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Let's nix the small talk, shall we?

REASONS TO WATCH THE GAMES OF THAT NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION TONIGHT:


Like, Oh My God, We're Twinkies!!


Phoenix at Dallas

Okay, we're going to put a stop to this right now. The Suns and Mavericks are not the same. Here is a list of the similarities between the two:

• They used to be really, really good, and now are only kind of good.
• Their point guards are old.
• They both have all-star caliber power forwards.
• They both have coaches.

Boom. That's it. The Suns started this season off on a tear, and then kind of fell off the map. The Mavs however, started slow, and are now starting to pick up steam. One of these teams is criticized for shooting too many jumpers. The other could actually be losing because they're throwing it into the post too often. You see where I'm going with this? I mean, the whole star cross'd thing is kind of cute, but this is really a tale of two teams on two very different paths. The Suns think they know who they are, but I'm not entirely certain that the Mavs do. Nash is supposed to be a gametime decision, but with Shaq back in the lineup, you can be sure that they'll spend more than half the game trying to get him the ball. Supposedly Porter is willing to change his approach to cater to his players' strengths. I don't buy it. What I do buy is Dirk and Amare each dropping 28 on each other tonight, as the other scrambles and tries their damnedest to play decent D. Slowing down the game was supposed to decrease the reliance on Nash, which would in turn allow him to get a bit more rest. They didn't completely fall apart yesterday, but at the very least they were discombobulated. Strange days in Phoenix.

8:00 EST, TNT!


doodoodoodoodoodoo Andddd in the End...the Love You Take...Is Equal to the Defensive Stops...You Make



San Antonio at Denver

I am still in shock at what Chauncey has done to this Nuggets team. Funny how a calming on-court presence can change a team's whole demeanor, eh? And oddly enough, this game will boil down to the defense. The Nuggs will need every defensive trick Chauncey has in his repertoire to handcuff Tony Parkeyr (intentional), Nene will draw the tough task of trying to keep Duncan down, and Carmelo Anthony will be standing in the corner with Bruce Bowen/Ime Udoka. Whew. But this Nuggets team is storming in at 6th in the league in defensive efficiency (!) and should be able to take advantage of a Spurs squad that's still trying to get its wheels spinning in the right direction. But the real intrigue for me will be the pace of this one: SanAn has a tendency to force their opponents to slow things down. But with Denver near the top of the league in terms of pace, which team will be able to assert its will and make the other 'play at their speed'? Frankly, I'm not sure. But with Billups heading the charge for Denver, Nene working the post well, and Carmelo ruthless in the midrange game, does slowing things down really hurt the Nuggets all that much anymore?

10:30 EST, TNT!