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