NBA Friday

Lots of games tonight, but not one that really jumps off the list at you like
Dallas at Phoenix last night or Cleveland at San Antonio last week but let’s take a look:

The 7pm Appetizers of course feature the Orlando Magic. (They play at 7 all the time and it is great to catch some early Dwight Howard as he establishes himself as “THE MAN” on the court every single night) The Magic visit the Pacers in Indy. And while the Pacers are 3-2, I really don’t think they are that good, though they are well coached. They got killed in Washington the other night. This is a good road test for the young Magic, look for a close one, and keep an eye on who finishes the game at the point for Orlando, Nelson or Arroyo.

The winless Nuggets are visiting AI and Co. tonight in Philly. I know it happened, but how did Denver blow a 12 point lead at home to the Knicks the other night? You are at home, you are searching for your first win and you let the Knicks hang around and literally steal the game! The Nuggets are at the top of my gutless list until further notice. Crawford got you for 35, good luck guarding Iverson tonight.

Believe it or not the Hawks are 3-1 and they visit one of the early “buzz” teams, the 2-2 Raptors tonight up north. I know it is Hawks/Raptors and I know they have both played only 4 games but this is an early statement game for Toronto. They must establish themselves as a good home team if they hope to take that next step everyone is talking about. Chris Bosh is a beast getting 22 and almost 13 boards per night, as is Joe Johnson who is scoring 28 per game (nice job trading him after 3 months in 2001 Celtics!!!) This should be a good game. I like the Raps.

The 1-3 Celtics host the 4-1 Jazz tonight at the Garden. It is still weird with no Red, and it is even more frustrating that the Green’s season has started like this. My college friends and I do this team pool at the beginning of the season. I passed on Utah for Golden State, and my buddy MD took the Celtics so I would not get them in the last round. That has completely nothing to do with the fact that the Celtics turn the ball over more than a bad JV team and that Utah is going to be a very good team this season as long as they stay healthy. Utah is big and plays good team D. The Celtics are minus Al Jefferson for at least a month after having his appendix removed. Get better quick big guy!!! Pierce will carry them to the stretch run, but something tells me I will not have a smile on my face at the end of this one.

Time for the main course:
The Nets look to keep the New Jersey momentum going from their win over the Jazz Wednesday and the Rutgers triumph last night, as they host Miami tonight. The Heat are 2-2 and look far from in sync right now. Is Wade a little worn out from Team USA this summer? Will Shaq be back on the floor? The big fella has not played since opening night in a home win against Jersey. The Nets will be super fired up tonight. With or without O'Neal, the Jersey trio of Kidd, Carter and Jefferson will be too much for the Heat to handle tonight.

The Knickerbockers continue their early road trip in Houston. If New York did not win the other night in Denver (Remember the Nuggets are gutless Mike!!!) I would not even mention this game. But since they found a way to get a win and the Rockets are supposed to be ready to be “contenders”, I’ll show the game and the Van Man some love. Yao is starting to assert himself now as a big time center in a year where HE HAD TO DO SO. There were no more excuses left for him and he is producing 25pts and 8reb per night. The Knicks have some confidence but look for them to fade late under the stranglehold of the Houston D.

Chris Paul is a stud but I do have much depth to my analysis about the Hornets visit to Portland tonight. The Blazers are off to a good start and their new players are also good citizens, so this could be a nice story out west this season. The Hornets played last night as they dropped their first game of the season in Oakland to the Warriors. This is a nice little test to see if they can get a win on the second night of a back to back after a loss. One thing is for sure, Chris Paul is the next great point and guess what Stephon, he is better than you too.

We’ll end the evening in Hollywood as the Pistons and Lakers will go at it. The Lakers are looking more and more like a team that has found itself as Odom, Bynum and Walton have all picked up their play along side Kobe. The Pistons have lost 2 straight on the road so look for them to be extra chippy tonight. When you look out onto the floor when Detroit is playing something is missing. Obviously Ben Wallace is gone but that consistent feeling of intensity is not their yet for them. The foursome of Rasheed, Mohammed, McDyess and Maxiell must find consistency in the paint. I think Billups and Hamilton figure a way to get this tonight in LA.


Enjoy the games and your evening…