As we head into the NBA season’s first football-less weekend, it’s a great chance for the league to showcase itself on the national stage. With 29 games over the next three days, it looks like the NBA plans to do just that.
Not to mention Sunday begins the season’s weekly slate of ABC double-headers — usually the two best games of the weekend. Also, be prepared, David Stern steps down next Friday! Let’s take a look at the most critical story lines of the weekend:
1. Brooklyn quietly putting things together: The Nets enter Saturday winners of nine of their last 10 games (seven straight at home) heading into a matchup with KG and Paul Pierce’s old team at Boston on Sunday. What’s most impressive in their hot stretch of play? They’ve held opponents under 100 points in eight of their 10. Coincidence?
2. Cleveland looks to keep the wheels from falling off: Winners in four of their first six games since trading for Luol Deng, the Cavaliers returned home after a five-game west coast road trip in which they finished 3-2. There’s hope yet! Returning home for a five-game homestand feeling pretty good, they did exactly what you hoped they wouldn’t: dropped two straight. After Wednesday night’s shameful loss to a Bulls team missing Derrick Rose, Carlos Boozer, Kirk Hinrich and Deng (who was playing for Cleveland!), and being lit up for 27 points by DJ Augustin, the Cavs hosted the worst team in the league Friday night, the Milwaukee Bucks, and won by 15. The Cavs can right the ship (kind of?) with another win over the Suns at home this weekend. Like the Knicks, they are only two games out of a playoff spot despite their 16-27 record.
3. All Star Raptors: After the All-Star Game starters were named Thursday night, there are seven reserve spots in each conference up for grabs. One of the more interesting debates is whether a Toronto Raptor will make it, and if so, who will it be? Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan are both legitimate candidates, especially after they have helped turn the Raptors season around after trading Rudy Gay (and both being on the trade block themselves). DeRozan is the sexier candidate, averaging 21.8 points and coming off a 40 point performance Wednesday night (He even made Sheridan’s MVP rankings.) He also carries the ability to pull off any dunk imaginable. Lowry is no slouch, though, and his 16 points and seven assists per game, mixed with stingy defense should have him considered as one of the best point guards in the Eastern Conference this season (noting that Rose and Rondo are not being considered). The Raptors have the 76ers and Clippers in a back-to-back on Friday and Saturday, both of which should be great chances for Lowry and DeRozan to show off. Neither disappointed in the opener, as Lowry had 18 points, 13 assists and 10 rebounds for his fourth career triple-double, and DeRozan scored 34 points.
4. Kevin Durant…Kevin Durant…Kevin Durant! Durant is in the middle of one of the greatest scoring hot streaks in NBA history. And although he did not play in Boston Friday night, he will look to become the first player since Kobe Bryant in 2012 to score 30 points or more in 10 straight games on Saturday. Since 2002, the only players that have accomplished this are Bryant (twice, 10 in 2012 and 16 in 2003), Tracy McGrady (14 in 2003) and LeBron James (10 in 2006). Oh yeah, and two wins will give the Thunder a streak of eight in a row, but they played the franchise’s first game without both Durant and Westbrook since Westbrook was drafted Friday against Boston, winning by 18 . While Durant may be on as impressive a run as we’ve seen in quite some time, he is, of course, downplaying the nature of it compared to such streaks as when Kobe scored 40 in nine straight.
5. ABC’s Sunday Showcase: The NBA is officially taking over Sundays. Well, except for next Sunday. This week we get a Finals rematch between Miami and San Antonio in South Beach (hopefully Dwyane Wade decides to play and the Spurs decide not to pull another stunt like last year). Kawhi Leonard will be out with a broken finger so let’s hope the rest of the stars suit up. Either way, it is one of the best matchups in the league and something to look forward to before a Lakers-Knicks showdown at MSG. What should have been a primetime tour for the Lakers this weekend (a loss in Miami Thursday and New York on Sunday) has really become irrelevant. Here’s to Nick Young trying to light up the Garden and effectively setting the Knicks season on fire with a win. If he wants to break the arena scoring record, he’ll need to go for 63 after ‘Melo went nuts for 62 Friday night.
Onto more from around the NBA