What to Watch, You NBA Sicko: Feb. 19 - Feb. 22
The best viewing experiences the NBA has to offer...this week
Thursday - February 19
Early Slot: Detroit Pistons at New York Knicks (7:30 PM) Prime
This will be the third and final time the Pistons and Knicks meet this regular season. The Pistons already have the season series wrapped up, but why not make it a clean sweep? Now, both of those games were in Detroit, and I can all but guarantee a playoff atmosphere in Madison Square Garden. The Knicks probably can’t catch the Pistons for first in the East, but they can put everyone on notice.
Late Slot: Boston Celtics at Golden State Warriors (10:00 PM) Prime
The Celtics entered the All-Star break second in the East, and, depending on what happens in New York, can fortify their position. The Warriors, realistically, have no such hopes, but they should/could get Steph Curry back. While this is a mismatch, the Warriors at home with Curry are still a formidable opponent. That being said, if you know Curry’s status ahead of time, the Clippers and Nuggets play at 10:30.
Friday - February 20
Early Slot: Cleveland Cavaliers at Charlotte Hornets (7:00 PM)
These are the two hottest teams in the league. The Cavaliers and Hornets are both 9-1 in their last ten, and their recent runs have completely changed the mood of their season. The Cavaliers went from the league’s biggest disappointment to being favored in the East, while the Hornets went from the lottery to a threat to make it up and out of the play-in. I’m not sure how much we’ll learn from this game, but I have a feeling it’ll be a ton of fun to watch.
Late Slot: Los Angeles Clippers at Los Angeles Lakers (10:00 PM)
Superficially, the Lakers and Clippers are about as evenly matched as it gets. They’re both 6-4 over their past ten games, and are separated in net rating by 0.4. Now, what those numbers don’t know, but you do, is that the Clippers just traded James Harden and Ivica Zubac. However, the Clippers, prior to that trade, were maybe the best team in the league for close to two months. This is a convoluted way of saying that this game should come to the wire. Oh, yeah, Luka Doncic, LeBron James, and Kawhi Leonard will be there.
Saturday - February 21
Early Slot: Orlando Magic at Phoenix Suns (5:00 PM) NBATV
The Magic have been disappointing this season, but they might actually, finally, get the band together. When Orlando turned five first-round picks and unwanted salary into Desmond Bane, they were making a bet that Bane, plus Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner, and Jalen Suggs, would form the nucleus of a championship contender, and guess what? They were probably right. In 137 minutes, that quartet owns a net rating of +9.81. As of right now, that unit appears to be a go, which should make their matchup with the perpetually physical and frisky Suns an excellent bit of afternoon content.
Late Slot: Houston Rockets at New York Knicks (8:30 PM) ABC
This will be the Rockets’ second game following Burnergate, and I cannot wait to see how they respond. I’m personally of the opinion that it is all a sham, but hey, you never know with Kevin Durant’s social media. Anyways, the Knicks and Rockets are fourth and sixth in the league in net rating, and first and fifth in offensive rebound percentage. If you want 90s basketball with modern production value, this is the ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-basketball game for you.
Sunday - February 22
Early Slot: Cleveland Cavaliers at Oklahoma City Thunder (1:00 PM) ABC
Since Monday through Wednesday is off, I figured I’d give Sunday the full monty. The Cavaliers, as previously noted, have been the hottest team in the league, and now have James Harden. The Thunder are still the best team in the league, and it’s possible Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will be back from injury. This could very easily be a Finals preview, and even if the Thunder aren’t at full strength, they’re still a bear at home.
Middle Slot: Denver Nuggets at Golden State Warriors (3:30 PM) ABC
The Nuggets are always worth a watch, and especially now. With Aaron Gordon and Peyton Watson out with hamstring injuries, the Nuggets are in full “we gotta outscore you” mode, which, due to Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray, they’re more than capable of doing. The Warriors usually figure out how to turn it on after the All-Star break, and this will be an excellent test of that theory.
Late Slot: Boston Celtics at Los Angeles Lakers (6:30 PM) NBC/Peacock
This is the El Clásico. The Lakers (17) and Celtics (18) have combined to win 44.8% of all NBA/BAA championships. They’re not only the two most historically significant franchises, but they’ve managed to be mostly relevant for the past 75 years. Since 1948-49, the Lakers have failed to make the playoffs only 13 times, while the Celtics have only missed the playoffs 17 times since 1946-47. Historically, the Celtics and Lakers are more likely to win the championship than miss the playoffs. While the rivalry isn’t what it used to be, this game still means more.
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