NBA: Where Bonding with your little sister Happens

                I have been away from my blog for a while. Over the last month, I studied for finals, took finals and eventually went home for a much needed break. When I went back to New York, I noticed my sister is now a huge New York Knicks fan. I knew that she watched basketball occasionally, but there was something different. Before I left New York, if I was watching a game, she’d occasionally watch it with me. Now she cares. When the family discussed what time we’d have Christmas dinner, she wanted to be sure that it was after the Knicks game was over.  A couple of days later, when the Knicks played against Portland she disappeared to her room to watch it when the game came on. She has the NBA Gametime app now, so she knows the Knicks schedule.

                I have spent little time considering what becoming a sports fan entails. Prioritizing sports over other recreational activities comes to mind. The way you begin to discuss the games that are played. Before, she just cared about who was winning and losing during the game, and after the game she cared about the outcome. This time around, she started speaking in stats. “The Knicks are undefeated at home”. Rather than talking about the team, she started discussing individual players and how they contributed and failed to contribute. She started discussing the pros and cons of Carmelo being there. Actually that was misleading. There are no “cons”, because she loves Carmelo Anthony.   As someone who has been a fan of sports for as long as I can remember, I forgot what the progression from casual observer to engaged fan is like. Still, she had some questions about the rules, like why people took different amounts of foul shots after plays. Eventually those questions will become even more nuanced. As someone who lives and breathes sports, and blogs about it occasionally (meta), it was a fun week, and it allowed me to bond with my little sister.  

Normally, the first thing I write is about the games of the past week, but I haven’t written anything serious in a month or so, so that will be back next week. That and I’ve already done the pre-requisite Honey Nut Cheerios joke.

Upcoming Games to Watch.

Tuesday

LAC @ HOU League Pass 6:00 PM

2 out of the 3 biggest trades were the Chris Paul trade and the James Harden trade. Both teams went from middling fringe playoff contenders to serious contenders. Both of these teams are fundamentally sound and aesthetically pleasing to watch. Chris Paul is a consistent ball hawk which should present problems for Houston. Houston likes to win games by scoring an obscene amount of points which also makes them fun to watch.

POR @ DEN NBA TV 7:00 PM

I was worried about these teams before, but now I really enjoy watching them play. This should be a fun contest. Both are teams who have a recent history of great GM moves which will show up in the game.

Wednesday

MIA @ GSW ESPN 8:30 PM

Are the Warriors a really good team or are they just a 1^st round out squad that is playing a bit better than they should be. Playing against the Heat is a good measuring stick for anyone involved.

MEM @ SAS LP 6:30 PM

Do you know what’s not aesthetically pleasing? Watching the brawl between these two defensively talented squads isn’t. On the other hand these two teams are talented and the game will hopefully be a playoff preview. Mostly because I enjoy watching defense, but also because they are fundamentally sound teams with solid head coaching.

BKN @ ATL LP 5:30 PM

Brook-lyn. Brook-lyn. The most important thing about this game is that it is the return of Joe Johnson to Atlanta, where he collected one of the best paychecks in basketball.

WAS @ SAC LP 8 PM

Both teams are terrible, yes. But these teams have turned being terrible into an art form. They draft and trade for redundant players, their head coached often appear to be dazed and confused, and the both are where careers go to die. On a positive note, Bradley Beal has played well for the Wizards and John Wall is back.  On a positive note for Sacramento, the Kings probably won’t be there for much longer.

Thursday

NYK @ DET NBA TV 1 PM

Of course the week that I decide to talk about the Knicks and how much my little sister loves them, they play one day in the week, and they play in London at 3 PM EST. Even worse, they are playing against the sordid Detroit Pistons. This isn’t exactly a game that I’d go home early for. London deserves better.

Friday

CHI @ BOS  ESPN 5 PM

There aren’t many good rivalries in the NBA, the Bulls and Celtics have one of them.  The point guards hate one another. The Big Men are amongst the best agitators in the entire league. The games are extremely chippy. Oh and it’s nationally televised. Even without Derrick Rose, this still should be a great game.

Saturday

MIL @ POR LP 8 PM

Saturday has a generally weak slate of games, but I like watching Milwaukee ’s band of just under the radar players play against Portland’s band of just under the radar players.

Sunday

OKC @ DEN LP 8 PM

Russell Westbrook, Kevin Durant, and Serge Ibaka playing in altitude would be enough for the recommendation. I think both teams will be solid.