Wonder if Obama’s gonna catch the Bulls game on Tuesday. What? He’s busy that night? Oh, okay.
Monday: Portland Trailblazers at Dallas Mavericks (5:30 PM PST on League Pass)
The Portland Trailblazers are one of the NBA’s surprise teams, based on the efforts of Damian Lillard. The rookie point guard has averaged 21 points, 9 assists and 4 rebounds in his very young NBA career. He’s already getting a lot of time — 39 minutes per game — and it seems as if his passing has improved the offensive output of his team. LaMarcus Aldridge, Wes Matthews, Nic Batum and J.J. Hickson are all averaging career highs for the 2-1 Blazers. If you haven’t gotten a chance to check out “the homie” Damian Lillard play, this Monday night matchup against the scrappy Mavs should do the trick.
Tuesday: Orlando Magic at Chicago Bulls (5:00 PM PST on League Pass)
Raise your hand if you expected the Magic to go 2-0 to start the year? Oh put your hand down, Stan Van Gundy, you’re not fooling anyone. But yes, Jacque Vaughn is pushing all the right buttons, and has the Magic playing some scrappy-ass ball. Big Baby is playing out of his mind, averaging 25.5 and 9 in two games, and J.J. Reddick has stepped up in the absence of team captain and franchise ambassador Jameer Nelson (damn groin!) to the tune of 21 points and 6 assists. Right now, two things are keeping the Magic alive: 3 points shooting, which the Magic currently lead the entire league in, and defense, where the Magic only allow 89.0 points per game. And all of this while Hedo Turkoglu and Al Harrington miss extended time. Could we have another 2000 Magic, which featured a scrappy, star-less team, a rookie head coach (Doc Rivers), and a 41-41 record? Time will tell. I’d love to see Big Baby average 25 and 9 for the season, but I’d also love if X-Files came back. So we’ll see. A road win against the wounded-yet-dangerous Bulls would invariably turn some heads.
Wednesday: Indiana Pacers at Atlanta Hawks (4:30 PM PST on League Pass)
I will admit: I underestimated the Atlanta Hawks. While most of the NBA punditry assumed that Danny Ferry was scuttling the ship this past summer when he trimmed his payroll down to only $21 million in guaranteed contracts, he seems to have something different up his sleeve. Right now the Hawks trot out a team that is full of experienced, skilled vets who aren’t that close to being taken to pasture. Josh Smith and Al Horford have taken the leadership reins with gusto, and the other veterans on the team — a “why did I think these guys would suck?” lineup of Lou Williams, Kyle Korver, Jeff Teague, Devin Harris, and Zaza Pachulia, amongst others — seem to be buying in. This is a team that will likely make the playoffs, have two fine players in Smith and Horford, some cap space in 2013 and 2014, and an upgrade at coach this summer (assuming lame duck coach Larry Drew is packaged into a gel capsule and sent out to space). Sorry, Hawksters. I should’ve taken y’all more seriously, I think. Enjoy this matchup against two similarly-built Eastern playoff squads.
Thursday: LA Clippers at Portland Trailblazers (7:30 PM PST on TNT)
Second Blazers appearance of the week, I know. But a CP3-Lillard matchup, plus a LaMarcus-Blake matchup? Followed by an Inside the NBA that has C-Webb taking minutes away from Shaq? Count me in!
Friday: Golden State Warriors at LA Lakers (7:30 PM PST on League Pass)
I actually want to watch Rockets at Grizzlies, but James “T-Mac 2.0″ Harden will be doing his thing on NBATV that night. Instead, let’s watch the Golden State Warriors, who have already sustained their first curse-like mishap with Brandon Rush’s season-ending ACL injury, take on the Los Angeles Lakers, who will either be sitting at 2-3 or 1-4 depending on how their game against the Jazz goes on Wednesday. Of particular interest (at least to me) will be the first matchup between Pacific Division pivots Dwight Howard and Andrew Bogut, two elite defenders who are working their way back from acute injuries.
Saturday: Minnesota Timberwolves at Chicago Bulls (5:00 PM PST on League Pass)
Dear Amy, see you in September
Hope that you remember me next year
Hey Jamie, you’ve been a great friend to me
I hope that I’ll still see you around here
‘Cause I’m looking through the yearbook then I find that empty space
There’s a name without a picture, but I can’t forget his face
Tell me where did he go, I want to know
Where did Johnny go?
It says, “Picture unavailable” right here
More than sad, it makes me mad to know somebody knows
There’s a lying in your silence. Tell me where did Johnny go?
- Hanson
“Yearbook”
Middle of Nowhere (1997)
Sunday: Miami Heat at Memphis Grizzlies (3:00 PM PST on League Pass)
How great would this NBA finals be? The Grizzlies would give the Heat fits. They can check the Heat at every position, from Z-Bo and Marc on Bosh, to Rudy Gay on LeBron, to Tony Allen on D-Wade. Both teams have great coaches and stupendous defensive cultures. And South Beach versus…the South? Make it so, Number One.