What, you’ve never heard of an eight-day week?
Sunday, December 25th: Clippers @ Warriors, 10:30 ET, ESPN: If you’re stuck in some sort of unfortunate family situation that won’t allow you to escape for the daytime games, well, at least you can be thankful that the NBA saved the best for last. If you’ve got an obligation that looks to drag on into the night, for Christ’s (happy b-day!) sake find a way out of it! I wouldn’t miss this game to witness the birth of my first-born son. Sorry, life, but Blake Griffin is more exciting than you.
Monday, December 26th: Grizzlies @ Spurs, 8:30 ET, FSSW: This is the first time you’ll have to make choices as none of the Christmas Day games will overlap. There are two particularly intriguing selections: one of them is the Grizzlies/Spurs game that I’ve recommended, and the other is Ricky Rubio’s NBA debut. Honestly, you can’t go wrong with either one. Grizzlies/Spurs figures to be a better game than Wolves/Thunder… that’s my reasoning. Another thing I like about it is that it’s kind of a win-win for the Grizzlies. If the Grizzlies win, they win. If they lose, it doesn’t erase history.
Tuesday, December 27th: Celtics @ Heat, 8:00 ET, TNT: This will be the second of ten consecutive Miami victories that will stretch from the 25th of December through the 10th of January. On the 11th they will lose for the first time this season to the Los Angeles Clippers. Take that and do with it whatever Shaq told those reporters to do with his quotes on Erick Dampier.
Wednesday, December 28th: Knicks @ Warriors, 10:30 ET, MSG CSBA: One of the unfortunate results of the lockout is that the Knicks and Warriors will only meet one time this season, and that the meeting will come before either team figures to have hit it’s stride. Even if slightly rusted, these two potent offenses should total no less than 225 points. They averaged a whopping 241.5 in last season’s get-togethers.
Thursday, December 29th: Mavericks @ Thunder, 8:00 ET, TNT: The new-but-not-necessarilly-improved Dallas Mavericks will face two tough tests in the first five days of the season. First, it’s the Heat on opening day. Next, it’s that Thunder team they defeated in the 2011 Western Conference Finals. OKC will be thirsty for revenge, but they’ll have to keep Dirk from having a field day. I personally hope Dirk goes ham on ‘em because he’s on my fantasy team and I like the Mavs better.
Friday, December 30th: Bulls @ Clippers, 10:30 ET, NBATV: Reigning MVP Derrick Rose takes his Bulls to Lob City with intentions of grounding the high-flying Clippers. A rejuvenated Chris Paul stands in his way. Sounds like fun to me! Underlying storyline: Chauncey Billups and Rip Hamilton will likely have to guard each other.
Saturday, December 31st: Pacers @ Pistons, 6:00 ET, FSIN FSD+: Yes, there are other games to choose from; six, actually. I still favor this match up. The Indiana Pacers should be one of the league’s most-improved teams, and Detroit’s Greg Monroe could very well be the NBA’s most improved player. Both are worth a little of your attention this season.
Sunday, January 1st: Mavericks @ T-Wolves, 7:00 ET, FSSW FSNO: Finally, some Ricky Rubio on the docket! Some Derrick Williams, Michael Beasley, and Kevin Love, too. No Bonzi Wells, though. He got cut.
