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NBA Saturday: Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Detroit Pistons
A potential playoff match-up will take place when the Lebron James led Cleveland Cavaliers travel to Detroit to take on Rip Hamilton, and company. The Cavaliers have played some of their best basketball since the all-star break and are hoping to have a repeat of last year when they made it to the NBA Finals, only winning it this time. It won’t be an easy mountain to climb, as not only do the Pistons stand in the way, but also the Boston Celtics. Lebron James appears up for the challenge, as he has 30.8 points a game this year, tops in the league. Also, since the arrival of Ben Wallace they have appeared to have gotten tougher in the post, and that equals better defense. It’s been said that Wallace has lost something of his game, but he appears he may be revitalized in his new uniform, after being traded from a losing situation in Chicago. A chance of winning an NBA title can make many old players feel new again, just ask Shaq in Phoenix.
Detroit has been sort of coasting through the regular season, as I have mentioned in previous game previews. When the playoffs come they will probably pick up the slack, but most coaches don’t like seeing their team go through the motions this late in the season. They are expected to be a tough match-up for any team in the East, but if they play like they have been, they may be out in the first round if they are not careful.
As of this very moment I am taking the Cavs’ because they seem to be playing harder and want it more. It is tough to win in Detroit, but James and the gang may be catching the snoozing Pistons at the right time to sneak out of motor city with a victory.
NBA Sunday: San Antonio Spurs vs. Houston Rockets
A battle of Texas with playoff implications will take place with the San Antonio Spurs and the Houston Rockets takes place in Houston. Since Houston won 22 games in a row, the second longest streak in NBA history, they went from out of the playoffs, all the way from first. They have since ended the streak, and fallen out of first place, but they appear to still be heading towards the playoffs. What made most of the streak amazing is that they did it without leading scorer, and center Yao Ming, who went down in the early part of the streak for the year with a stress fracture in his foot. Tracy McGrady has done his best to lead his team without Ming, and as noted has done a wonderful job. He is now even being considered for an MVP trophy. The knock on McGrady is that he couldn’t find ways to win, but for the time being I think he has kicked those rumors in the behind. Since the streak the Rockets have played about .500 basketball, which concerns fans. Even though they are in the playoffs now, if they have one bad streak they could be on the outside looking in. They are still without a major inside presence, and that could wear them out as the season comes to a close.
The San Antonio Spurs are still considered the team to beat, until that can be proved otherwise. Most people are already fully secured on the bandwagon of the Lakers and Celtics, but the Spurs are the defending champions, and they are bringing back virtually the same exact team when they get to the playoffs. They have withstood injured to all of their major players, Parker, Ginobili, and Duncan, and some point, and they are still fighting for home-court advantage in the playoffs. The Spurs have the right mix of talent, and a very good defensive unit, that helps them in the playoffs when other teams start to tire a bit.
As far as this game is concerned, the Spurs take it in my book. They still want to show they are a force to be reckoned with, and a victory over a hot Houston Rockets team will send a message to the rest of the league heading into the playoffs.
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