What to Watch, You NBA Sicko: Feb. 2 - Feb. 8

The best viewing experiences the NBA has to offer...this week

Monday - February 2

Early Slot: Minnesota Timberwolves at Memphis Grizzlies (7:30 PM) Peacock

This is my conflation bowl. For some reason, I always mix up the Grizzlies and Timberwolves. It probably has to do with the thematic similarities between bears and wolves, but that’s a story for another day. The Wolves have been treading water recently, while the Grizzlies have been taking gallons on. The thing is, I’d rather watch this than the Rockets at Pacers, which is your only other option.

Late Slot: Philadelphia 76ers at Los Angeles Clippers (10:00 PM) Peacock

Paul George’s ill-timed drug suspension has taken a bit of luster away from a game that should still be entertaining. The Clippers are 8-2 over their past ten games, and have been one of the best teams in the league over the past six weeks. The Sixers, off a 6-2 stretch that included two one-point losses, have spun their wheels a bit, going 5-5 in their ensuing ten games. However, Joel Embiid is playing consistently and playing quite well. Over his past 17 games, he’s averaging 34 minutes and 29.9 points per game. Not quite peak-Embiid, but close enough to make Sixer fans dream.

Tuesday - February 3

Early Slot: Denver Nuggets at Detroit Pistons (7:00 PM)

The Nuggets got Nikola Jokic back just in time for a brutal four-game stretch. It started with a contest against the Clippers, then featured a throwdown with the Thunder, continues with this pillory against the Pistons, and finishes with a knockabout featuring the Knicks on the second night of a back-to-back. The Nuggets split their first two, and beating the Pistons would guarantee a split over this gauntlet. However, the Pistons have continued to grind out wins and have proven to be a formidable foe. The contrast between the Nuggets’ omniscient offense and the Pistons’ domineering defense should make for an excellent night of basketball, with hopefully less alliteration.

Late Slot: Phoenix Suns at Portland Trail Blazers (11:00 PM) NBC/Peacock

The Suns and Trail Blazers aren’t the best teams in the league, but they both play incredibly physical brands of basketball. If you’re a true sicko, you’ll love this game, and the almost certain matchup of Dillon Brooks guarding Deni Avdija should be worth the price of admission. I’m not guaranteeing fisticuffs, but it will get heated between these two.

Wednesday - February 4

Early Slot: Boston Celtics at Houston Rockets (8:00 PM)

The Celtics and Rockets rank third and fourth in the league in net rating. Does that make them the third and fourth best teams? Depends on who you ask. Regardless, these are two of the elite teams in the NBA, which makes this a must-watch. Hopefully, Kevin Durant, who is missing Monday night’s game, will be back and ready to go.

Late Slot: Oklahoma City Thunder at San Antonio Spurs (9:30 PM) ESPN

The Spurs and Thunder’s budding rivalry probably got a bit more oxygen than it deserved, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t real. The Thunder have remained the best team in the league, despite weathering injury after injury, while the Spurs have settled in as one of the few teams in the West that have made the Thunder bleed. We know this game matters to the players, which should give it a playoff atmosphere, and I’d have to imagine the crowd in San Antonio will be way up for the assignment.

Thursday - February 5

Early Slot: Chicago Bulls at Toronto Raptors (7:30 PM) Prime

Look, I don’t think this will happen, but those weirdo prediction markets think it might. Right now, the Chicago Bulls have the best odds of acquiring Giannis Antetokounmpo prior to the trade deadline’s expiration, which is at 3:00 PM on Thursday. Giannis, obviously, won’t play because he’s injured, but the potential of the whole spectacle makes me highly intrigued by this contest.

Late Slot: Philadelphia 76ers at Los Angeles Lakers (10:00 PM)

The Lakers and Sixers are relatively well-matched sides. The Sixers have a net rating of +0.9, while the Lakers come in at -0.3. We’ll see how the Sixers handle the absence of Paul George, but my guess is they’ll continue to hover around .500. While the Sixers will be without a key player, the Lakers should be getting one back. Austin Reaves is nearing a return from a calf injury, and it would not surprise me one bit if he made his return right after the trade deadline.

Friday - February 6

Early Slot: New York Knicks at Detroit Pistons (7:30 PM) Prime

The last time these two sides met, the Pistons beat the brakes, hubcaps, and transmission off the Knicks. Now, that 121-90 bludgeoning came during the Knicks’ post-NBA Cup malaise, but I’ve got to imagine that the Knicks will be out for revenge. They’re on a six-game winning streak, and playing some of their better basketball of the season. The Pistons will be on the second night of a back-to-back, but since the front end features the Wizards, they should be well rested.

Late Slot: Memphis Grizzlies at Portland Trail Blazers (10:00 PM)

Here’s the sales pitch: would you rather watch Clippers-Kings? Exactly.

Saturday - February 7

Early Slot: Houston Rockets at Oklahoma City Thunder (3:30 PM) ABC

The last time the Rockets ventured to Oklahoma City, we were treated to the game of the season. While I don’t know if we’ll see a redux of a double-overtime opening-night classic, I will always circle my calendar for this game. If the Thunder have one defensive weakness, it’s their defensive rebounding, and if the Rockets have one overwhelming strength, it’s their offensive rebounding. The loss of Steven Adams definitely hurts the Rockets, but they’ve managed a 31.4% offensive rebound rate in his absence, which includes a bizarre 16.2% offering against the Spurs.

Late Slot: Cleveland Cavaliers at Sacramento Kings (10:00 PM)

Don’t look now, but the Cavaliers are quietly rounding into form. They’re 15-7 over their past 22 games with a net rating of +4.9, and they’ve gone 8-2 in their last ten with a net rating of +7.5. The same cannot be said of the Kings, but hey, at least they’ve got their pick this year. Adding another layer, the Cavaliers and Kings just completed a trade.

Super Sunday - February 8

Early Slot: New York Knicks at Boston Celtics (12:30 PM) ABC

The NBA is giving Super Bowl Sunday a proper run-in. Knicks v. Celtics is one of the NBA’s few real rivalries. Add the fact that they currently own identical 31-18 records, and this is appointment viewing before the real appointment.

Late Slot: Los Angeles Clippers at Minnesota Timberwolves (3:00 PM) ESPN

If you’re feeling desperate before the big game, Clippers and Timberwolves is a more than solid offering. While these two franchises lack the historical malice of the Celtics and Knicks, this might be a better game. The Clippers’ full-season metrics sell them short. They’re 17-4 over their past 21 games with a net rating of +8.6. Meanwhile, the Timberwolves are 31-19 with a net rating of +5.1, and are currently on a four-game winning streak. If you’re prepping for a Super Bowl party and want to show off your ball knowledge, throw this game on and talk about how ridiculous it is that Kawhi wasn’t an All-Star and how people are sleeping on Rudy Gobert’s Defensive Player of the Year candidacy.

For any inquiries about work, discussion, and the like, you can email me at nevin.l.brown@gmail.com.