Unfortunately, there is no football this weekend. Unless you are one of the few people who enjoy watching the Pro Bowl. While next weekend’s match-up between the Steelers and Packers is on many sports fan’s minds, there are two can’t miss NBA games taking place on Sunday.
ABC is taking advantage off the week off between the conference championships and the Super Bowl, and showing its first Sunday Showcase games of the season. Let me tell you folks, you will be hard pressed to find more intriguing games this season. In the first game, Kevin Durant and the Oklahoma City Thunder will host the Heatles. Let’s take a look at the match-up between the two star studded squads.
Heat vs Thunder
The Heat will win if: They get a lot of good looks in transition. The Heat are an extremely dangerous team no matter what style they play. With that being said, they are nearly unbeatable when Wade and James are running wild in the open 
court. If the Heat can avoid playing half court basketball for long periods of time, they have a great shot at winning. Oklahoma City’s defense has taken a small step back this season. However, their half court defense is much more stellar than their transition D.
The Thunder will win if: They can get Jeff Green involved, and Russell Westbrook can get a lot of interior penetration. Green’s statistics are almost identical to last year’s. However, Green often seems like the lost muskateer sometimes playing behind Durant and Westbrook. If Green is able to have a big game behind the raucous crowd in Oklahoma City, the Thunder will be in good shape.
Westbrook is still very much hit or miss with his jumper. One of the keys to victory for the Thunder will be Westbrook’s ability to attack the teeth of the Heat defense.
Odds and Ends: It will interesting to see how LeBron plays up his “villain” role with the college type atmosphere in Oklahoma City (arguably the best fans in basketball). If LeBron hits a big fourth quarter shot, will he taunt or play to the crowd? Should be a great game in a great atmosphere.
Now, the match-up we have all been waiting for. This will be the first meeting between the Celtics and Lakers since the Lakers topped the Celtics in game seven last June. It think it is safe to say all hoops fans have been waiting for this game since game seven ended last year. Let’s take a look at the anticipated re-match between these two fierce rivals.
Celtics vs Lakers
The Lakers will win if: They control the glass and Ron Artest shows up. During last season’s finals, the team who won the rebounding battle won every game. Don’t expect that to change on Sunday.
Ron Artest has struggled on both ends of the court this season. With that being said, don’t be surprised if he has a break out game Sunday with the challenge of guarding Paul Pierce.
The Celtics will win if: They can get a big game from Ray Allen, and get some production from their second unit. One of the Celtics’ biggest weaknesses is their bench. If the Celtics have to rely too much on their starters, they may struggle on the road against the champs. The Celtics will need someone besides Big Baby to produce off the bench.
At times, Ray Allen torched the Lakers during the Finals last season. On the other hand, he had some of the worst games of his career in that same series. If Allen has a hot shooting night from behind the arc, the Celtics may be celebrating a re-match victory.
Odds and Ends: No one knows if Shaq will be playing in the game after nursing a recent hip injury. Let’s hope he does play. This will be the first time Shaq will have the chance to face Kobe and the Lakers since becoming a Celtic. If Shaq does play, the game instantly becomes that much more compelling.
Joshua Sexton is a lifelong basketball fanatic, who watches as many games as possible. In addition, He has played and coached the game at the high school level. He has recently started writing about the game of basketball.
