If you’re like me, NBA fans, then you’ve got two problems. One of them is a drinking problem (Awkward pause here). The other is that the Finals are over. And if you’re a Lakers fan like Jocelyn, those probably go hand in hand. Either way, you’ve probably got a fridge full of beer (or wine… or liquor… or whatever) and no basketball to keep you entertained. Well, I guess there’s always the WNBA. (Another awkward pause here).

But, fortunately for you, I have a solution. Next Thursday June 26 is the NBA Draft, and if there was ever an excuse to drink on a Thursday afternoon (for those of us on the west coast anyway), this is it. If you remember the RotoHog piece I devised involving the NFL Draft, you already know where I’m going with this. If not, I’ve got two words for you: drinking game!

Now, if you’re, say, a Clippers or Timberwolves fan, you were probably already going to be drinking heavily. If so, drink away. For the rest of us, I’ve got some fun rules to keep you on your toes – and that will probably end up putting you on your back like the Lakers by the last pick. Here we go.

MATERIALS

My personal preference is to play with beer – the Sam Adams or New Belgium summer seasonals are excellent – but anything works. Except Jägermeister. Never again.

To experience the full effect of RotoHog's NBA Draft Drinking Game we suggest matching the local cheap bear of your region to the team you are pulling for…

Old Style – Chicago Bulls; Lone Star – Houston , San Antonio, Dallas; National Bohemian – Washington Wizards; Sam Adams – Boston Celtics; Schaefer (if you can find it)– Philadelphia 76ers; Old Milwaukee, PBR, Schlitz – Milwaukee Bucks; Stag – Minnesota Timberwolves

Are there any more cheap, indigenous beers associated with a city/team that you can think of off the top of your head? Share them in our comment area below.

THE RULES

Drink ONCE

*when your team goes on the clock

*when a player from your alma mater is selected

*whenever they show a player in the green room

*and again if he’s on a cell phone

*whenever Stephen A. Smith or Dick Vitale yells about something, anything

*whenever an analyst uses any of the following words or phrases:

upside bust

wingspan elite athlete

explosive versatility

NBA-ready basketball IQ

natural scorer floor leader

*whenever you notice Stuart Scott’s lazy eye

*whenever you notice Scott’s OTHER lazy eye

Drink TWICE

*whenever a foreign player with an unpronounceable name is selected

*when the player selected is wearing a horrible suit (refer to RotoHog's related Top 10 Worst NBA Draft Fashion piece)

*for each high-five a player exchanges with a member of his posse

*for each illegitimate child a draft pick is shown to have

*whenever the last player in the green room is shown

*if there is a first-round trade

*if the player selected has a really hot girlfriend (think Casey Jacobsen in 2002)

Some secondary materials to consider to make things extra interesting:

Box of Orange Juice (chug a shot of OJ each time Mayo's $30K is mentioned... although you could resemble an orange oompa loompa before the draft even starts)

Jar of Mayo (for those with iron stomachs add a dollop of mayo to the head of each beer and drink for each pick that Mayo isn't selected until he is off the board)

Note that these are just two suggestions to add some extra punch to your afternoon aperitifs.

So there you have it. A surefire way to lighten up your Thursday evening and wreck your Friday morning. Of course, if you really want to be hungover on Friday, combine the drinking game with RotoHog's NBA Mock Draft Contest (coming soon - in which you can win one of our cool shirts pictured below) and drink once for every pick you missed. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.

All right, people. Think you can handle this? Got any other suggestions for rules? Let us know in the comment section below, and don’t be afraid to enter our NBA Draft contest, win that OJ Mayo t-shirt, and talk a little smack. Want a little more orange juice to wash down that mayo?  RotoHog writer Jocelyn delves deeper into the amateur vs . professional athlete conundrum in All That Glitters is Not Cardinal and Golden.