With only a week left until the NBA All Star game, teams are looking to close out the week with wins to keep their momentum going into the break. Looking at the slate of games planned for this coming Friday through Sunday, these are the games that stand out as must watch action:
LA Clippers at Miami Heat – Friday, February 8th
Sitting at 35-16 the LA Clippers are currently the third ranked team in the Western Conference and are traveling to the east coast to face the Miami Heat. The Clippers have been fighting an injury bug that has caused a 3-7 skid during their last ten games. Chris Paul and Blake Griffin have been sidelined with injuries that while not threatening, were enough to have them removed from the lineup for extended periods of time.
The Miami Heat are riding a three game winning streak behind the continued MVP candidate in LeBron James. They have outscored opponents 313-287 during this run unfortunately the only team with a winning record at the time are the Houston Rockets. At 32-14 the Heat are the top team in the East but still sit behind the San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder for best record in the league.
Golden State Warriors at Memphis Grizzles – Friday, February 8th
Golden State and Memphis have been playing well throughout most of the season in the tough Western Conference. In what can be a preview of a first round matchup come the post season, the Warriors are traveling to the new look Memphis Grizzles without Rudy Gay.
The Grizzles are 1-3 since the trade that occurred on January 30th with their only victory coming over the Washington Wizards. Many people have questioned the move that was made to aliviate salary cap issues, however the Grizzles were having a very good season up until this point.
The Warriors are a surprise team this year under Coach Mark Jackson who has made the most out of a roster that doesn’t include any big name superstars. At 30-19 they are the sixth ranked team in the West and a cumulative 6-4 over their last ten games.
San Antonio Spurs at Brooklyn Nets – Sunday, February 10th
The San Antonio Spurs are once again the top ranked team in the National Basketball Association as they have done so many times in years whether you realize it or not. This weekend they will travel to the Brooklyn Nets who are working hard to capitalize on the momentum that carried them through January.
The Nets are 29-20 and the in the fifth spot as we head into the last week of play before the All-Star break. Brook Lopez’s return and health has played a key part in the Nets moving back up the ladder but they are welcoming the Spurs who have not loss in 11 straight games dating back to nearly a month ago.
Since the cold winter time isn’t over quite yet, spending the weekend at home watching the NBA would be a fantastic idea. These three games, along with a few others will make the time go past as you sit through the worst of winter storms.
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