Five Games To Watch This Week 3/31 - 4/6

In what could be an NBA Finals preview, former
Spurs PG George Hill will try to contain Tony Parker.

San Antonio Spurs vs. Indiana Pacers
Monday March 31, 2014 7pm NBATV

These two teams last played in early December, and the Pacers were making statements to the rest of the league at that time when they got off to their great start. That game was in San Antonio, and a double-digit victory impressed a number of people. These two teams now own the top seed in their respective conferences, so this could very well be an NBA Finals preview. The Spurs are rolling right now, winners of 17 straight. Their winning streak will be tested this week with games against the Warriors and Thunder as well. If the Spurs can extend their winning streak through the week's tough games, their statement will be heard loud and clear. The Pacers should view this game as a game to get a win over a championship contender, much like they did to the Heat this past week.

Toronto Raptors vs. Miami Heat
Monday March 31, 2014 7:30pm

The Raptors are nine games behind the Heat for second place in the Eastern Conference. However, the Raptors have the third best record in the conference, and this could be a preview of a second-round matchup in the postseason. A win here for the Heat will complete a four-game sweep, but the first two games were played in November, when the Raptors still had Rudy Gay. The Raptors have been a much different team since Gay's departure, and the Heat saw that when the Raptors played them tight in January. The Raptors need to keep winning, as they are just a game ahead of the Bulls in the standings. A win in Miami would also be huge for their confidence heading into the postseason.

San Antonio Spurs vs. Oklahoma City Thunder
Thursday April 3, 2014 8pm TNT

A win here for the Thunder would complete a season sweep, which is surprising. However, the Thunder seem to be a different team in the past month, and that could bode well for the Spurs heading into the postseason. The top two teams in the Western Conference are widely expected to see each other again in the Western Conference Finals, so we can get a lot from this game if both teams are playing all of their players. That's not a guarantee since the Spurs will be playing the Warriors the night before.

Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Houston Rockets
Friday April 4, 2014 9:30pm ESPN

The last time the Thunder played in Houston, the Rockets were scoring points with ease in the first half, racking up 73 points in the first half. The second half was a much different story, as the Rockets were historically bad. They managed to score just 19 points the entire second half in a double-digit loss. The last time these two teams played in general, Patrick Beverly was too busy reminding Russell Westbrook what he had done to him last season to tear his meniscus. Reports now have it that Beverly has a torn meniscus. Many will say it's karma, but that doesn't matter now. Beverly will seek multiple opinions. If Beverly will be shut down for the rest of the season, the Rockets are in trouble.

Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Phoenix Suns
Sunday April 6, 2014 9pm NBATV

The Thunder allowed Gerald Green to score 41 points the last time these two teams met in early March, roughly four weeks ago. If the playoffs were to start today, these two teams would see each other in the first round. It makes for an interesting Sunday game without any college basketball action for the first time in weeks. This is also a good Sunday game to watch considering ABC's doubleheader consists of disappointing teams who may get blown out. This is the must-watch game. This season is a great example of why the NBA and ABC should flex some of these Sunday doubleheader games out in favor of better ones like this game.

Five Games To Watch This Week 3/17 - 3/23

Pacers' C Roy Hibbert and Bulls' C Joakim Noah
will battle in what should be a defensive slugfest Friday night.

Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Chicago Bulls
Monday March 17, 2014 8pm ESPN

The Bulls have won 13 of their past 17 games as they look to climb the Eastern Conference standings and claim the 3 seed from the Toronto Raptors. Meanwhile, the Thunder are coming off of a bad home loss to the Mavericks, and they have struggled in general since Russell Westbrook returned to the lineup immediately following the All-Star break. However, Westbrook didn't play against the Mavericks, so he's expected to play in this game. The Thunder want to avoid playing him in back-to-back games so he won't have any problems with his knee going forward. However, the Thunder are struggling at the wrong time, and the Bulls are playing their best basketball. Joakim Noah is the catalyst and should be considered an MVP candidate.

Chicago Bulls vs. Indiana Pacers
Friday March 21, 2014 7pm

This is the first of two match ups between these two teams in a three-day span, and those two games will conclude the season series. The series is split at one currently, and the Pacers will be expected to win this game since they're at home. However, the Bulls have played better basketball lately, but they have no shot of catching the Pacers in the division. The Bulls will only look to make a statement with a win in Indianapolis, and there's a good chance they can do that. Both teams are allowing a season-best 92.2 points per game, so expect this game to be low-scoring.

Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Toronto Raptors
Friday March 21, 2014 7pm

The Raptors beat the Thunder in Oklahoma City in the teams' first meeting three days before Christmas, so the Thunder will look to return the favor in Canada. The Raptors have to keep winning to hold off the Brooklyn Nets for the Atlantic Division crown and a top 4 seed. They are currently a 3 seed and just a half game ahead of the Chicago Bulls, so they'll be looking to stay ahead of them as well. The Raptors are getting production from a lot of people, and Demar DeRozan is starting to look like a star the Raptors expected him to be when they drafted him with the ninth overall pick in the 2009 draft. This would be a good game for a good win for the Thunder. They have struggled since the All-Star break and have relinquished the 1 seed to the San Antonio Spurs.

Indiana Pacers vs. Memphis Grizzlies
Saturday March 22, 2014 8pm

The Grizzlies have played great basketball in the past couple of months, and it has resulted in the Grizzlies obtaining a playoff spot while the sputtering Phoenix Suns have fallen out. The Grizzlies are healthy and have seemed to find a lineup they like to work with, so the Suns are in a lot of trouble. These two teams were in the conference finals a year ago, and the Pacers seem like a lock to get back. The Grizzlies certainly aren't locks, and they would like to keep winning so they can continue climbing the standings to avoid the Thunder or Spurs. It may not be that bad to play the Thunder, however, the way they've been playing lately. Don't feel fooled by a little funk though.

San Antonio Spurs vs. Golden State Warriors
Saturday March 22, 2014 10:30pm NBATV

The Warriors are battling with the Mavericks, Grizzlies and Suns for the bottom three spots in the playoffs. The Spurs are rolling, winners of 10 straight and have obtained the 1 seed and the overall best record in the league. The Warriors will look to avoid them in the playoffs, so the only way to do so is to avoid the 7 or 8 seed. However, the Warriors can make a statement with a win against the Spurs as well. There's a good chance the Spurs will be resting players in this one. They play in Sacramento the night before, so that should help the Warriors. These two did play in Oakland when the Spurs were resting players, and they still beat the Warriors. The Spurs are a deep team.

Five Games To Watch This Week 3/10 - 3/16

Heat F Lebron James won't have the mask when the Rockets
and Heat battle in South Beach on Sunday.

Phoenix Suns vs. Los Angeles Clippers
Monday March 10, 2014 10:30pm NBATV

There's a possibility these two teams could see each other in the playoffs. If the playoffs started today, that wouldn't be the case, but there have been changes to the top and bottom of the Western Conference playoff standings so you never know. The season series is even so far through two games, with the road team being the victor in both. This game is in the Staples Center, so if it goes according to history, the Suns should be feeling good. Of course it isn't that easy, and both teams are battling for the Pacific Division title. The Clippers have a solid lead, but a losing streak coupled with a hot streak for the Suns could change things. Both teams would enjoy a win here.

Houston Rockets vs. Oklahoma City Thunder
Tuesday March 11, 2014 8pm NBATV

The last time these two teams played, the Rockets were red hot in the first half, taking a 73-59 halftime lead. In what would become a historical second half, the Thunder would outscore the Rockets by 26 points to win this game. The historical part of this performance was the total amount of points the Rockets scored in the second half. They scored a grand total of 19 points, which appeared to even shock Kevin Durant in the post game interview with Craig Sager. The Thunder haven't played well recently, especially since Russell Westbrook returned to the lineup the first game following the All-Star break. The Rockets could catch the Thunder at a bad time, as the Thunder have allowed 41 points to Gerald Green of the Suns and 42 points to Jodie Meeks of the Lakers in recent losses.

Portland Trailblazers vs. San Antonio Spurs
Wednesday March 12, 2014 9:30pm ESPN

When the Trailblazers beat the Spurs the first two times in November and January respectively, the Trailblazers were playing excellent ball and were sitting atop the Western Conference standings. These two played for a third time in the week following the All-Star break, and Patty Mills had a breakout performance in a game in which Tony Parker and Tim Duncan sat out. The Trailblazers are now fifth in the Western Conference standings, so they're definitely not playing as well as they were in the beginning of the season. Meanwhile, the Spurs are starting to play well against the contenders, and they are healthy for the first time in a long time. The Trailblazers would really like this win for a number of reasons, but winning the season series could be the most important reason.

Golden State Warriors vs. Los Angeles Clippers
Wednesday March 12, 2014 10:30pm

This is the final meeting between these two teams, and some of us would like to see them play each other in the playoffs as well. This matchup has been testy, with Blake Griffin being ejected in their Christmas Game matchup, and Doc Rivers and Mark Jackson having words about the tactics used in their matchups. Remember, Rivers and Jackson were traded for each other in the early 90s, when Rivers joined the Knicks and Jackson joined the Clippers. This doesn't necessarily mean those two have anything against each other. However, it's another interesting twist in connection between these two guys, and it can get better in the last regular season meeting here.

Houston Rockets vs. Miami Heat
Sunday March 16, 2014 3:30pm ABC

The Rockets led wire-to-wire in their victory against the defending champions last week, so the Heat will look to avenge the loss. ABC will only show one game, as there will be plenty of college basketball action on this day, including the Selection Sunday show. That show begins at 6, so this game will lead right into that. This is the perfect prelude to an exciting show, and these two teams have exciting offenses as well. Dwight Howard has 22 points and 16 rebounds in the first matchup on March 4th, and he figures to be a problem again because the Heat like to go small. If Howard isn't effective against the small lineup, the Rockets will not win at all.

Five Games To Watch This Week 3/3 - 3/9

Spurs' G Danny Green put on a show from behind the arc in last
season's NBA Finals. The Spurs and Heat see each other on Thursday.

Miami Heat vs. Houston Rockets
Tuesday March 4, 2014 8pm NBATV

These two teams will meet for the first time this season, and they will see each other in Miami twelve days later as well. This could be an NBA Finals preview, as the Rockets are one of several teams prime to contend for a championship in the Western Conference. This is the first of two consecutive games in the state of Texas for the defending champions. The Heat are playing well also, winning 10 of their last 11 games. This is usually the point in the season where they get things going en route to the NBA Finals, so the Pacers should be worried. In the offseason, Kevin Durant told a reporter he believed James Harden is now better than Dwyane Wade. This is Harden's first chance to prove Durant right.

Miami Heat vs. San Antonio Spurs
Thursday March 6, 2014 8pm TNT

The Heat won the first rematch of last year's NBA Finals, so the Spurs may have revenge on their minds. The Spurs probably won't have revenge on their minds either. It's really hard to tell exactly how the Spurs will come out and play. However, they always make sure they're going into the postseason at their best. That wasn't the case last season, as they struggled in April to end the regular season. However, they proved exactly why they should never be counted out, as they came within 20 seconds, a made free throw or a rebound from winning another NBA championship. We'll see how the Spurs are feeling in this one.

Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Phoenix Suns
Thursday March 6, 2014 9pm

The second game of the TNT doubleheader will be between the Clippers and Lakers. If TNT had the power to switch games out, they would probably switch that game out and televise this one. The Suns have shocked the country with their play, but they still have some work to do to remain in the playoff race. At the bottom of the Western Conference playoff standings, the Suns are fighting with the Warriors, Grizzlies and Mavericks for the final three seeds. We'll see which three teams will hold up and what team will be on the outside looking in at the end of the season. I believe the Suns have gained fans with their surprisingly impressive play. It would be a heartbreaker if they didn't qualify for the postseason.

Indiana Pacers vs. Houston Rockets
Friday March 7, 2014 9:30pm ESPN

The Rockets owe it to their fans for a good game and victory in this one. The first time these two teams played in December, back in Indianapolis, the Pacers won by 33. The Rockets should remember it and try to send a message. These two teams could very well be seeing each other in the NBA Finals. Players from both teams hate to admit it, but these kind of games are statement games. The Rockets definitely want to make a statement. The opportunity awaits them.

Portland Trailblazers vs. Houston Rockets
Sunday March 9, 2014 7pm

The Rockets have already won two out of three against the Trailblazers, so they'll be looking to win the season series. The Trailblazers were the top seed in the Western Conference at one point, but they dipped to fifth at one point during midseason struggles. However, they're now third in the Western Conference, sitting 3 1/2 games behind the Thunder. The Rockets were hot at one point leading up to the All-Star break, owning the third seed at one point. However, the Rockets have dipped below the Trailblazers, so it really appears as if both teams could use a tiebreaker advantage. A victory for either team could be huge.