Caron Butler, Dime #36Five matchups to watch on Friday’s NBA schedule…
New Jersey @ Toronto: Devin Harris vs. Jose Calderon
Last year’s Eastern Conference All-Star point guard snub meets the guy who could easily be this year’s version. Harris has been killing lately, averaging 28.6 points per game since coming back from the ankle injury he suffered while hanging 38 points on the Pistons. Calderon is also coming off an injury (hamstring) and put up eight points and seven assists in his first game back while making some key plays down the stretch in a win over the Heat.
(NBA League Pass, 7 p.m. EST)
Houston @ Washington: Ron Artest vs. Caron Butler
Caron’s frustration with this Wizards team is visible, and few opponents are as good as bringing someone to a breaking point as Ron-Ron. Two of the strongest, most physical, and all-around best small forwards in the game go head-to-head, although Artest may be hampered by an ankle injury from earlier in the week.
(ESPN, 7 p.m. EST)
Boston @ Minnesota: Kevin Garnett vs. Al Jefferson
KG didn’t play in last year’s Celtics/Wolves game in Minnesota, but he was in the building for the tribute. Everything with his former franchise is different now, from the court to the uniforms to the expectations. The fans who loved him for a dozen years still love him today, but now KG is walking into Al Jefferson’s house.
(NBA League Pass, 8 p.m. EST)
Utah @ San Antonio: Jerry Sloan vs. Tim Duncan
Any team playing the Spurs right now knows all you have to do is not let Duncan go nuts. Sloan’s problem is that Duncan usually destroys Memo Okur, and Carlos Boozer isn’t exactly All-Defensive Team material, either. Sounds like a job for Paul Millsap, only Duncan’s got several inches and several years on him.
(NBA League Pass, 8:30 p.m. EST)
New Orleans @ Oklahoma City: Chris Paul vs. Russell Westbrook
Two big opportunities here: For CP and the Hornets, they can break out of their current slump by hanging a big number on arguably the League’s worst team. For Westbrook, he can get the biggest test of his career against the League’s best point guard. The Thunder got Westbrook to be a lock-down guard, but CP isn’t very lock-down-able.
(ESPN, 9:30 p.m. EST)
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November 21st, 2008 at 6:57 pm
George W Kush Sr says:
Its more like the Hornets vs Westbrook, because you know CP’s going to mash him. But if the rest of the team dont show up, its not gonna help the cause.
November 21st, 2008 at 7:32 pm
AB_40 says:
go thunder… wow that sounds wack
when do the clips trade kaman to the nuggets for a seccond round pick… ohw wait my bad