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NBA Sunday Detroit Pistons vs. Washington Wizards
One of the best stories of the year has been the play of the Washington Wizards. Just two weeks into the season their best player, Gilbert Arenas went down with a knee injury, and has yet to return. While there is a good chance that he may return before the end of the week, there hasn’t been any exact timetable set. As if that injury isn’t enough, Caron Butler, an all-star, has been hurt with an injured hip, and just as soon as he’s getting over that injury he landed on his left wrist during a game Thursday. Despite all of this the Wizards are playing some of their best basketball of the year, and are currently in sixth place in the playoff hunt.
The Wizards task doesn’t get any easier when they take on the second seeded Detroit Pistons. The Wizards can take some joy out of the game being a home game for them, but the Pistons are 22-12 on the road, so that hardly phases them. The main core of the Pistons has been together for about the last five years, and they seem like they will be the biggest challenge to the Celtics making it to the NBA Finals. Both the Celtics and the Pistons have clinched a playoff spot, and it appears if they both advance this far, they would meet in the Eastern Conference Finals, something to look forward too.
The Wizards keep finding a way to win, and I’m not sure they can’t find a way to win this game as well. If Arenas does indeed come back this week it will give the team a psychological boost that they are entering the playoffs with their best team. While Arenas will probably need at least a few games to settle back in, the Wizards will certainly welcome his return with open arms.
NBA Sunday: San Antonio Spurs vs. Dallas Mavericks
The Mavericks have a very hard week in front of them. On Tuesday they take on the Lakers, Thursday the Celtics, and they close the week against the defending NBA champions the San Antonio Spurs. At the start of the week the Mavericks will be in the seventh spot in the conference standings. However, if they have a bad week here they could be on the outside looking in with the Warriors and Mavericks both nipping on their heels. But, the exact opposite could happen, if they win all of these games they could be near the top of the standings. To say this is a big week for the Mavericks is an understatement. Dirk Nowitzki and his 23.6 points a game will do everything in his power to make this week a winning one. Jason Kidd is also starting to play very well in the Mavericks uniform, and with so many scoring weapons to pass to it’s no wonder.
The Spurs are only a half game in front of the Mavericks, and are sitting in sixth position. If the Spurs are able to make the playoffs, which most think they will, they have to be considered one of the stronger choices of winning it all just because of their experience alone. Many of the teams in front of them in the rankings are either young teams, or just experiencing success for the first time. With Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginobili leading you into the playoffs you have to be considered a favorite. First thing is first though, and they have to get through this marathon called the regular season.
The Spurs are on a three game slide, so that is why I’m going to favor the Mavericks slightly in this game. The Mavericks are going to have a tough week, as noted, but I think they might feel they need this win more then the Spurs as the current situation stands.
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