What to Watch, You NBA Sicko: Dec. 8 - Dec. 14
The best viewing experiences the NBA has to offer
The NBA Cup makes this a relatively easy week of NBA viewing. Tuesday and Wednesday have two quarterfinal games, and Saturday has the two semifinals. Unfortunately, due to eight of the better teams in the league competing for the Cup, non-Cup nights have a dearth of intriguing matchups.
Monday - December 8
Early Slot: Phoenix Suns at Minnesota Timberwolves (7:30 PM) Peacock
Monday has three games that allegedly tip off at 7:00, 7:30, and 8:00 PM, so you can really only catch the entirety of one game. Fortunately, one game features the Kings and Pacers, and another has the Pelicans, which makes the Suns and Timberwolves clash the easy choice. The pair are sixth and seventh in the Western Conference, and the Wolves will almost certainly be looking to avenge their comprehensive late-game collapse from November 21st.
Tuesday - December 9
Eastern Conference NBA Cup Quarterfinals
Early Slot: Miami Heat at Orlando Magic (6:00 PM) Prime
The Magic and Heat have identical 14-10 records, eerily similar net ratings, and are parked in the highly congested Eastern Conference three through nine cluster. I’m sure both sides will want to advance in the Cup, but this game has real playoff implications. The winner will into a tie for fourth in the conference, while the loser will be tied for eighth and ninth. There’s still a lot of season left, but picking up these games could mean an awful lot come March and April.
Late Slot: New York Knicks at Toronto Raptors (8:30 PM) Prime
The Knicks have a bit of a cushion for second in the East at 16-7, but the Raptors, at 15-10, would be hot on their heels with a win. Similar to the Southeastern division clash, the importance of this game for playoff seeding probably outweighs advancing in the Cup. The Knicks’ +8.4 net rating is by far the best in the East, but they’re still looking up at the Detroit Pistons in the standings, while the Raptors have been wobbling as of late. The winner of this game will feel good about their chances of advancing to the Final, but it’s the playoff positioning boost that’s the real prize.
Wednesday - December 10
Western Conference NBA Cup Quarterfinals
Early Sot: Phoenix Suns at Oklahoma City Thunder (7:30 PM) Prime
In one sense, every Thunder game, from here on out, is must-watch television. This team is chasing history. They’re 23-1, and a win here would tie them with the Golden State Warriors for the best start to a season in NBA history. Every game is a chance to chase down the single-season wins record, and every opponent has the opportunity to be the team who ruins that pursuit. I’m sure the Thunder want to win the Cup, but, regardless of what they say, they also want to make history.
Late Slot: San Antonio Spurs at Los Angeles Lakers (10:00 PM) Prime
Victor Wembanyama has begun practicing again, which means there is a chance he’ll make his triumphant return just in time to help the Spurs advance in the Cup. However, to do so, he’ll have to get through Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, and LeBron James. Fortunately, even if Wembanyama remains sidelined, the Spurs have been playing well enough without him that this should still be an entertaining affair.
Thursday - December 11
Early Sot: Los Angeles Clippers at Houston Rockets (8:00 PM)
There’s really nothing that separates the Clippers-Rockets, Celtics-Bucks, and Trail Blazers-Pelicans games in my eyes, but I’m picking the Clippers and Rockets for one simple reason: their stars are currently healthy.
Late Slot: Denver Nuggets at Sacramento Kings (10:00 PM)
If you want to watch some midnight NBA basketball, then you’ll have to settle for Nuggets-Kings. This should be a relatively easy win for the Nuggets, but without Christian Braun and Aaron Gordon, their defense has become so poor that they’ve basically become the Big-12 circa 2010. In the five games the Nuggets have played without Braun and Gordon, they’ve gone 5-3 with an offensive rating of 130.0 and a defensive rating of 125.5. If you like points, the diminished Nuggets might be the best dish in town.
Friday - December 12
Early Sot: Atlanta Hawks at Detroit Pistons (7:00 PM) NBATV
Somehow, this will already be the third matchup between the Hawks and Pistons. The Pistons have taken the first two contests, but their most recent battle was a one-point victory, in a game best described as a rock fight. The Hawks at 14-11 are at the back of the Eastern Conference traffic jam, while the Pistons have a comfortable lead in the East at 19-5. However, we’re still early enough in the season that a streak in either direction could dramatically alter the perception of their seasons.
Late Slot: Minnesota Timberwolves at Golden State Warriors (10:00 PM) NBATV
Stephen Curry has missed the last five games with a quad contusion, but all signs point to a return sometime this week. Hopefully, that means he’ll be ready by Friday, because the Warriors, and our viewing pleasure, need him. The Wolves remain a good team capable of inexplicable late-game disasters, while the Warriors are a good team only if their cohort of geriatric stars is feeling limber enough to play. I’m confident we’ll get the full monty in this one, and if we do, it should be a really good game.
Saturday - December 13
Early Sot: NBA Cup Semifinal 5:30 PM (Prime) TBD v TBD
Late Slot: NBA Cup Semifinal 9:00 PM (Prime) TBD v TBD
Sunday - December 14
Early Sot: Charlotte Hornets at Cleveland Cavaliers (3:30 PM)
I’m not saying it’s time to panic if you’re the Cavaliers, but what I am saying is it’s time to make panic preparations. This is a must-win for the Cavs. If they drop this game, the vibes around the team will begin to turn toxic, and we’ll be one step away from toxic collapse disorder.
Late Slot: Philadelphia 76ers at Atlanta Hawks (6:00 PM)
The Hawks and the Sixers are two of the most evenly matched teams in the league. The Sixers are 13-10. The Hawks are 14-11. The Sixers have a +0.7 net rating. The Hawks have a +1.5 net rating. The Sixers have a Simple Rating System (SRS) of 0.24. The Hawks have a SRS of 0.34. Joel Embiid’s minutes load is creeping up. Paul George is playing basketball. The Hawks are long, rangy, and athletic, while the Sixers have been utilizing small, lightning-quick guard-heavy lineups. What I’m trying to say is I think this will be a fun time.
For any inquiries about work, discussion, and the like, you can email me at nevin.l.brown@gmail.com.