Monday

Boston @ Memphis – Memphis is coming off an absolute stomping of Miami and have been playing great basketball in their past four games. Rudy Gay and Marc Gasol are looking like a legitamite 1-2 punch for years to come.

They run into a very hot Celtics team who have won ten in a row.  Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen have shed their early season struggles and Rajon Rondo is still improving with every game.  The Celtics now have the best record in the league and are definitely the team to beat. Memphis wins this game they prove to me they are serious about making a playoff run.

I’m most intrigued about the Rajon Rondo- OJ Mayo matchup. Mayo has looked shaky on defense this year against elite point guards. Rondo will have his way in this one and show why again he needs to be in the discussion of the best point gurds in the league.

OKC Thunder @ Denver Nuggets – The Thunder’s tough three-game swing moves to Denver on Monday. They were dominated by Cleveland as LeBron James had his way against the young bunch. The biggest question will be how they plan on stopping Melo. Melo is still playing at the highest level of his career and they havent had an answer for the big boys of the League. They have Melo and Dirk in the next two so this could be a very tough strech for the Thunder.

Kevin Durant is pretty good himself though, it seems like the best way to defend the superstar on the other team is to let Durant try to match every move he does on the offensive end.

Tuesday

San Antonio @ Phoenix – This is probably one of my favorite games to watch every year. These two teams always seem to beat each other up. The Suns have lost five out of their last seven and coming limping into this matchup.

The Spurs have been playing great over the past few weeks. They have won three straight against the Clippers, Bobcats, and Kings. However, the three previous games they lost against the Celts, Nuggets, and Jazz. They have to show they can win against the good teams in the league. This will be a great test for Tim Duncan and company to prove themselves as legitimite contenders.

Wednesday

New Orleans Hornets @ Detroit Pistons – Chris Paul made his return from injury and the Hornets won three out of four. He has put up a double-double in all four games averaging 14.8 points and 13.5  assists.

Marcus Thornton has been playing very well as a rookie since he started getting minutes. He looks like a young Ben Gordon who he will be opposing Wednesday night.

The Pistons have also beeen on a streaky start of their own. They come into this week on a five game win streak and have looked like they are starting to click. They are still banged up but Rip Hamilton returned on Saturday. Ben Gordon and Tayshaun Prince should be returning any day. Rodney Stuckey won Eastern Conference Player of the week last week. With all these peices coming back together the Pistons could make a surge  up the charts of the Eastern Conference.

Thursday

New York Knicks @ Chicago Bulls – Remember when this matchup would be a can’t miss. I just wanted to reminisce for a minute. Jordan and Pippen vs. Starks and Ewing.

Everything about this matchup now makes me want to switch the channel to Jersey Shore. If it wasn’t bad enough the Bulls and Knicks are both awful but having to watch Joakim Noah’s ugly ass complain all night is not on my list of things to do. So technically this game would be on the ‘What Not to Watch’ this week.

And do the Bulls really think firing Vinny Del Negro and flirting with the idea of hiring Lawrence Frank will help at all? Yeah just what an underachieving team needs a coach who tied the record for the worst start in history.

Friday

Milwaukee @ Cleveland – Brandon Jennings and the Bucks take on LeBron and the Cavs.  This could be a a huge win for the Bucks as they try to keep within a few games of Cleveland and stay infront of the surging Pistons.

The Jennings-Mo Williams matchup is one to watch. Mo Williams has been playing great lately and lets see if the former Buck point guard can stick it to his old club.

Saturday

Portland @ Miami – These two teams are sliding fast into mediocrity. The Blazers at least have a reason with losing Greg Oden but they have lost six out of ten and haven’t looked good at all. Miami just forgot how to win games, play defense, or finish off a quarter. The Heat need a major makeover if they want to have any chance of not only making a late season run but also retaining Dwyane Wade in the off season.

Still Brandon Roy and Wade will put on a show. Always fun to watch these two superstars play.

-Sean