15 Footer: Must See TV If You Have Nothing Better To Do

Ankle Injuries Have Ruined This Match-up! I’ll Be In My Room!
(Suns at Hornets, 8:00PM EST)

This matchup (along with my fantasy team) looked a lot better before the Chris Paul ankle disaster of 2009. There would have been the two best floor generals in the NBA trying to dissect each other’s attack and knock down big shot after big shot. Instead, it looks like we’re going to see the Phoenix Suns push their NBA best record to 11-2 with a swift kick to the collective nuts of ‘NOLA Nation as they talk themselves into Darren Collison and Peja Stojakovic’s back. The only hope for the Hornets in this game is Marcus Thornton. Li’l Buckets can score anywhere, on anybody, at anytime, in any time zone, with anybody guarding him. So can Bobby Brown (the King of R&B) but Buckets does it in a way that doesn’t suck the life out of basketball. So maybe if he can get hot (and against Phoenix, defensive pressure is rarely an issue) and maybe if David West can play like an All-Star that carries a team and maybe if the Suns have a cold night in Louisiana then the Hornets can get this win figured out. But most likely, this is your weekly blowout on the front end of a TNT double header.

What Do You Mean The Best Game of the Night Isn’t on TNT?
(Jazz at Spurs, 8:30PM EST)

I’m sure many people are looking forward to the Bulls-Lakers game at the end of the night but let’s be honest: how often do the Lakers actually have a compelling game on TNT? So this leaves you to your Justin.tv and NBA LP Broadband feeds to keep up with the action in this game. The Spurs are a much better team than what the Jazz throw out there but they’re coming off of an overtime loss to Dirk Nowitzki last night so the legs will be a little run down to even the playing field. Here’s the thing about the Spurs that I’m starting to realize with each game. Now, I say the following with the caveat that I understand the Spurs don’t push it in the beginning of the season and it works and I love it and whatever. But the Spurs seem a lot like the latter years of Friends.

We all remember the good times with this show. We all look at Duncan and think about how hilarious it was when we found out about his wizard tattoo just like we look at Chandler and think of how he had no clue how to make the whip cracking sound. We all look at Manu and think of the time he put on all of Gregg Popovich’s game suits and asked, “Could I BE wearing anymore of Pop’s suits right now?” And of course, the torrid love affair of Tony Parker and Matt Bonner is so Ross and Rachel that I don’t even have to mention it. But at this point, I feel like everything is so contrived with them. The Spurs are trying to introduce new characters that don’t work (Richard Jefferson) and figure out what relationship pairs can still happen without the audience groaning (I’m looking at you, Finley and Ratliff). It’s still good enough to get you through a Thursday night but the fact that it’s still Must See TV might just have more to do with what isn’t on TV tonight, rather than what is.

It’s Like The ’91 Finals Except All of the Names Have Changed And Bill Cartwright Has Becomes a Troll Doll
(Bulls at Lakers, 10:30PM EST)

This in theory should be the best matchup. You’re going to have a young, aggressive Bulls frontcourt lineup trying to use hustle and grit over the glamour and style of this Lakers frontcourt. You’re going to have Kobe Bryant and his 100 career 40-point games trying to show Derrick Rose that he’s not worthy of the star spotlight yet by getting a switch defensively and punishing him in the post. And of course, Luolz Deng and his Nerf dunking ability going against Ron Artest and his shoe throwing ability. But there is something lacking here. There’s something that is eating up the excitement in the arena and I’m not even referencing Khloe Kardashian. I think it’s the fact that the Lakers just don’t really play fun games anymore. Sure, their fans love it because they often win and win big. But even the losses are pretty blah and just show a lack of trying rather than a team really taking it to them.

The only things we can hope for are a gritty Bulls effort and of course, Joakim Noah-ness.

Not Entirely Suitable For Work But It’s On YouTube…

Oster-Tags: 15footer