Five Games To Watch This Week 1/27 - 2/2

The two best players in the NBA square off in Miami on Wednesday.

San Antonio Spurs vs. Houston Rockets
Tuesday January 28, 2014 8pm NBATV

The Spurs have already lost twice to the Rockets, and both of those games came in San Antonio. The Spurs might have better luck playing in Houston. The Spurs have already lost seven games at home, but they have the road record in the NBA. That can probably help them in this game. The Rockets haven't been what they expected to be defensively, but that's because of the pace they play and the absence of Omer Asik.

Kevin McHale started the season by pairing Dwight Howard with Asik in the frontcourt. That duo presents a formidable frontcourt that poses problems for an opponent. However, on the offensive end, they're just not as potent. They're a better team with Terrence Jones playing the power forward position, as he spaces the floor well and allows the Rockets to average 105 points a game. Will this style of play be sustainable?

Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Miami Heat
Wednesday January 29, 2014 7pm ESPN

This is a potential NBA Finals preview, as these two teams met in the 2012 NBA Finals. The Thunder were the top seed in last year's playoffs as well, but they lost Russell Westbrook to injury in the first round. They simply weren't the same, as they were bounced from the playoffs by the Memphis Grizzlies rather easily in the second round. If Westbrook can return from his latest injury and remain healthy through their postseason run, there's a great chance they'll be back in the Finals.

Many fans will enjoy another matchup between Durant and Lebron James, as they are the league's two best players. There is a great chance Durant can win MVP this year, as he's carried the Thunder while Westbrook has been out with another knee surgery. Durant can make a good MVP case if he lights up American Airlines Arena. He has been on a scoring tear as of late, so if he goes off on James, it'll be one of the most impressive statements of the season.

Los Angeles Clippers vs. Golden State Warriors
Thursday January 30, 2014 10:30pm TNT

Everytime these two teams meet, someone has to get into a little scrum. Hopefully, both teams are able to keep the peace and play a clean game. The Clippers are four games ahead of the Warriors, so the Warriors will want this home win. Chris Paul also will not suit up, so Stephen Curry won't have a premier point guard to face. That could be a great thing, or it could be a bad thing. Curry is locked in at times, especially when he's facing a great opponent or a great individual matchup. He could lose a little bit of focus without Paul playing.

After being held to 91 points in a loss to the Bobcats, the Clippers have been scoring points in bunches. They've beaten the Bulls, Raptors, and Bucks in the past three games while averaging just over 117 points a game. Jamal Crawford has averaged 31 points a game in the past two, so he could be on a roll. Both teams will fight for this one. Let's see who comes out on top.

Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Brooklyn Nets
Friday January 31, 2014 8pm ESPN

The Nets are 10-2 since 2014 started, so they are greatly improving. Both of those losses came to the Raptors, so they'll look to solve that problem later. However, one of the Nets wins in 2014 came against the Thunder, and it was in Oklahoma City. Therefore, the Nets will look for a season-series sweep of the Thunder. The Nets also beat the Thunder in Oklahoma City last year, so they seem to have their number.

Kevin Durant is rolling right now, so he may drop 40 in this one. He has no other choice but to take on more scoring, as Russell Westbrook is still out for an extended period of time. Durant doesn't want to take all of these shots, but he will for the better of the team. The Thunder should know the Nets have played them well in the past two seasons. Look for the Thunder to make a statement in Brooklyn.

Miami Heat vs. New York Knicks
Saturday February 1, 2014 8:30pm ESPN

This is Super Bowl weekend in New York City, so you know Lebron James and Kevin Durant had to pay visits and bring a pre-Super Bowl show. The Heat lost to the Knicks in their first meeting, also at Madison Square Garden, so the Heat will be looking for revenge. This could be a time where the Heat get into one of their hot stretches. The Heat are very capable of going on a ridiculous winning streak just like they did last year.

The Heat will want one of those streaks, but the health of Dwyane Wade continues to be a concern. Wade's knees simply aren't holding up, so his effectiveness for the rest of his career could be in doubt. We'll see how that story develops, but James is very capable of carrying this team. The Knicks are struggling also, so I don't expect them to beat the Heat a second time. If the Knicks do win, this could be a confidence builder. The Knicks need them especially since they've played poorly at home.

Five Games To Watch This Week 1/20 - 1/26

It was Heat's G Ray Allen's three that tied the game
and saved the Heat's season. 

Indiana Pacers vs. Golden State Warriors
Monday January 20, 2014 10:30pm TNT

This is the first of two meetings between these two teams. If you remember last season, Warriors' F David Lee and Pacers' C Roy Hibbert got into a fight that resulted in Warriors' G Stephen Curry getting tossed to the side repeatedly by Hibbert. They're probably not going into this game thinking about that fight, but it'll be interesting to see Hibbert and Lee battle for rebounds. Since it is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, hopefully both teams can keep the peace. The Pacers are a defensive juggernaut, so handling the free spirited and free shooting Warriors can be a tough task. If Curry and F Klay Thompson are on fire, there's nothing Pacers' F Paul George and G Lance Stephenson can do.

Portland Trailblazers vs. Oklahoma City Thunder
Tuesday January 21, 2014 8pm

The Trailblazers are coming off a victory in San Antonio, which means they already have two wins apiece against the last two Western Conference champions. The Thunder should come out and look to blow the Trailblazers out. When you keep them around, they make things happen. Thunder's F Kevin Durant scored 54 points against the Warriors, so look for him to take over if he needs to do so. He previously stated he doesn't want to be taking a lot of shots and he needs help. However, if need be, he'll deliver.

Oklahoma City Thunder vs. San Antonio Spurs
Wednesday January 22, 2014 8pm ESPN

The Spurs' struggles against the top teams should be well-noted by now. Despite having the best record in the Western Conference, they are struggling against the top teams in the league. This is the last game against the Thunder at home this season. The Spurs would love to get a victory. The Spurs could very well be swept in their regular season matchup against the Thunder if they don't win at home in this one.

San Antonio Spurs vs. Miami Heat
Sunday January 26, 2014 1pm ABC

This is a rematch of last year's NBA Finals, and it was a great series. No team has ever come as close as the Spurs came to winning a championship without winning one. This won't be revenge because the Spurs know it counts in June. They have four rings themselves so they know that better than any team. Still, both teams are still among the top teams in their respective conferences and in the league, so it's possible this could also become a Finals preview. This is a good game of an ABC doubleheader. Too bad the second game, which was supposed to be the headliner, sucks.

Portland Trailblazers vs. Golden State Warriors
Sunday January 26, 2014 9pm

The first time these two teams played in November, the Trailblazers got a huge road win in Oakland, but it didn't come without a little controversy. Six technicals and three ejections occurred in this game, as Warriors' C Andrew Bogut and Trailblazers' C Joel Freeland were involved in an altercation. Trailblazers' G Mo Williams and G Wesley Matthews were ejected, in addition to Warriors' F Draymond Green. Hopefully, this game isn't marred by another altercation. The Warriors were average in the first month of the season while the Trailblazers were surprising a lot of people. The Warriors are now in the 6th spot and looking to climb up the standings some more. This is a great game to cap off a week full of great games.

Five Games To Watch This Week 1/13 - 1/19

 

Trailblazers' F Nicolas Batum had a triple-double in the team's
first meeting against the Spurs.

5. Portland Trailblazers vs. Dallas Mavericks
Saturday January 18, 2014 8:30pm

These two teams played in early December in Portland, and the Mavericks handed the Trailblazers a rare home loss after Monta Ellis hit a game-winning jumper as time expired. Therefore, the Trailblazers will be looking for revenge in this one. LaMarcus Aldridge is from Dallas, so he'll most likely have a lot of friends and family on hand. Aldridge will be a free agent in the 2015 offseason, so going home to Dallas could be a potential landing spot for him.

That's thinking too far ahead though. The Trailblazers have surprisingly played well so far, but they have cooled off a little lately. This will be the second game of a Texas back-to-back tilt. The first game will be harder.

4. Los Angeles Clippers vs. Indiana Pacers
Saturday January 18, 2014 7pm NBATV

This will be the second and last meeting of the season between these two teams, unless they see each other again in the NBA Finals. The Pacers won the first meeting in Los Angeles, and the Clippers will be going into Indianapolis without Chris Paul. I don't see how the Clippers can come out winners of this game, but the Pacers go into offensive funks at times.

If the Clippers are able to break down the Pacers at times and force the Pacers into taking contested jump shots, the Clippers still have a chance to win. I don't know how they'll break down the Pacers' stout defense without Paul, so that'll mean Jared Dudley, J.J. Redick and Jamal Crawford will have to be hot from the outside to pull off the upset.

3. Golden State Warriors vs. Oklahoma City Thunder
Friday January 17, 2014 9:30pm ESPN

It wasn't that long ago when the Warriors were out of the playoff picture, struggling in mediocrity with the absence of Andre Iguodala. The Warriors are now winners of 11 of their past 12 games since losing to a Spurs team that rested most of its stars in December. The Warriors are now just five games back of the top seed in the Western Conference. Winning in Oklahoma City seems possible for them, especially since the Thunder will be without Russell Westbrook.

The Thunder are 5-4 since Westbrook was declared out for an indefinite amount of time after securing a triple double on a Christmas Day win at Madison Square Garden. The Thunder were the top seed in the Western Conference at the time. They are now the third seed, so they must be careful and try to stay in the top two or three until Westbrook returns. They are still championship contenders no matter where they end up at the end of the regular season. However, a 3 seed would mean not having home-court advantage against a 2 seed in the second round.

2. Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Houston Rockets
Thursday January 16, 2014 9:30pm TNT

The Thunder destroyed the Rockets by 31 points in Oklahoma City a couple of days before New Year's. Naturally, the Rockets will be looking to avenge that loss. However, something must be said about James Harden's struggles against his former team. It seems the Thunder know him so well, and in these past two seasons, they have been able to restrict him a bit.

He still has had solid games against them last season, including a career-high 46 points against the Thunder. However, he was held in check in that earlier meeting this season. Harden should be feeling some kind of way about his struggles against Kevin Durant, so don't be surprised if he hangs another 40 at home against the depleted Thunder. This should be a good one.

1. Portland Trailblazers vs. San Antonio Spurs
Friday January 17, 2014 8:30pm

Many people have been waiting for the Trailblazers to show they're not for real, but their win against the Thunder in Oklahoma City on New Year's Eve showed to people they are for real. They have struggled a little lately, losing to the 76ers at home recently, but the Trailblazers are still playing well overall. If they can win in San Antonio, that would be huge for their confidence.

The Spurs have destroyed the teams they're supposed to beat, which is what every good team should do. However, the Spurs haven't necessarily shown they can beat the top teams in the league. They've already suffered losses to the Thunder and Rockets (twice apiece), Clippers, Pacers, and these Trailblazers. The Spurs usually don't get the ball rolling until after the All-Star break. However, they would like a win here, and I believe they'll get that win.

Five Games To Watch This Week 1/6 - 1/12

Heat's F Lebron James and Knicks' F Carmelo Anthony renew their
rivalry as the two meet for the first time this season.

5. Houston Rockets vs. Atlanta Hawks
Friday January 10, 2014 7:30pm

Dwight Howard is from Atlanta, so the Hawks felt they could attempt to entice him to come to his hometown team this offseason. Howard should expect to hear boos in this one, if Hawks fans even decide to show up to this game. For a team that has been a playoffs team for the past six years, they have a hard time bringing fans to the gym. From Howard's perspective, he might want to have a big game in front of potential friends and family.

4. Minnesota Timberwolves vs. San Antonio Spurs
Sunday January 12, 2014 7pm

The Timberwolves are currently two games behind the Mavericks for the eighth seed in the Western Conference, and it's only January. There's plenty of time for them to play well and capture a playoff berth. What makes this game exciting to watch is the fact that the Timberwolves are second in the NBA in scoring behind the Trailblazers. They are exciting to watch, and couple that with the Spurs' exciting brand of basketball as well, this is a must-watch.

3. Indiana Pacers vs. Atlanta Hawks 
Wednesday January 8, 2014 7:30pm

Many people forget the Pacers struggled with the Hawks in the first round of the playoffs last season, as the Hawks were able to handle the Pacers easily in Games 3 and 4 in Atlanta. The Hawks currently own the third seed, but they're only one game over .500. These two teams, and the Heat, are the only three teams in the entire conference with records better than .500. This may not be a game that determines seeding, as the Pacers are far from the Hawks. The Hawks will be without Al Horford for the rest of the year also. We wish we could've seen Horford against Roy Hibbert.

2. Toronto Raptors vs. Indiana Pacers 
Tuesday January 7, 2014 7pm

The Raptors have been hot as of late, particularly after losing five straight games in early December. They have won seven of their past 10 games to improve to .500. The Raptors even beat the Pacers in Toronto on New Year's Day. The Pacers may not exactly be looking for revenge, but they're just looking for a win to continue their torrid start to their season. The Raptors, on the other hand, want to make a statement. They would love to get a win in Indianapolis.

1. Miami Heat vs. New York Knicks 
Thursday January 9, 2014 8pm TNT

This game is the best game of the week, which means there is a lack of good games this week. Carmelo Anthony is going up against Lebron James in this one, and they have had great battles in their careers. The Knicks have been horrible at home, so this game has potential to be a disaster. It could also bring out spirited play in the Knicks, which could result in a close loss or a shocking win. No one expects the Knicks to win this one but anything is possible.