Another week of NBA has just started. It promises to deliver the action that fans of the best basketball league in the world are expecting when they tune in on every single matchup during the regular season. Most of the teams are beginning to make their first push to achieve a ticket to the postseason and get themselves in the conversation for a spot in the finals. Just recently, we have seen the downfall of some fan favorites, and the defending champs are also doing their thing. Let’s see what we should expect from this week’s matchups.

A Team Without a King

The Los Angeles Lakers have brought in reinforcements this season, including superstars like PG Russell Westbrook, PF Carmelo Anthony, the return of C Dwight Howard, C Deandre Jordan, PG Rajon Rondo, and a few other players to help shore up their roster. On paper, they looked like the team to beat, but with the absence of their on-court leader, SF Lebron James, it seems like the kingdom does not have the right direction and every single attempt to give the team momentum without him has been a complete failure.

Most recently, in their game against the Detroit Pistons, the former MVP James got himself suspended after throwing an elbow to the face of Isaiah Stewart. The latter was cut and immediately looked to get revenge on James and started to throw hands at him, pushing through people to try to get at him. This is, of course, the last thing the Lakers need in order to get back on track and pick up where they left off before James was injured and had to support his teammates from the bench. The Lakers did pick up a very important win after the altercation and broke a three-game losing streak that was haunting them during the start of the season.

Phoenix’s Hottest Sun’s Burning

Since the last finals against the Milwaukee Bucks and after having one of the best seasons in recent team history, the Suns have found themselves proven to be worthy of all hype accumulating their 13th straight win most recently over the San Antonio Spurs whom, even though they made it tight at the end, still didn’t have enough to put Phoenix away and fell short by a four-point difference. The Suns are the number two team in the Pacific Division, currently only trailing the Golden State Warriors, who are also showing flashbacks of a dynasty that will surely be put to the test by Phoenix in this division.

Leading scorer SG Devin Booker is still the face of the team with 22.4 points per game, and is supported by the legendary PG Chris Paul with 10.7 assists and 2.3 steals. The power duo continues to bring the excitement when the team needs it the most and has proven to be effective as they continue their run with a record of 14-3 so far this season. Another team member that has shown himself as a high value to the Suns is veteran C JaVale McGee who is leading the team in rebounds with 6.7 along with one block per game. He is a key defensive player and is now an essential part of their success.

Detroit Pistons at Miami Heat

With both teams coming off a loss, the Pistons against the Lakers in a very physical game and the Heat against the Wizards, the Pistons and Heat are looking forward to shaking off their recent struggles to get their next win and move forward. Miami has shown a very consistent game plan and has also won four of their last five games.

Pick: Miami Heat to win the game.

Los Angeles Clippers at Dallas Mavericks

In one of the most anticipated matchups in the NBA between two powerful teams, the Clippers go to Dallas next, with both teams being affected by injuries. This might not be the game most fans expect when they step on the court. Having faced each other just recently, this might be a chance for the Clippers to get revenge for the loss suffered at the hands of the Mavericks last Sunday. Without their main figures, both teams have had to make a lot of adjustments but remain to be great basketball teams, which will show when they play tonight.

Pick: Los Angeles Clippers to win the game.