This is it, folks. Put up or shut up time in the NBA Cares Celebrity Fantasy League. After this week, eight team owners will need to shut up (metaphorically speaking, of course -- I fully expect Adam McKay to keep talking). It was a huge week for a few teams jockeying for position. Bill Simmons, Zach Gilford, and (really!) Kenny Smith did what they do best these days, and all won. They have each secured a playoff spot, and all but mathematically guaranteed the 1, 2 and 3 seeds respectively.

Next, a quick apology. As I've discussed playoff positioning lately, I mentioned tie-breaker in the event of a tie for a spot. I had thought the tie-breaker was head-to-head action during the regular season. This is actually the second tie-breaker. The first is fantasy points accumulated. This is huge news for George Lopez, who lost again this week to Samuel L. Jackson. He would have lost tie-breakers to Kenny Smith, Tony Potts and Samuel L. Jackson if we were relying on head-to-head action. Since the tie-breaker is actually fantasy points, his prospects look much better -- even with a loss this past week. He leads Jackson in fantasy points and trails Potts by only about 150 (Kenny is in regardless).

So, let's look at the likely playoff picture:

1. Bill Simmons - The only way he loses the #1 seed is if he loses to Zach Gilford this week by more than 500 fantasy points. Highly unlikely.

2. Zach Gilford - See above. The top seed won't happen, and he has two more wins than Kenny Smith. This spot is locked up.

3. Kenny Smith - Can't win the second seed, but could potentially fall to the fourth seed if he loses and Tony Potts wins. Potts currently has a 600+ fantasy point advantage.

4. Tony Potts - As it currently stands, Potts gets the fourth seed. As mentioned above, he could secure the three seed with some luck. He also could fall out of the playoffs if he loses, George Lopez wins and Lopez overcomes his 150 point deficit OR Potts loses, Lopez loses or doesn't score the necessary fantasy points, Samuel L. Jackson wins and outscores Potts by more than 500 fantasy points. Hang with me.

Still a Chance (A). George Lopez - Not impossible. Tony Potts has lost five of six. Problem is that Lopez has lost three straight. He needs some help.

Still a Chance (B). Samuel L. Jackson - Sam needs a miracle. Maybe a mini-miracle, like Coke changing to Pepsi.

In other words, it's technically a six-horse race, but Samuel L. Jackson's odds are daunting to say the least. Everyone else is playing for pride.

Just a reminder that in the first round of the playoffs, the first seed plays the fourth, and the second plays the third.

Let's get on to this week's match-ups -- most important, one not.

Games that could change the playoff landscape...

Bill Simmons (16-4) vs. Zach Gilford (15-5)
This one carries more bark than its bite. The top two teams square off, but the likelihood of Gilford stealing away the top seed is small. Highly unlikely, especially considering Gilford has only a one game advantage.
Prediction: Gilford wins, but all for show. Could spice up the potential championship match-up.

Kenny Smith (13-7) vs. Adam McKay (5-15)
Kenny Freaking Smith. What more can be said? Seven straight wins including 12 of 13. Incredible. McKay... not so much. But he's been fun to watch. Kenny can't move up by winning, and a loss puts him at risk to falling to the fourth seed.
Prediction: Hahaha. Right. Kenny keeps the three seed.

Tony Potts (12-8) vs. Spike Lee (4-16)
Tony, Tony, Tony. Wow, you got a "bye" at the right time. Potts has lost three straight and five of six but is facing a Spike Lee team that can't win. Spike's lost nine in a row and hasn't broken 700 fantasy points in six weeks. Potts may be losing, but he's exceeded 700 in three of his last four games.
Prediction: Tony Potts stumbles into the playoffs with an ugly win and the fourth and final seed.

George Lopez (11-9) vs. Bernie Mac (9-11)
Once the league's most dangerous team, George Lopez has lost three straight and needs some serious help to take the final spot. When you look more closely at his season, George Lopez just can't win when it matters -- his schedule is littered with meaningless wins. When facing the other teams in the top six, he is 3-7 this season. This is the story of his season.
Prediction: Bernie provides the nail in the coffin to George Lopez's season. Bernie tells jokes about it.

Samuel L. Jackson (11-9) vs. Will Ferrell (10-10)
This could actually be a nice battle. I also expect Sam to have a big week and score a lot of points. Thing is, there is almost no chance that he wins, Tony Potts loses, AND Sam betters Tony by 500+ fantasy points.
Prediction: A hollow victory for Sam.

Playing for pride, baby....

Donald Faison (8-12) vs. James Denton (6-14)
Are these two still playing? Denton has actually won three straight after losing 10 in a row.
Prediction: All good things come to an end. Let's give it to Faison.