Sunday (12/18)
Best:
T’Wolves @ Mavericks: Garnett and Nowitzki are, as always, the showcases of this matchup. If Dallas or Minnesota want to be successful in June, they will need the help of the supporting cast. Josh Howard is back for Dallas, as is Troy Hudson for Minnesota. Szczerbiak is the T’Wolves’ #2 man, but Dallas has a conundrum with Terry, Howard and Daniels all producing sporadically.
Runner-up:
Rockets @ Lakers: This was always the game where Yao Ming stood out with a 30-point performance. With Shaq out and Chris Mihm in, will Yao come to play? McGrady and Kobe provide perhaps the only one-on-one matchup in the NBA where both players are guaranteed to score 30+ points.
Burst:
Spurs @ Hornets: Western teams are always going to do their best against the Spurs, but it still doesn’t translate to a win. The Warriors were in a similar position earlier this year and lost at home by 30. The Hornets have had to travel between Baton Rouge and Oklahoma City for home games only, so facing the Spurs isn’t much of a break. How long can the Hornets keep playing hard before going bust like the Saints did?
Monday (12/19)
Best:
Pistons @ Grizzlies: Two of the best defensive teams in the NBA meet in Memphis. Stoudamire and Jones have added veteran leadership on defense, something Jason Williams and Bonzi Wells had no patience for. Detroit wins all of its close games, so Pau Gasol will have to step up (again) to give Memphis a win.
Runner-up:
Warriors @ Celtics: These are two teams that could miss the playoffs solely because of inexperience. Only Fisher, Davis and Calbert Cheney have been to the Golden State playoffs. Boston isn’t much better and doesn’t have a player who’s been to the Finals. Golden State has a slight edge as Delonte West will struggle to cover Baron Davis.
Burst:
Raptors @ Magic: Toronto’s will to play hard has begun to waver. Jalen Rose is now on the bench for a serious lack of production. José Calderón is injured, which means that there is a lot of standing still. With Grant Hill back, Orlando’s offense is more fluid and should have no problem taking advantage of the Raptors’ weak D.
Tuesday (12/20)
Best:
Sonics @ Suns: Last year, the Sonics were the only team to win in San Antonio, Phoenix, Dallas and Miami. This year, the Supersonics can’t even keep their home court. Phoenix is a better version of Seattle; Still, the two teams play exactly the same way. Don’t expect defensive pressure on this one. Both teams are prolific goal scorers and lethargic defenders.
Runner-up:
Spurs @ Bucks: Both teams rely heavily on their supporting cast, particularly Milwaukee. The Bucks need Ford, Redd, Simmons, Magloire and Bogut to produce. The 3-pter is going to be tough for Milwaukee; They lead the league in 3-point shooting, but San Antonio is one of the best teams when it comes to outside shot defense. Simmons and Bogut will have to score points in the paint to win the Bucks.
Burst:
Hawks @ Heat: Only if Shaq and Wade don’t try at all; that’s the only way this isn’t a 30-point blowout by halftime. Zaza Pachulia and Al Harrington are too small to make a dent in Shaq’s score. Joe Johnson wants to be a superstar, but he’s in for a rude awakening when he faces Dwyane Wade. If Miami is anything like Detroit, they will leave this game after the first quarter.