Games of the Week (3/9-3/15)

Why you should care: I have always had a soft spot for the Charlotte Bobcats. I don’t really know why either. The only player on their team that I have any connection to is D.J. Augustin from his time at Texas, but Gerald Wallace has always intrigued me, especially after drafting him in fantasy a few years back. Now they are on a six game winning streak. That streak includes the Kings and Clips, but so what? They have some talent and Larry Brown at the helm. I’m expecting a Spurs win, but I think it will be an interesting game to watch.

Why you should care: Roger Mason Jr. sunk the Lakers on January 14 with one of his clutch shots, and then the Spurs had a weak showing in a 99-85 loss a couple weeks later. Now we are into March and the Lakers have the top seed in the West wrapped up while the Spurs are holding onto a slim lead for 2nd. The Lakers will have played at Portland on Monday and at Houston on Wednesday, so lets hope for some tough games and perhaps an overtime or two. Lamar Odom, as he has been known to do, is in a slump. Unfortunately, you never know how long he will stay in these things. He can either erupt with 15 points, 12 boards, 2 blocks and 1 steal, or he can struggle by with 3 points, 4 boards and 5 fouls. You just never know with him. It will be a tall order, however, to beat these Lakers without Manu Ginobili.

Why you should care: The Rockets have won their last 12 at home, are 9-2 without T-Mac and trail the Spurs by 2 games. I expect a playoff worthy slugfest from these division rivals. The hatred between towards the Rockets isn’t there these days because they haven’t met in the playoffs in years like the Spurs have with the Mavs, Suns or Lakers, but they know how important a win here would be. It will be a tough game, but I think Tony Parker could be the difference. Ron Artest and Shane Battier are both great defenders, but they are more adept at stopping shooting guards and small forwards, not lightening quick point guards, and Aaron Brooks and Kyle Lowry aren’t fast enough or big enough to slow him down. I do expect Artest or Battier to prevent Mason from becoming the third scorer, so somebody else will need to step up.