OK, about to watch Thunder-Spurs, here are my NHL and NBA picks, along with an admission that I never would have picked LA or Jersey to make it to the finals in the NHL, had I bothered to pick at the beginning of the Stanley Cup playoffs:

Eastern Conference NBA Finals, otherwise known as the Slumber Games:

Miami over Boston in 5. Rondo will be brilliant enough to win at least one game, but Wade and James are playing together beautifully right now.

Western Conference Finals:

San Antonio over OKC in six. I'm tempted to pick San Antonio in five, because I think they match up so well with the Thunder, but it's hard not to envision a couple of game-winning shots from Westbrook and/or Durant.

The Spurs have the better coach and the deeper roster, and while I don't usually consider ``experience" a key factor, I think the Spurs' combination of experience and rest will play to their favor.

Stanley Cup Finals

I like the way Jersey is playing, and I love the way Parise is playing, and Brodeur is on the doorstep of history. But I'd never bet a dollar on hockey. Too many funny bounces.

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The Twins are on historically-bad paces for losses and ERA, and you know what? It could be worse.

Where would this team be if P.J. Walters and Scott Diamond hadn't materialized out of thin air?

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On the TNT pregame show tonight, Charles Barkley ripped ``all the talking heads" who ripped Shaquille O'Neal as a potential NBA general manager. Chuck made a great point, saying: ``I've been in the NBA, and there are a lot of dumb GMs."

The man has a way with words.

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I'll be on 1500espn with Reusse and Mackey at 2:05 on Monday.