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