The weekend’s nearly here, so it’s time to look ahead to the story lines and match-ups from around the league that will tide us over for the next few days. Then, of course, we need to go ahead and give some of them an arbitrary grade. It’s the right thing to do. Here’s what’s on tap:
Friday.
New York at Miami – B. ESPN’s game o’ the night would be, could be, a potential classic with all the star power on the floor (Dwyane Wade could even return), but you just can’t rely on the Knicks to put up much of a fight with the way they’re going right now, so it could also be a drubbing by the second quarter. The fact that the Heat are the Heat means it’s worth checking in with regardless, just in case LeBron James does something crazy.
Indiana at Boston – B-. The Celtics are coming off of a hard-fought comeback win in Orlando without Ray Allen and Rajon Rondo. Indiana has beaten Boston up pretty good in the first two meetings between these teams. As much as the Celts would like to stop that, will they have the legs after last night’s monster rally?
Milwaukee at Chicago – C+. Poor Milwaukee. First, they lose center/voodoo doll victim Andrew Bogut indefinitely again, and now they have to go and face Derrick Rose, who isn’t playing the Pacers again quite yet, but figures to still be in a rather surly mood following the loss.
Toronto at Denver – D+. Seriously, don’t ask me why, but as the late-night games go, this one appeals to me most. The Raps have won two straight, Andrea Bargnani is playing like a pasta-fueled beast, and the Nuggets are always fun to watch anyway. I’m giving it a shot.
Saturday.
Washington at Charlotte – LOL. The Eastern Conference’s two worst teams will try to be less worse than the other for one night; obviously, battles such as that can only truly be determined after a full season, though. Watch this one ironically, drunk, or not at all. (Note: This means it will end up incredibly entertaining, just so you know.)
Sacramento at Utah – C. It’s on NBATV, which some of you may have (not me, Thanks Charter!), and it features a couple of young, interesting squads who will likely fly around the court for your viewing pleasure. It could be fun, but it’s also Saturday night, and there isn’t much going on in the NBA world. Maybe you should go out to dinner or something.
Sunday.
Chicago at Miami – A. Now this is a perfect way to spend a Sunday afternoon. Neither side plays Saturday, so both will be rested and ready to roll for this one. The impending end of football is always sad, but replace it with games like these and I’ve already forgotten what I was talking about in the beginning of this sentence.
San Antonio at Dallas – B+. Two old rivals that rarely play a bad game (except last time, when the Spurs smashed the Mavs, 93-71) in a match-up that suddenly feels very nostalgic. Dirk Nowitzki is shooting to be back in uniform, but hey! If he’s not, Vince Carter will be. Okay, let’s hope Dirk’s back and Dallas tries in this one.
Clippers at Denver – A-. With an Eastern Conference Finals rematch to start the day, two of the buzziest teams in the Western Conference as the nightcap really means this Sunday won’t suck for NBAers. If the Clips and Nuggets do half of the things you could imagine them doing on the floor against one another, this one will be worth it.
Enjoy the weekend.
Griffin Gotta contributes to The Hoop Doctors and is a co-managing editor of Straight Outta Vancouver. The story arcs and infinite weirdness of the NBA are addictions he deals with every day. Email him at griffingotta at gmail dot com.
