A quick
look at the 10-game NBA schedule for Friday, March 30, ranking games by
watchability (all times p.m. Eastern):
1. Brooklyn Nets (42-30) at Utah
Jazz (37-36), 9
2. Los Angeles Lakers (37-36) at
Sacramento Kings (27-46), 10
The Jazz
won the season series with the Lakers, which now seems like one of the most
important things in the NBA. These teams are tied for the No. 8 seed in the
Western Conference, with each having six home games and three road games left.
They also each play more five games against winning teams, with the Jazz
getting one tonight at home. Utah is dominant at home, with a 26-9 record in
the higher altitude. That, along with the tiebreaker, is part of why the Jazz
are the favorite to take the spot at this point, now that they have turned
around their season. But don't discount the Lakers, who are banged up and
have lost four of five but have the talent to turn things around.
3. Los Angeles Clippers (49-24)
at Houston Rockets (39-33), 8
For all
the high-flying dunks and long Chris Paul passes that make highlight reels, the
Clippers don't run very often. They are as efficient on the fast break as any
team in the league (applying the everyone-but-the-Miami Heat corollary), but
they average 91.2 possessions per 48 minutes, slightly below average. The
Rockets love to push tempo, hoping to expose opponents not used to it. They
easily run the fastest offense in the NBA, but that approach has led them to
struggle against elite opponents. Why? The Clippers choose not to run in order
to save energy for their aging roster. Force them to run, though, and Paul and
Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan and Eric Bledsoe and the rest will put on a
show. And that's what this game, between two teams that could use the win for
West playoff seeding purposes, will be: a show.
4. Chicago Bulls (39-31) at
Dallas Mavericks (35-37), 2
The
Mavericks are still alive in this bid for the West's No. 8 seed, but they would
love to see the Jazz and Lakers lose tonght. The Bulls
are coming off a big victory you may have heard about.
5. Portland Trail Blazers (33-39)
at Golden State Warriors (41-32), 10:30
The Blazers' playoff hopes collapsed along with them
as they have lost three in a rowafter showing signs of life. The Warriors are the seventh
current-playoff team the Blazers have played in a row, with three more after
that. Every opponent the rest of the way for the Blazers has a better record
than them.
6.
Memphis Grizzlies (48-24) at Minnesota Timberwolves (26-45), 8
The
Grizzlies have lost five consecutive road games. The
Timberwolves are playing as well as they have in the second half.
7.
Indiana Pacers (46-27) at Phoenix Suns (23-50), 10, NBATV
It would
have been interesting to be in the meeting where this game was put on national
TV.
8.
Orlando Magic (19-54) at Atlanta Hawks (40-33), 7
9.
Charlotte Bobcats (17-55) at Philadelphia 76ers (29-43), 8
If
you're watching these, it's to see the Magic and Bobcats try to one-up each
other out of the No. 1 pick. But the Suns had an interesting take on tanking:
This draft isn't worth it.
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