I have a strange relationship with a video game.

I do. Me and Super Mario Brothers 3 have had a strange relationship for going on two decades now. It all started when in a ski lodge arcade in the hinterlands of Wisconsin. Twenty-five cents got me five minutes with The Dark Knight of Nintendo sequels.

And that's how it started. Cut to my 9th birthday? And it came home. And I started playing. My hands have never been mistaken for a surgeons, so I was steady with my play. My skill grew as I got to the Giant world, and the sky world. Heck, I even put up 70 million plus points in getting to level 6 alone.

But it broke. That is the old NES. Not as durable as the kid hoped.

BUT I GOT THE SUPER NINTENDO! AND WITH THAT CAME SUPER MARIO ALL-STARS!

*cue the Dropkick Murphys music*

And the kid finally. FINALLY! Got past the Castle of horrors. And got past the last tank. And I got to Boswer. I had the fucking P-wing. And I got to Boswer.

I lost. And I lost 73 more times.

I never achieved those heights again. I never even tried again.

Now I sim seasons of Madden in Franchise mode. And it's all because of Mario 3.

30 Previews in the 30 Hours? Boston Celtics.

Frankly, you know they're going to be good. The only issue? The low post. Garnett may be getting pivot flashbacks of his days in Minnesota. Kendrick Perkins has a chronic shoulder problem. And Glen Davis may be more cult hero than low-post threat.

But there is upside potential. The POB may be more than just a reference to the penis on the back. Bill Walker will explode hearts and knees. If Leon Powe can turn into a full James Posey? They'll play in May.

If not June.