This time next week will officially be NBA Playoffs Eve; with six days left to decide who plays whom and who will qualify in the lower half of each respective conference’s standings, this is essentially a final reminder to breathe deeply and try to get any pressing matters taken care of in a week’s time. This will also likely be the last ‘Weekend Preview’ for the season, as attention will need to be turned to playoff talking points and story-lines. You’re sad, I know. One week, folks. That’s it. Use your time wisely.
Friday.
Boston at Atlanta. The Hawks actually have one less loss, but by virtue of division standings, the Celts would nab the home-court advantage in this preview of a first-round pairing, if the season ended today. Safe to say I don’t have much of a clue when it comes to what to make of Atlanta, but I think that’s true for most seasons, even though they never really seem to change at the same time. Very confusing.
Los Angeles Lakers at San Antonio. Kobe Bryant could return from the quickest ascent from injured player to head coach in the history of professional sports, and both teams have taken their turn running the other out of their respective gyms in April, so this will be the hopefully-closer rubber match. A real dandy we’ve got here.
Oklahoma City at Sacramento. With the Spurs currently a half-game up on the Thunder for first in the West, O.K.C. could either have a chance to snatch the top spot back or be a full-game behind when they meet the Kings tonight. Either way: Sorry, Kings.
Saturday.
Denver at Phoenix. The current (you should probably refresh your screen just in case, though) seven and eight seeds, the only two still yet to be claimed, in the Western Conference square off. The Suns just play a murderer’s row of playoff contenders to end the season, but many of the contests are at home for them and beating a Clippers team last night that has been locked-in recently was a nice start to this grueling finish. Thanks for the Saturday Triple-header, by the way, ESPN.
Philadelphia at Indiana. The only way the Bucks can make the playoffs now is by virtue of what would be a really, really ugly collapse from the 76ers. Milwaukee is home to New Jersey on this night as well, and the Pacers continue to steadily roll towards the postseason, but still: Just put them out of their misery, Philly. Don’t let this race get interesting when it no longer has any right to. And no, I’m not bitter.
Orlando at Utah. It’s anyone’s guess as to what we’re going to see from the Magic going forward this season without Dwight Howard (Hint: Lots of Big Baby! Hooray!) but for the Jazz at least, who are tied record-wise with Phoenix, every game still very much counts. A loss in this game, at home, now would look much worse; so yeah, pressure’s on.
Sunday.
New York at Atlanta. It’s Sunday, it’s noon; maybe you’re just waking up, maybe you’re tuning into ESPN, mistaking this for the Sunday bowling coverage of which they’re known for, and this game happens to be on. It’s definitely not the worst thing that can happen to you, even if the match-up isn’t quite inspiring by itself, but it’ll do just fine. The way Carmelo Anthony has been balling of late, it really could be quite fun.
Oklahoma City at Los Angeles Lakers. A few short years ago, the upstart Thunder proved their still-generating talent and teamwork by pushing the favorite Lakers to the brink in the first round of the playoffs. Now, with the Thunder as the West’s best for much of this season, it still strangely feels like maybe the Lakers shouldn’t be expected to win — especially since O.K.C. has taken the first two games from them this season already — but I certainly wouldn’t count them out in a postseason series one bit. At this point, these big match-ups between elites are part playoff-positioning, part playoff-posturing, should they meet again.
Orlando at Denver. Boy, the Magic sure are going to have quite a bit to say about the Western Conference playoff picture this weekend, I guess. These games could end up being more exciting than Orlando’s first round playoff series, so that’s something, right? Maybe? Anyway, get well, Dwight Howard; without you, Orlando is a very unappealing watch.
Enjoy the last weekend before all hell breaks loose, everyone.
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.
