TOP NBA GAMES OF THE WEEK: 2/16-2/23
February 16, 2009 by B. C.
Friday //
Atlanta Hawks at Portland Trailblazers. Expect this to be a great evenly matched game between two up-and-coming teams. After finishing in 10th place in the West and missing the playoffs last season, the Trailblazers (32-20) currently have the fourth-best record in the Western Conference.
Brandon Roy continues to prove he’s worthy of All-Star status with a buzzer-beating layup against the New York Knicks last Sunday. Meanwhile in the East, the Hawks (31-21) also enter the second half of the season much improved from a year ago with the fourth-best record in the Eastern Conference. Though their 8-11 mark so far in ‘09 is cause for concern, they should have enough talent to remain in the middle of the pack in the top-heavy Eastern Conference.
New Orleans Hornets at Los Angeles Lakers. The Hornets needed the All-Star break perhaps more so than any other team. Chris Paul is just returning after missing 4 games because of a strained groin, Tyson Chandler is still recovering from a sprained left ankle, and David West has missed five games with back spasms, half of one because of an ejection, and another game because he was suspended for the flagrant foul he committed to get ejected. As a result, the Hornets have slipped to seventh place in the Western Conference, but you can expect them to begin their journey back to the top once they return to full strength. They Lakers will need to stay focused to hold off the Boston Celtics and the Cleveland Cavaliers for the best record in the league. Unfortunately, they’ll be without Andrew Bynum for most, if not all, of the remaining regular season, but if Lamar Odom continues his solid play (averaging 16 points and 13 rebounds since Bynum’s injury), the Lakers should be just fine.
Sunday //
Detroit Pistons at Cleveland Cavaliers. The Pistons will be trying to become just the second team to win in Cleveland this season in this match-up of two of the top defensive teams in the league. Unfortunately for the Pistons, they’re also near the bottom of the league when it comes to offensive production, averaging just over 93 points per game. Rip Hamilton has been lighting it up off the bench while Rodney Stuckey has been struggling of late. I’m thinking that maybe the Pistons might have moved the wrong guy to the bench.
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