Ray championship - will get a second chance to bring Leonard his Sugar Ray glory if they can get past zzRay's Asheville Assassins in what the rival GMs project to be a humdinger of a match-up.
Over in the Robinson Conference, Mike's 2006 champion Picatinny Pick 'N' Rollers will get a shot at the third title repeat in Association history if they can get past the streaking Osupatrick Buckeyes.
Johnnie Walker All-Stars
A model of competitive balance for the Association, only two of the eight teams that made the Johnnie Walker playoffs last season returned for a shot at the title this year.
All four second round teams have a shot at this year's JW title, with Doug's top seeded Cuban Lynx the slight favorite. They must first get past the Yankee Conference rival Geneva Haters however. Younggod's Haters put themselves on the postseason map with a first round upset of the 15-1 Wu Tang Hoop Mafia Pimps whom they crushed by 20 points! Like the good man Mr. Hollinger says, it's all about point differential.
Over in the Dukes of Hazard Conference DJLucky's O-Town Carney Barkers return to the Conference semis for the second time in franchise history (they lost to Ciwasko's champion 1972-73 ABA All-League Team in 2005.) This time they take on the San Diego Chicken, the unfortunate loser of last year's 232.20 to 231.39 Johnnie Walker Title spectacular, which likely sent San Diego GM Rdr into a downward spiral of emotions unrivaled in KFBA history. It's good to see Rdr back and making another run and though I don't usually call out favorites, I must admit I find myself rooting for the Chicken to pull through.
The two conferences are dead even with a title a piece.
Kentucky Fried Expertation
All four Expertation powerhouses are playing for Conference banners - not to mention the $420 Expertation first place bounty.
The Showtime pits JCPeery's 2006 Champion Peerless Pros against ZZray's Fourth Street Bohemians, in the second conference match-up between the rival GMs. The Pros posted a robust 232 in the opening round, while the Bohemians put up a very respectable 226.
The Bad Boys line-up Mbrown's PosterCity Rebels against Yryen's Golden State Weakly Interacting Massive Particles II. The Rebels opened the postseason with a healthy 224 while the Weakly Interacting Massive Particles scraped up a 212.
Travishamockery
What should have been a postseason cakewalk for my star studded Mr. Mastodon Farm has instead turned into a heated competition amongst Travishamockery heavyweights.
First the Farm will have to defeat JPerk's Panzilla Expansion - fresh off a formidable 233 showing in the opening round - for the Apple Conference title.
If they can get past the Expansion, the Farm will face either ZZray's trash talking Saigon Tunnel Rats (227 opener) or Celtico's Spain golden team (222) who won the inaugural Travishamockery title when they were known as the Portland Sanshini.
The Travishamockery Conferences are tied up with a title each.
Even More Cowbell
Thref23's T-Town Ballaz managed a very respectable 13-3, 211 regular season record - good for the third seed in the league. Then, seemingly out of nowhere, they exploded a 247 on ZZray's unsuspecting Tennessee Home Guard, leaving the southern squad frozen in their wake.
It will take that kind of firepower to overcome Younggod's second seeded Geneva World Trade Organization however, who posted a rather impressive 232 in their opening round match-up and seek to take the Will Ferrell conference banner.
Emerging from the Christopher Walken Conference will surely be John o Groats Eagles - the pride of Mrobison's infamous Eagle franchises and the top seed in the Cowbell.
Ferrell and Walken hold a title a piece, so this year's winner also takes inter-conference bragging rights.
Kung Fu Grip
Crazydave's Palm Beach Royals have owned the Kung Fu Grip this season.
They rode a 223 ppg average to a 15-1 record and finished the season on a high note - scoring 245, 229, 231 and 253 over the last four weeks of the season. Thanks a 247 opening round output, they won their first round match-up by staggering 46 points. Ouch.
Playing the part of road kill on Palm Beach's path to Kung Fu glory will be Gunnut's South Texas Yeomen and Mharris' Mad Matt Warriors.
Palm Beach's world championship tour will give the Yankee conference a 2-0 historical lead on league titles.
Paris Hilton Sex Tape
In a preview of the upcoming Sex Tape championship battle, the league's top seeds - Nwadycki's Pivot Point Clippers and Mharris' Mad Matt's Road Warriors (XXX) - flexed their offensive muscle in the first round of the playoffs. The Clippers - 14 and 2 with a 208 ppg on the season - managed an impressive 238 in the postseason opener, while the Road Warriors (XXX) - 13-3 with a 206 during the regular season - threw down a vicious 246.
Sadly we will have to wait another two weeks, while they dispose of the Hilton's remaining also-rans, before we get to see them throw down in battle royale for Paris.
Crazy 88s
The reigning 88 champion PHX-BOS Connect blew away last year's playoff competition with its staunch defense. No opponent came close in a run that culminated with a title match lock down and upset of the Big Three's unstoppable offensive juggernaut.
Thref23's dynasty-in-the-making continues its dominant ways this season, but this time with an offensively oriented squad. The return of Yao has the Connect humming - to the tune of 239 and 237 over the last two weeks respectively.
Tweebles' Catonsville Suns and Duke1839's Las Vegas Players meanwhile are locked in a heated battle for the honor of losing to PHX-BOS and finishing in second place. And in a month, Thref23 will start working on the Association's first ever three-peat.
The Octagon
Can anyone stop the defending champs in the Octagon? Son of a Bee Sting easily did away with the postseason competition last year and is a virtual lock to return to the finals this season. But this time they are sure to face one of two more formidable foes for the title: Kentucky Fried-super use Mrobison's Fort Williams Eagles or Kentucky Fried-intern Rmcneeley's Sixteen Horsemen. Either one of you think you're ready to dance with the Broham?
The Hamster has no P
The devastating loss of Dwyane Wade will likely keep ZZray's Motorpsycho Nightmare from competing with Trantony's Phantasmal Forces juggernaut. The Forces will then attempt to carve themselves a little slice of KF history when they try to claim the Hamster title from Echoderelict's Loguania Loggs or TheSnake's Coventry Patriots by posting the highest margin of victory ever in a championship game. It's going to be a blowout folks.
Appalachian Brew Company's Fall Classic Invitational
The expert league of Kentucky Fried insiders looks (unsurprisingly) to be the most competitive. Trantony's 11-1 Oceanside Rockets have been the favorites all season, but ZZRay's 8-4 Usual Suspects, Mike's 10-2 A-Street Black Cherries and Osupatrick's 9-3 Ft. Lauderdale Buckeyes are all strong squads capable of catching fire and making a strong runs for the title. This should be an exciting post-season to follow.
The smack talk is already in full effect.
The Big 16
The Big 16's first ever post season projects to be highly competitive. Nostalgyk's Minnetonka Surly Stevedores earned the 3rd seed by amassing a 12-4 season record in spite of playing the highly competitive Whatever Conference. They beat up on the Colonel's Major Appliance (also 12-4) in the opening round, posting an impressive 233 even while Wade watched from the sidelines. But PeterG's Fitrovia Blue Beards (also 12-4) made it to the second round and have no intention of handing over the Whatever Conference title.
In the Existentialist conference, Ciwasko's Julius Erving and the Baseline Move (13-3) have been hamstrung by injuries to Ray Allen, Jermaine O'Neal and David West, but should need just 36 minutes out of each to defeat Trantony's Crimson Manticores and take on Minnetonka or the Blue Beards for the first ever Big 16 title.
Useless Hoops
The inaugural Useless Hoops championship comes down to two teams: burn1dwn's San DIego Cali Kushies who posted a top 10 worthy 248 in the first round and stripclubdj's Bristol Beavers who put up a reasonable 230.
About to get crushed in the conference semis are two innocent bystanders: the Denver Terrapins and Bulls on the Chin.
Demockeracy.com's Fanball 2k7
The Association leading Demockeracy has produced a slew of competitive teams, but most could not make the playoff invitation. MrKing's Tom Cruise Witchcraft of the Frito Lay Moon Pie conference smoked the first round competition with an intimidating 248 and placed themselves as the clear front runner. Shpendahmeti's Kosovo Independence Now lost both regular season games to the division rival Tom Cruise, but ride a three game winning streak into the Frito Lay Conference showdown and are reportedly praying hard for a reversal of fortune.
The number one seeded and wonderfully dubbed Fat Kids Are Hard To Kidnap on the other hand, got knocked out in the opening round thanks to a sad tank job by team poster boy Eddy Curry and an incredible stroke of luck by Bcave's underwhelming Vrsovike Vrany who pulled out the victory 187.2 to 186.5. The Colonel's office is currently investigating point shaving allegations surrounding Curry and an Old Country all you can eat buffet. The Vrany take on division rival Mr. Yuck and the Fancy Pants - who also under whelmed with a pathetic 178.79 first round showing - in a pretty sad conference match-up.
Looks like Tom Cruise has this one in the bag.
Who's Hot
Kobe Bryant (LAL) - 1.377 (130 minutes)... Drops 65 on Portland and 50 on Minny, lifting season average to 1.091...
Gilbert Arenas (WAS) - 1.371 (70 minutes)...Does best Kobe impersonation this side of the Mississippi...
LeBron James (CLE) - 1.333 (72 minutes)... Getting a little tired of accusations of mailing it in all season?
Allen Iverson (DEN) - 1.167 (126 minutes)...Finally playing alongside Carmelo, AI thrives as Denver takes four straight...
Carmelo Anthony (DEN) - 1.159 (107 minutes)... See above...
Baron Davis (GSW) - 1.141 (71 minutes)... Great average, will be back on injured reserve in a week...
Antawn Jamison (WAS) - 1.111 (63 minutes)... Take the hefty average but don't count on it happening again...
Kris Humphries (TOR) - 1.071 (28 minutes)... Did someone call for a late season Super Sleeper?
Darius Songaila (WAS) - 1.029 (34 minutes)... Loved the garbage time from Washington's blowout of NOK at home...
Al Jefferson (BOS) - 1.014 (142 minutes)...Has 1962 YTD minutes to go with .915 Avg.
Chris Paul (NOH) - 1.009 (109 minutes)...Follows up .761 disappointment with stellar week...
Antonio McDyess (DET) - 1.000 (70 minutes)...Dyess (.931 30-day) rewarding team's that stuck with him through horrendous first half...
Tyrus Thomas (CHI) - 1.000 (64 minutes)... .858 YTD will make him hot commodity in your next draft...
Renaldo Balkman (NYK) - 0.967 (61 minutes)... Don't count on surprise week to last...
LaMarcus Aldridge (POR) - 0.959 (122 minutes)...Three double doubles last week a sign of many more to come...
Zaur Pachulia (ATL) - 0.945 (73 minutes)...Seems like we've been waiting for Pachulia to break out forever, but he's still only 23 years old...
Ron Artest (SAK) - 0.940 (149 minutes)... Drives me absolutely bonkers...
Richard Jefferson (NJN) - 0.929 (126 minutes)... Look who's back!!!
Jason Richardson (GSW) - 0.916 (107 minutes)... Fourth straight .850+ puts JR back on map...
Luke Walton (LAL) - 0.908 (65 minutes)...Two boards shy of triple double in second game back...
Not so Hot
Vince Carter (NJN) - 0.836 (159 minutes)... Not nearly good enough for VC...
Ray Allen (SEA) - 0.780 (123 minutes)...Ditto...
Josh Howard (DAL) - 0.764 (148 minutes)... Rinse repeat...
Shawn Marion (PHO) - 0.732 (142 minutes)... Demoted to F3 in many teams, F4 in some...
Emmanuel Ginobili (SAS) - 0.730 (89 minutes)... Worst week since beginning of the season...
Andrew Bynum (LAL) - 0.727 (44 minutes)... Phil Jackson claims 19 year old is tired from playing all season...
Darko Milicic (ORL) - 0.722 (79 minutes)... It's Darko time!
Andrew Bogut (MIL) - 0.713 (115 minutes)...Getting hard to argue that he was a better pick than Paul...
Deron Williams (UTA) - 0.710 (162 minutes)... Allowed one disappointing week in stellar season...
Danny Granger (IND) - 0.701 (107 minutes)...Even when JO is out, Granger does not capitalize...
Brandon Roy (POR) - 0.630 (165 minutes)... Major minutes dragging down average...
Brad Miller (SAK) - 0.581 (129 minutes)... Stick a fork in the man's plantar fantitis..
Andrei Kirilenko (UTA) - 0.563 (96 minutes)... Playing hurt or just sucky?
Richard Hamilton (DET) - 0.537 (162 minutes)...Rough production for any team that started him...
Top Scores from Playoffs First Round
