7 Reasons to Stay Glued to TV for NBA's Final Weekend of Regular Season

The last weekend of the shortened NBA season starts on Saturday, and there are many reasons to keep your eyes glued to the TV.

There are multiple playoff spots still to be earned, the MVP race is really heating up and marquee stars such as Kobe Bryant and Derrick Rose could return to their team's lineups.

Let's look at seven reasons why you can't afford to miss the exciting NBA action this weekend.

Lakers vs. Thunder on Sunday

One of the national TV games on ABC this Sunday is a marquee battle between two Western Conference powers—the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Los Angeles Lakers.

Look for the Lakers to attack the Thunder inside with their talented big man duo of center Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol. Even when Kobe Bryant is in the lineup, the Lakers are at their best when they work the offense through their big men.

It's very hard for teams to match up against two seven-foot players like Bynum and Gasol. 

Both teams have a lot to play for despite each of them having already secured a playoff berth. The Thunder can still finish ahead of the San Antonio Spurs for the best record in the conference, which would give them home-court advantage throughout the Western Conference playoffs.

The Lakers need a win to maintain their lead over the Los Angeles Clippers for the third seed in the West. 

This could be a potential playoff preview too and will likely be the most exciting game of the weekend. 

MVP Race Reaches Final Stages

The NBA MVP race will reach its final stages this weekend, and there are many deserving candidates. With no clear front runner this season, the award will be taken by the player who really steps up his game in the final week of the season.

In my opinion, there are four legitimate candidates for the MVP this season.

Rajon Rondo: The Boston Celtics point guard leads the NBA in triple-doubles and assists per game. He is the reason the Celtics recently captured their fifth straight Atlantic Division crown and is arguably the best point guard in basketball.

LeBron James: The Miami Heat forward has an impressive stat line of 27.1 points, 6.3 assists and 7.9 rebounds per game. He is the engine that drives the Miami offense and his defense has been remarkable this season too.

Kevin Durant: The Oklahoma City Thunder star is second in scoring and has led his team to the second-best record in the West thus far. Durant is the best pure scorer in the league and looks ready to carry the Thunder to the NBA Finals.

Kobe Bryant: The Los Angeles Lakers star leads the NBA in scoring with a 28.1 points per game average and has been sensational this season despite his age and battles with injuries. With teammates Pau Gasol and Metta World Peace struggling at times this season, Bryant has picked up his game for the Lakers.

How Will Magic Respond to Dwight Howard's Injury

Orlando Magic star center Dwight Howard will miss the remainder of the season and playoffs as he recovers from back surgery, and it will be interesting to watch how the Magic respond to this injury.

With no reliable backup center who can score consistently, Magic guards Jameer Nelson and Jason Richardson will have to pick up their scoring.

The Magic are currently the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference and likely won't make the second round of the playoffs without Howard.

Derrick Rose Injury

Derrick Rose has only played in just 37 games this season for the Chicago Bulls, but they still have the best record in the NBA.

With home court throughout the playoffs still up for grabs, the Bulls would be wise to make an effort to win all the games they can so any Game 7's in the playoffs will be played in Chicago.

The Bulls would be wise to play Rose before the playoffs begin so he can shake off any rust, but they must make sure he's fully healthy before he returns.

If the Bulls want to win their first NBA championship since 1998, Rose has to be healthy and playing well in the postseason.

Kobe Bryant's Return

Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant will return to his team's lineup on Friday night against the San Antonio Spurs, and it will be interesting to see how the team changes when he gets back.

Bryant has been hurt with a left shin injury, and the Lakers went 5-2 without him.

Forward Pau Gasol and center Andrew Bynum have played well in Bryant's absence, and the Lakers' offense has relied on its interior scoring with their best player out of the lineup.

Bryant will certainly take a lot of shots away from Gasol and Bynum when he returns, and that might be a bad thing for the Lakers.

Lakers and Clippers Battling for Seeding

The Lakers and Clippers aren't just battling for Los Angeles supremacy this season, they're fighting for the the third seed in the Western Conference playoffs.

The Lakers enter Friday's action with a one-game lead in the standings over the Clippers, but the purple and gold have a tougher schedule with games against the San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder left to play.

Since the Clippers are an inexperienced playoff team, they would really help themselves by attaining the third seed and the home-court advantage that comes with it.

Nuggets vs. Suns

Saturday's matchup between the Denver Nuggets and Phoenix Suns will have a profound impact on the Western Conference playoff race.

The Suns are tied with the Utah Jazz for the eighth and final playoff spot in the West and are just one game above the Houston Rockets who are in 10th.

The Nuggets can take a huge step forward in their quest for a playoff spot with a win against the Suns who need a win of their own to keep pace in the West.