Which NBA team will overcome the pressure?
The Western Conference standings were really affected by the four games that were played on Sunday. The Lakers were torpedoed by the Rockets in a game they lost 101-91. Ron Artest playing against his former team led the Lakers in scoring with 22 points. The Suns strongly won the victory against the Toronto Raptors by a half basket that propelled them back to the top of the Western Conference standings.
The Suns, the Hawks, the Bucks and the Nuggets all have one thing in common. In the four games they have played at home, they have not conceded a game in front of their home crowd. Away from home only the Miami Heat have won all their games. It’s hard for New Jersey to accept, they’ve lost all of their opening 10 games. In their next game they host a very optimistic team that has recorded four straight wins, the Indiana Pacers.
There is nothing more challenging for a team than playing under pressure. We all know that the pressure increases on a team when it plays in the playoffs and that is why the playoffs are very special. The Celtics and Lakers have a different kind of pressure on them right now. They have lost two games in a row and will definitely be under pressure to win in their next game.
As for injuries, there’s no telling how long the New Orleans Hornets’ guard will last; Chris Paul will be out of action. The Hornets are under intense pressure to turn things around. The good news is in Rockets camp, word is out that Tracy Mcgrady will be back on the court very soon after an eight-month injury.
In today’s game the most anticipated clash will take place in Atlanta Georgia where the Atlanta Hawks and the Portland Trail Blazers will meet. The Hawks are the current leaders in the Eastern Conference, while the Blazers are in second place in the Western Conference. Both teams cannot afford to make mistakes, otherwise they will lose their current status.
Apart from these facts, the general picture that is being painted in the minds of the fans is; Will the pressure from the Hawks help them end the Blazers’ six-game winning streak or will the pressure from the Blazers help them hand the Hawks their first home loss?