60-33

Holding pace at about 65%, I went 33-19 this week.  Some surprise loses include the Phoenix over Boston and Chicago over Cleveland at home.  I wasn’t sold on Phoenix but a road win to Boston will make me watch this team a little closer.  The Thunder smashed the Magic last night, but the Magic are still missing Carter, Lewis and now Anderson.  But to get smoked by 28 points?  Really?

The Lakers got four wins this week.  Two in back to back OT games and two blow outs.  I really thought the Hornets would be better than they are.  They got tooled last night losing by 16 but it was much worse than the score would show.  Kobe had an efficient game and the bench got significant minutes and played ok.  Player of the night?  D.J. Mbenga…10 points, 12 rebounds and 4 blocks.  With both big men out, D.J. has been a solid.  Yeah, he gets dunked on quite a bit, but to a guy trying to get playing time, you check your ego at the door and play.

This weeks games:

Monday:  Sixers, Knicks, Raptors, Warriors, Clippers

Tuesday:  Magic, Heat, Nugs, Blazers, Rockets, Thunder

Wednesday:  Pacers, Raptors, Celtics, Pistons, Sixers, Hawks, Nugs, Blazers, Cavs, Rockets, Spurs, Thunder, Suns

Thursday:  Cavs, Lakers

Friday:  Magic, Sixers, Knicks, Celtics, Blazers, Mavs, Rockets, Lakers, Raptors

Saturday:  Hawks, Celtics, Wiz, Blazers, Cavs, Heat, Grizz, Warriors, Thunder

Sunday:  Mavs, Thunder, Suns, Lakers

Games to watch: 

Denver @ Chicago-These are two very evenly matched teams.  Although an East/West match-up, should be entertaining.

Houston @ Dallas-This should be a heat check game for both teams to see where they are in their division as well as in the West overall. 

Chicago @ Toronto-Two middle of the road play off teams similar two the Houston/Dallas game

Cleveland @ Orlando-I’m still not buying the Cavs as an elite East team but with Carter, Lewis and Anderson out, the Cavs better win or their in worse shape than I thought.

Dallas @ San Antonio-Another intra-division game with edge to San Antonio after Dallas being played hard by Houston the night before.

Cleveland @ Miami-I believe Miami is the better team but something about LeBron tells me the Cavs squeak this one out.

Phoenix @ Lakers, Lakers @ Denver, Houston @ Lakers-All of these games are going to be good.  They will all depend on one thing as well.  Who’s starting?  If Gasol and Bynum are back, the Lakers should go 3-0 since on of the games are back to back.  After this week, I think the pecking order for the West should be a much more defined.

Atlanta @ Boston-The Celtics are still too much team for the Hawks, but you can always hope…

OK City @ San Antonio-This is old v. young, precision v. recklessness, & experience v. athleticism.  This is one of those games that will be a nail biter or a blow out.

Ariza watch:  Ariza had another solid game against the Thunder.21, 5, & 6 with only 3 turnovers.  Next game is Tuesday in Dallas with a back to back at home against the Grizz.  The game of the week will be Ariza v. Artest II on Sunday.