Significance: The Hawks have beaten some pretty darn good teams in Atlanta this season, and these Hawks aren’t the same joke that’s been going around the league for some time. On the other hand, Denver is under .500 away from home, and this could be the type of game they let get away early. I love the athletes in this game, and it will surely be packed with highlights. If the Hawks can pull this one off, they’ll be on the way to where they want to be, and over .500 on the season. If the Nuggets can move to .500 on the road, and continue that even play away from home for the rest of the season, they’ll be a very scary team come playoff time, and almost surely will hold a first round playoff match-up with a home court advantage.
Injuries: Speedy Claxton is out indefinitely with a knee problem. Zaza Pachulia and Salim Stoudamire are both day to day with foot dilemmas. For the Nuggets, Chucky Atkins and Steven Hunter are both definitely out while Nene is day-to-day with some personal problems that stem from a medical issue the team is not sharing with us everyday folk.
Significance: Portland continues to be one of the brightest stars in a Western Conference that is full of them, while the Celtics have stumbled a little of late, but still easily hold the best record in the league. This could be the game that everybody finally admits; the Blazers are ready to be a force right now, and all this early season winning isn’t just a fluke. But don’t expect the Celtics to rollover. They’ve lost two straight, and the Wizards and Hawks, while both have impressed early, aren’t necessarily the scariest teams in the league. Boston will be out to shut the naysayers up as soon as possible, and prove that they are still the undisputed real deal. I love this match-up, and can’t wait to see what happens on Wednesday night.
Injuries: The Celtics have no injuries listed, but Ray Allen and Glen Davis have both been hampered by some ailments. Both are expected to play in this one. For the Blazers, aside from Greg Oden’s knee surgery that eliminated him from his rookie season and Darius Miles’ ongoing knee problems that have had him out for over a year, only Steve Blake is questionable for Wednesday’s game, and from what I hear, he’s expected to play.
Significance: The hastily ascending Lakers are just a game in the win column back of the Suns, and they’re getting better. Phoenix hasn’t proven to be the regular season beast that they were last year, but they’ve still won 7 of their last 10 and are tied for the most wins in the West. Over the last 10, there isn’t a hotter team in the league than L.A. and it’s about time for Kobe. Bryant has been playing great basketball of late, and he’s getting ready to go up against a Suns team that wasn’t willing to give up enough to get him earlier in the season. Will the Suns come to L.A. and play well on the road like they usually do (13-7) or will the Lakers finally climb to the top spot in the Pacific division and exert some dominance out West? Lots of story lines, two teams, just one winner - should be a dandy.
Injuries: Steve Nash is back in the lineup, but Grant Hill remains out after his appendectomy, and should be for the next few weeks. Andrew Bynum left Sunday’s game against Memphis with a knee injury, and right now he’s listed as day-to-day. Radmanovic is also day-to-day while Chris Mihm is out until late January or the beginning of February.
