It’s Thanksgiving and there are NBA games on TV. This is a good thing. After you’ve destroyed a pound of mashed potatoes, several helpings of candied yams, and enough turkey to sedate a rhinoceros (or Kirstie Alley), TNT will have a couple of games on TV for you. And the games are actually good matchups.

So with that, I wish you a Happy Thanksgiving and a safe day after of shopping. Here is what I’m thankful for in reference to each game:

Can Birds Fly Higher Than a Floating Magic Wand? It’s Abracadabra vs. Cawwww-Cawwww!
(Magic at Hawks, 8:00PM EST on TNT)

I’m thankful for the fact that Jason Williams is back in the NBA. I love watching him hop in unison with his dribble before he pulls up for a quick three with the quick pull back of his hands.

I’m thankful for J.J. Redick’s jumper. It’s really a picture perfect thing of beauty. Even if you hate him for his hair, his lack of a proper tan while living in Florida, or for his Dukeness, you should still take great pleasure in seeing him let it fly.

I’m thankful for Rashard Lewis when he’s leaning left on his outside shot. I don’t have any stats to back this up but I’d estimate he makes 130% of his shots when leaning left. That’s right; some of them go in twice.

I’m thankful for Dwight Howard’s ability to rattle a rim. It sounds simplistic but it really is fun to see him try to rip down the Shaq-proof rims.

I’m thankful for the fact that with a shorter haircut, Stan Van Gundy looks like Paul Blart.

I’m thankful for Ryan Anderson’s ability to step into any lineup and help a team not skip a beat.

I’m thankful for Josh Smith actually caring about his job this year and what it means for the demise of the rest of the NBA.

I’m thankful for Joe Johnson’s smoothness. I know Josh Smith got the stupid moniker of J Smoove but Joe Johnson is probably the silkiest player we’ve seen since Walt Frazier.

By the way, I’m thankful for the fact that I met Walt Frazier last night at the Kings-Knicks game. That was F’ing cool.

I’m thankful for Jamal Crawford’s ability to shoot a team in or out of any given game. I love the gunslinger mentality. It’s why I almost bought a Cuttino Mobley jersey several times in my life. Almost.

I’m thankful for Jeff Teague, his quickness, and the fact that he’ll come out of nowhere in three years and amaze everybody with how he runs a team.

I’m thankful for Mike Woodson’s mustache. I feel like I can finally appreciate its beauty.

I’m thankful for the size of Zaza Pachulia’s head. As someone who has a huge head myself, it’s nice to see a bigger planet on someone’s shoulders.

And I’m thankful for the fact that the Hawks are good once again. Stacey Augmon can stop rolling in his grave.

Okay, This Turkey Has Me Wanting to Pass Out in a Pool of My Own Drool But I Need to Stay up for This Battle of Point Guards… (Bulls at Jazz, 10:30PM EST on TNT)

I’m thankful for Deron Williams’ crossover.

I’m thankful for Derrick Rose’s attempt to beat that crossover with one of his own.

I’m thankful for both of them when they pull the ball back from the defender, step back and let it fire.

I’m thankful for both of their abilities to surprise a defender with a vicious dunk.

I’m thankful for Mehmet Okur’s time on Sex and the City. I hear he did great work on there.

I’m thankful for the fact that Carlos Boozer will not receive a pay raise this off-season.

I’m thankful for the fact that Paul Millsap’s pay raise was modest enough for me to still enjoy him. Now, if only he’d be good again…

I’m thankful for Andrei Kirilenko’s hair tribute to Jerry Sloan by having that swooping combover.

I’m thankful for everything Joakim Noah. I think he should have his own 24-hour uStream. I want to follow him around constantly.

I’m thankful for the Bulls surviving without Tyrus Thomas. Hopefully, it will show them he isn’t needed around there and that they can move on from him.

I’m thankful for Vinny Del Negro’s overmatched, blank stare in the fourth quarter of games and the calmness that Derrick Rose gives the team after they glance over at the sidelines and VDN’s glazed over eyes.

I’m thankful for the fact that Jared Wade calls him Vinny of the Black.

I’m thankful for Eric Maynor, Wesley Matthews, and Kyrylo Fesenko.

I’m thankful for Ronnie Brewer’s athleticism.

I’m thankful for Kyle Korver’s jumper when he’s squared to the basket.

I’m thankful for Kirk Hinrich’s on the ball defense.

And most of all, I’m thankful for basketball and this community of basketball bloggers/readers. Like many of you, I’m sure, I was always more obsessed with this sport that features Orange Roundie than any of my friends. I was hungry for more box scores, featured stories, and bullet points at the end of newspaper articles. The first thing I looked up on the internet when my family got a computer was a full listing of NBA rosters. Second, of course, was porn. And it wasn’t until I stumbled across people like Bethlehem Shoals, JE Skeets, Matt Moore, Rob Mahoney, Henry Abbott, Tas Melas, Trey Kerby, John Krolik, Kevin Arnovitz, Holly Mackenzie, Corn, Kelly Dwyer, Gian Casimiro, and many others that I realized how much love there is for this game.

Happy Thanksgiving, everybody.