Five Games To Watch This Week 12/14 - 12/20

Paul George will look to keep the Pacers winning in a prime matchup
against the Raptors.

Toronto Raptors vs. Indiana Pacers
Monday December 14, 2015 7:00pm
Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN

The Pacers lost to the Raptors in their second game of the season, and it appeared at that point the Pacers wouldn't be that good of a team then. However, they have turned it around, and are now looking like one of the playoff contenders in the Eastern Conference. The Raptors have looked like what many expected, but they could even be better if it weren't for a couple of questionable home losses to the Knicks and Nuggets. This could be a potential playoff matchup, so this is a must watch to start off your week.

Kelly Olynyk ended Kevin Love's season in Game 4 of the playoffs last
season.

Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Boston Celtics
Tuesday December 15, 2015 7:30pm NBATV
TD Garden, Boston, MA

The Celtics were swept by the Cavaliers in the first round of the playoff last season, so there may be a smaller measure of revenge in store for the Celtics. This game caps a four day stretch in which the Celtics will have faced the NBA champion and Eastern Conference champion. The Celtics narrowly lost to the Warriors several days ago in double overtime, but they are proving that they are a better team than they were last year. They shocked many by even making the playoffs last year. It was thought they'd be in rebuild mode, but they took off after getting rid of Rajon Rondo, and then acquiring Isiah Thomas before last season's trade deadline. For Kevin Love, his season ended when Kelly Olynyk battled with him and caused him to suffer a separated shoulder. Let's see how these two face off against each other now.

Karl Anthony Towns will face off against fellow rookie Kristaps
Porzingis in a prime time matchup in the mecca.

Minnesota Timberwolves vs. New York Knicks
Wednesday December 16, 2015 7:30pm
Madison Square Garden, New York, NY

Many people agree the two most impressive rookies so far are Karl Anthony-Towns and Kristaps Porzingis. Those two will face off for the first time, and you can bet Anthony-Towns will be looking to assert himself as the better rookie. Porzingis hit a wall during the Knicks' recent three game West Coast road trip, even registering zero points in the last game against the Trailblazers. Porzingis is adjusting to the NBA schedule, and a wall like this is bound to happen several times throughout the season. This will be the Knicks first game since returning from the West Coast, so Porzingis will have four days between games to get back the energy he lacked last week. Porzingis will also play against Kevin Garnett for the first time in his career. Garnett is toward the end of his career as well so this will be a moment for the Knicks' rookie to treasure.

Lebron James will face off against Kevin Durant in this TNT prime
time matchup.

Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Cleveland Cavaliers
Thursday December 17, 2015 8:00pm TNT
Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland, OH

This is the first matchup between Kevin Durant and Lebron James of the season. These two are regarded as the best players in basketball, but Stephen Curry has had something to say about that lately. The Warriors are playing very well, but do not discount this game as a potential NBA Finals matchup. It'll be hard for the Thunder to get over the Warriors, but they're capable of doing so, along with the Spurs. A target date of December 20th has been set for the return of Kyrie Irving, so he wouldn't be around for this one against Russell Westbrook unless something changes. Iman Shumpert is back, and will most likely be tasked with guarding Westbrook. The Cavaliers are slowly rounding into a healthy team before their Christmas Day NBA Finals rematch.

The Clippers ended the Spurs season in an epic seven game series
last season. 

Los Angeles Clippers vs. San Antonio Spurs
Friday December 18, 2015 8:00pm ESPN
AT&T Center, San Antonio, TX

Last year's first round series between these two teams was easily the second best first round best of seven series I had ever watched. The 2009 series between the Celtics and the Bulls was the best, and this series last season was thrilling action from beginning to end. The Spurs lost two of their three home games in that series after winning two in Los Angeles. The Spurs are wishing they can have one of those home games back. The Spurs won the championship in 2014, so I doubt they're treating this game as revenge. The Clippers have made changes to their team and are coming around as of late. However, it hasn't been a smooth beginning. The Spurs have easily been the second best team in the league behind the Warriors. They're shutting their opponents down and that has been important as guys like LaMarcus Aldridge and David West get acclimated to their roles. These two could very well meet in the playoffs again.

Five Games To Watch This Week 12/7 - 12/13

Kristaps Porzingis will play his first game against his idol Dirk
Nowitzki.

Dallas Mavericks vs. New York Knicks
Monday December 7, 2015 7:30pm
Madison Square Garden, New York, NY

Kristaps Porzingis has been a huge and pleasant surprise thus far in the early going, and when you play this well in New York City, it'll get noticed rather quickly. Karl Anthony-Towns and Jahlil Okafor are having good seasons as well. However, they play in Minneapolis and Philadelphia respectively, and they are both American basketball players. Many have compared Porzingis' game to that of Dirk Nowitzki, a German who surprised many by having a Hall of Fame career since he was drafted in 1998. Nowitzki was really the first international player who excelled on the perimeter as a 7 foot basketball player. Guys like Arvydas Sabonis and Vlade Divac, to a degree, showed solid perimeter skills, but Nowitzki has dominated in that area of the game. Porzingis' first meeting against Nowitzki is certainly worth the watch.

Stephen Curry will look to continue rolling on the team's East Coast
trip against a much improved Pacers team. 

Golden State Warriors vs. Indiana Pacers
Tuesday December 8, 2015 7:00pm NBATV
Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN

The Pacers have been a surprise so far this season, owning the fourth best record in an Eastern Conference that looks much improved so far. Thus, people will now be looking at this game to see if the Warriors get their first loss. Paul George has looked like an MVP candidate so far, looking like he has completely rehabbed from the broken leg he suffered in an exhibition in August of 2014. It's worth noting that Stephen Curry had a notable incident here several years ago, when he was thrown to the floor by Roy Hibbert after a scuffle with David Lee. Lee is no longer with the Warriors and Hibbert is no longer with the Pacers, so that isn't even a thought for both teams coming into this game. However, every Warriors game against a solid team is a must watch.

Former Spurs' point guard Cory Joseph will look to help the Raptors
defeat the Spurs.

San Antonio Spurs vs. Toronto Raptors
Wednesday December 9, 2015 7:30pm
Air Canada Centre, Toronto, ON

The Raptors had a chance to give the Warriors their first loss and they blew that. The Raptors though, have had some curious losses. They lost at home to the Nuggets and the Knicks so far, so you just never know which Raptors team you'll get. Corey Joseph used to play for the Spurs, and owns a championship ring from 2014. Joseph has a slightly bigger role with the Raptors, but we'll see if Joseph can give his teammates some insight on what the Spurs like to do. This may not be the only trip to Canada for Kawhi Leonard. The All Star Game is in Toronto, and barring injury, Leonard should be there. This is a great one to catch.

Jeff Teague, along with Paul Millsap and Al Hereford, combined for
72 points in their win against the Thunder last week.

Atlanta Hawks vs. Oklahoma City Thunder
Thursday December 10, 2015 8:00pm
Chesapeake Energy Arena, Oklahoma City, OK

The Thunder lost to the Hawks last week, so this is naturally a revenge game for the Thunder. Russell Westbrook had a fine game with 34 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists in the loss. Look for Westbrook to have a solid game in this one as well. Durant wasn't too shabby himself, dropping 25 points to go along with six rebounds and six assists. If the Thunder want to win this game, however, they cannot allow Paul Millsap, Al Horford and Jeff Teague to combine for 72 points

Paul George will look to beat the Heat again in a matchup
of surprisingly good Eastern Conference teams.

Miami Heat vs. Indiana Pacers
Friday December 11, 2015 7:00pm ESPN
Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN

This is the second and final time the Heat will be playing the Pacers in Indianapolis. It's hard to believe these were the two teams competing in the Eastern Conference Finals two straight seasons. The teams look much different now but both teams have been the surprise of this season so far. After the consecutive Eastern Conference Finals against each other in 2013 and 2014, both teams missed the playoffs entirely in 2015. Both teams, if they can remain healthy and can continue their solid level of play, can definitely make the playoffs once again this season. This could even be a potential playoff matchup, so don't sleep on this game.