Definitive Guide to Warriors vs. Lakers and Friday's Top NBA Games
There's nothing at all freaky about this NBA Friday night.
Halloween tricks have been shoved in the closet, right next to your New York Knicks "Linsanity" gear and balled-up Los Angeles Lakers Superman capes. Thanksgiving feasts are coming early for hoops heads by way of an 11-game slate that reads more like a gift from the basketball gods.
Before tipping back your favorite weekend beverages, use this guide to help you enjoy the action responsibly.
There's an unintentional tank show north of the border and a case of tanking gone wrong in Philly to start off the night. Then, the Indiana Pacers look to polish their Eastern Conference-best record in Boston, while the Atlanta Hawks get their second dose of Josh Smith this week.
A slew of Western Conference powers will be handling the mid-shift. Will the Brooklyn Nets keep things close enough for Kevin Love to break out another 30-30 stat line? Can Anthony Davis give the league its first quadruple-double in 19 years? Does Monta Ellis finally have it all in Dallas?
Do yourself a favor, though, and save some room for dessert. League Pass subscribers can get a delectable interconference offering when the 10-2 Portland Trail Blazers(!) get their first crack at the Chicago Bulls. The Los Angeles Lakers will look for an upset special when the championship-caliber Golden State Warriors(!!) come to town.
Incredibly, that's not even all the league has to offer.
So unsnap that top button, kick back and prepare to gorge. NBA fans will get more than their fill on this fine Friday night.
Friday Night's Lineup
Phoenix Suns vs. Charlotte Bobcats, 7 p.m. ET
Milwaukee Bucks vs Philadelphia 76ers, 7 p.m. ET
Washington Wizards vs. Toronto Raptors, 7 p.m. ET
Indiana Pacers vs. Boston Celtics, 7:30 p.m. ET
Atlanta Hawks vs. Detroit Pistons, 7:30 p.m. ET
San Antonio Spurs vs. Memphis Grizzlies, 8 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Brooklyn Nets vs. Minnesota Timberwolves, 8 p.m. ET
Cleveland Cavaliers vs. New Orleans Pelicans, 8 p.m. ET
Utah Jazz vs. Dallas Mavericks, 8:30 p.m. ET
Chicago Bulls vs. Portland Trail Blazers, 10 p.m. ET
Golden State Warriors vs. Los Angeles Lakers, 10:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Best Matchup of the Night: Chicago Bulls vs. Portland Trail Blazers
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Two winning streaks will be put to the test when the Chicago Bulls make their lone trip of the 2013-14 season to the Moda Center.
Would you believe me if I said both belong to the Portland Trail Blazers?
Coach Terry Stotts' team is playing some of its best basketball of the decade. Portland (10-2) is riding an eight-game winning streak and, per Blazers.com's Jeff Bartl, is off to its strongest start since the 1999-00 season.
"We're thinking greedy," Blazers guard Wesley Matthews said, via Bartl. "We're thinking 'win' like we're supposed to."
There's plenty of credit to go around for this torrid stretch, but two keys come to the forefront.
LaMarcus Aldridge (22.5 points and 9.0 rebounds) and Damian Lillard (19.9 points and 5.8 assists) pack one of the league's deadliest inside-out punches.
And these Blazers dig the long ball. For good reason. Portland's shooting 41.5 percent from distance (fourth best in the league), thanks in large part to Lillard (39.1 percent, 2.8 triples per game), Matthews (50.0, 2.8) and Nicolas Batum (40.9, 2.3).
The Bulls, who are winless in their last five trips to Portland, saw their five-game winning streak snapped in Denver on Thursday.
But Chicago's personnel sets the stage for some enticing individual matchups: Derrick Rose vs. Lillard, Carlos Boozer vs. Aldridge, Luol Deng vs. Batum and Joakim Noah's lettuce against Robin Lopez's mop.
You'll want to get to the sports bar early for this one.
Must-See Individual Matchup: Tony Parker vs. Mike Conley
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It's a rematch of the 2013 Western Conference Finals, and one that Memphis Grizzlies point guard Mike Conley hopes will look nothing like the last time.
Not only were Conley's grit-'n-grinders dispatched by Tony Parker's San Antonio Spurs in four games, but the former Buckeye was used and abused by the Frenchman.
Parker (24.5 points and 9.5 assists in the series) gave Conley (15.3 points and 5.8 assists) an unsolicited lesson in point-guard play.
But familiarity may be hard to find in this game. The Grizzlies (winners of four straight) and Conley (19 points in two of his last three) have started finding a rhythm under first-year coach David Joerger.
"New coach, new offense...we just have to get used to it," Conley said, via Grizzlies.com. "Now we've been able to figure it out."
Figuring out Parker may be a taller task, though. The 12-year veteran is enjoying the second-best shooting season of his career (53.8 percent).
If dealing with each other wasn't hard enough, both guards figure to be fighting through a steady stream of bone-jarring screens. With ferocious roll men and potent pick-and-pop partners, it will take a team approach to slow these floor generals.
Stopping either one is out of the question.
Who Has the Most on the Line?
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"We are a no-excuse basketball team," Golden State Warriors coach Mark Jackson said, via Marcus Thompson II of the Bay Area News Group.
That concept will be put to the test when his team travels down the Pacific Coast for a date inside the Staples Center.
Still recovering from a mild concussion, sweet-shooting point guard Stephen Curry's status remains up in the air, via Thompson.
No Curry has meant no offense so far. The Warriors have battled without him, but are winless in two attempts. Golden State has managed just 77.5 points when Curry doesn't play, while pouring in 107.3 when his quick-release trigger is available.
But again, no excuses. Even if the Warriors (8-4) are peppered with questions should they lose to the Kobe Bryant-less Los Angeles Lakers (5-7).
Although short on signature wins, Jackson's team has handled the opponents that it should. With no Mamba, the Lakers certainly fall into that group.
Games like this used to be the Warriors' entire season. A regular-season victory over an NBA superpower was about as good as things could get.
But times have changed. Expectations, too.
The Dubs have found strength in numbers with five different players averaging at least 11.4 points per game. But with No. 30 (possibly) on the shelf, the Warriors need to use that depth and kick their Pacific Division rival when its down.
No excuses. No remorse, either.
Injury Report
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We don't have to worry about missing out on any of this Friday-night fun. But here's a look at some hobbled stars who may have no other choice.
Boston Celtics
Rajon Rondo (Knee)
He's back on the practice floor, but that might be as good as it gets for now. Celtics coach Brad Stevens said he doesn't know Rondo's timetable, but "can’t imagine it’s any time very, very soon," via Steve Bulpett of the Boston Herald.
Brooklyn Nets
Deron Williams (Ankle)
He's questionable after suffering yet another ankle sprain, although ESPN's Jalen Rose thinks this one wasn't Williams' fault. Still, you wonder if Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov is searching for his receipt right now.
Brook Lopez (Ankle)
It seems like everything is questionable in Brooklyn, but Lopez's injury status looms the largest. His teammates have been a mess, but the big man (20.5 points, 57.4-percent shooting) keeps raising his ceiling nevertheless.
Charlotte Bobcats
Al Jefferson (Ankle)
Per Rick Bonnell of The Charlotte Observer, no decision has been made on Big Al's availability. It's probably just as well. His pick-and-roll defense is awful at full strength; imagining it at something less than that is terrifying.
Chicago Bulls
Jimmy Butler (Toe)
Turf toe will be keeping Jimmy Buckets out for Chicago's six-game road trip, per USA Today's Adi Joseph. Coach Tom Thibodeau has options on the wing, but none with a nickname this good.
Golden State Warriors
Stephen Curry (Head)
He's questionable after Utah's Marvin Williams used Curry's head to cushion his fall...Hey, at least it's not the ankle.
Indiana Pacers
Danny Granger (Calf)
Candace Buckner of The Indianapolis Star reported that Granger might not even make the trip for this game. Judging by the Pacers' record (10-1) and their opponent, Indiana should survive without him.
Los Angeles Lakers
Kobe Bryant (Achilles)
His return is getting closer, but coach Mike D'Antoni cautioned that it's still likely a "few games" away, via ESPN Los Angeles' Dave McMenamin. But how will D'Antoni ever find enough shots for the Mamba and Jordan Hill?
Steve Nash (Back)
When rehab talk includes retirement speculation, that says everything you need to know about Nash's health.
Milwaukee Bucks
Larry Sanders (Thumb)
He's out through at least early December after going under the knife for the torn ligament in his right thumb. Probably a good time to remind everyone about the note on enjoying the night responsibly.
Philadelphia 76ers
Nerlens Noel (Knee)
This is more of a question of if, not when we'll see Noel and his sweet flattop this season.
Phoenix Suns
Eric Bledsoe (Shin)
He's day-to-day with a bruised shin, per the Suns' official Twitter feed. It turns out Chris Paul's former understudy is human after all.
Utah Jazz
Gordon Hayward (Knee)
Per Jody Genessy of the Deseret News, a bruised knee cap has left Hayward as a game-time decision. I'm not sure I'd want any of the new Monta Ellis, either.
*Unless otherwise noted, injury information obtained via CBS Sports.
Pop-in Potential: Cleveland Cavaliers vs. New Orleans Pelicans
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I know what you're thinking. The only reason I'm buying this Pelicans-Cavaliers game is Anthony Davis, right?
Well, yes, that's actually correct. But how amazing is that? It says a lot about Davis' growing star power when you consider the other players that will be out on the floor.
This might not look like the same Kyrie Irving (41.0 field-goal percentage), but the former Duke Blue Devil has still poured in 28 points or better four times this season.
Ryan Anderson, albeit in a two-game sample size, is looking to start the 60-60-100 club (.640/.625/1.000 slash). Eric Gordon (15.8 points), Jrue Holiday (13.8) and Tyreke Evans (9.9) are still learning how to play together, but any one of the three can torch the scoreboard.
At the end of the day, though, any chance to watch Davis is one you should take.
"Davis is gaining confidence with each week, each game, seemingly each dribble," NOLA.com's Jeff Duncan wrote. "You can see it in his eyes and read it in his body language."
The 20-year-old is playing without a ceiling. Unless, of course, you want to cap his growth somewhere in the clouds.
"The sky's the limit for him," Holiday told Duncan.
Throw in the fact that these two playoff hopefuls haven't started their seasons the way they would've liked, and this game is more than worth your attention.
Keep your eyes on this one, and see if you can borrow an extra set to track The Brow's movements.
Fantasy Stockwatch
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Things are going to get uncomfortable on Friday night.
Decisions will be made. Risks will be taken. Good players will be benched.
It's the blessing and curse of a jam-packed schedule. You shouldn't be facing the dreaded empty roster slot, but you also don't have enough positions to go around.
The writing is there on the wall this late into the week. The "Darvin Hamburglers" are not going away.
So field the best lineup you possibly can, stay on top of the injury watch and go steal yourself a victory. Larceny might get you jail time in the real world, but it can win you championships in the fantasy realm.
The Big Guns
Anthony Davis
If you did one thing right this fantasy season, it was drafting The Brow. Some players fill stat sheets; Davis destroys them.
In seven of his 11 games so far, he's left an imprint in all five of the major categories (points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks). He's had at least nine rebounds in his last three games, 22-plus points in two of those outings and 16 swats over the last two.
Look for those numbers to hold steady or increase on Friday night.
The Cavs have some major holes on the interior, all of which were exploited by Nene over Cleveland's last two games. The Brazilian big man averaged 24.0 points, 7.5 rebounds and 4.0 assists in the home-away set.
In other words, everything will continue to trend well for Davis' owners.
O.J. Mayo
You know what you were signing up for when you put Mayo on your roster. There were going be to some rough nights, and he's already delivered a few of those (three single-digit scoring efforts).
But sometimes the basketball worlds align. And on those nights, Mayo could make your forget about the rest.
I have some good news; Mayo's mind-control powers will be in play on Friday.
He's a chucker, or at least as close to that label as anyone on Milwaukee's roster. Philadelphia's biggest weakness? You guessed it—chuckers.
The Sixers are a generous defense as it is (league-worst 109.8 points allowed per game) and even more giving to opposing shooters. Philly's opponents are converting 40.7 of their three-point attempts on the season.
Sound good enough, Mayo fans? Well, there's one last nugget to pass on. The guy's hitting almost everything, regardless of defense (53.2 three-point percentage).
He might have been a feast-or-famine pick, but his owners will be eating well on Friday.
The Sleeper
Corey Brewer
Provided that film study didn't interfere with team nap time, can you imagine how tired the Nets were watching clips of Brewer haul in Kevin Love's full-court passes?
Brooklyn doesn't like to run. Only eight teams average fewer possessions per 48 minutes (95.8).
The Timberwolves love to get out in the open floor. Rick Adelman has Minnesota churning with the second-fastest pace in the league (102.3).
Brewer's not the best half-court player, but he won't have to be in this matchup. As Love's primary receiver, he's benefited the most from the big man's outlet-passing gifts. Exactly one-half of Brewer's offense has come from fast-break points.
Try to ignore those panting sounds you hear. That's just the Nets players getting worn out from the game film.
