What You're Watching Saturday Night

New to Five Foot Nothing Sports, 'What You're Watching Saturday Night', staff members will either represent the College Basketball game of the week, the NBA game of the week or the movie of the week, because let's face it, if you're living somewhere where its cold, sometimes its better to just stay inside and turn on the tube.

But how should you spend your time? Watching the fundamentals of college basketball? The flare of the NBA? Or the best NBA and maybe AMC have to offer?

We will attempt to make it easier for you to decide...

The case for NCAA: Coach Dubs

#1 Tennessee @ Texas A&M

8:00

ESPN

As we start the shortest month of the year the intensity starts to heat up.  College basketball teams are trying to make their final push for the Big Dance in March.  The big ESPN matchup at 8 pm is #1 Tennessee at Texas A&M, which is not very appealing. And the bigger problem is it does not really matter who wins this game.  It will have no effect on Selection Sunday. The Volunteers are going to the dance and Texas A&M is not unless they win the SEC tournament. So let's move on.

It's a terrible first game for me to try and argue. But if you want some impactful college basketball...

The matchup that has the ability to have an effect on March Madness in St. Johns ar #2 Duke.  St. Johns needs this non-conference win. A true road win at Cameron Indoor Stadium would be huge.  The Red Storm have the firepower to hang with the Blue Devils but the defense the Blue Devils play is what sets them apart.  Led by junior Shamorie Ponds who is averaging over 20 points. But the biggest selling point that an upset could be brewing is the fact that he has erupted for over 30 points four times this year.  That scoring power can give the Blue Devils problems. Especially given that fact that the Red Storm have three players who are hitting over 40% from the three point line.

This win would help keep Chris Mullins seat cold but heat up New York as this would be the second team (Syracuse) from the Empire State to go down and beat Duke in Cameron Indoor Stadium this year.

As great as it would be I will take the Blue Devils by 15.  But this is the game to watch on Saturday that can change Selection Sunday next month.

But when it comes to primetime, you can still tune into Tennessee and A&M, even though it may not have the big game potential. It's still better than the NBA...

The case for the NBA: Matt G.

Los Angeles Lakers at Golden State Warriors

8:30 PM

ABC

Lebron James is a wizard. No, not one from Washington or from Hogwarts, but a modern day, living, breathing, short-bearded magician. (Again, not from Orlando.) Will the robed clairvoyant play on Saturday night versus the Warriors? He hasn’t been ruled out as of yet (Thursday morning), but I’m willing to bet that the mighty sage won’t lace up his self-entitled sneakers and take on one of the hottest teams in the NBA this Saturday night, regardless of how much the farmer holding the pitchfork from the American Gothic painting wants him to play. And, quite frankly, he shouldn’t play. 

What is the point of the the King playing against a team that is thoroughly better than his current ensemble of misfits? 

Since going down on Christmas day to the Warriors, the Lakers are a modest 6-11 during his absence and are on the precipice of falling out of playoff contention in the West. So, why is it so “smart” for the King to sit this one out? The reason being, what possible good could come out of him playing? The Lakers win? Yippie! The Lakers lose? So what? There is nothing they can gain out of him playing, besides possibly risking hurting his groin even more. Before LeBron’s groan decided to go pop, the Lakers were landing haymakers to the reigning champs on Christmas. The Lakers after LeBron goes down? They still cruised to a 127-101 annihilation. The Lakers sole purpose should be to get the King healthy and let the Lakers becoming the newer, more yellow Cleveland Cavaliers. Hang around during December, January, and February, and then spring to life with a completely new cast of characters to matriculate their way through the West and then take on the Warriors again when it really does mean something. Let Kuzma who is nursing a sore hip, try to lead this young team and showcase to other teams that he would be a valuable trade piece.  

So why should you watch this Saturday night if I just spent a paragraph telling you why it’s essentially meaningless basketball and the Lakers are like Journey after Steve Perry? The game will be fun as hell to watch. The Warriors, since incorporating Boogie Cousins,  the 6’11”, 270 pound giant center who can hit a three, set beautiful picks, and roll to the rim like he didn’t blow out his Achilles last year, look pretty much like their old selves. The ball is moving freely (even though you can tell Steve Kerr is running specific plays to get Boogie incorporated into the flow of the game, regardless of his foul situation). Most importantly, everybody looks happy. Curry is back to doing his “shimmy” before to ball tickles the nylon.  And also, most importantly, there is the possibility that some Warriors could be Lakers next year. 

Remember how I said that LeBron is a wizard? Even if he doesn’t play, he’ll be gyrating his wand over the upcoming free agents, Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson. Even if LeBron is in street clothes, watch him during timeouts and after the game. See if he’s whispering in Klay’s ear or telling sweet nothings to Kevin Durant. After the Warriors domination on ABC, I’d love to be a fly on the wall at an expensive restaurant, to watch LeBron, Boogie, Klay, and KD sip the finest wine and converse about how they plan on flipping the NBA upside down (again) next year. The whole “Anthony Davis demands a trade” talk was just a chip in LeBron’s arsenal. It was simply diversion so LeBron could work his true magic under the table. The Pelicans would be stupid to take any package the Lakers could give them over a package created by the Celtics. But, if you have your best friend and confidant, Rich Paul, drop a little “Woj Bomb” to the frenzied paper militia, you’ll throw the scent off to the wild media herd. 

Now, LeBron can waft around in somewhat secrecy, and formulate his true plan… To bring KD and Klay to the purple and gold. 

LeBron has his new “Big 3” and he crushes his biggest competition (the Warriors) along the way. LeBron has never really thrived with a big man down in the post. Now A.D. is not your typical 5 that just crashes the boards and dunks, but still, Lebron is at his best when he has players that can space the floor and give him room to roam. Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson help create that space. Just like David Copperfield, what the magician wants you to see is often the diversion for what he’s really doing behind his back.

The case for a Movie: Coach K

Uncle Drew

HBO

8 pm

Now I am not a die-hard basketball fan. By any means. I do enjoy college basketball...in March, and I love the NBA as much as the next guy, when its the NBA finals. In the meantime, none of these games are as important to me then kicking back on a Saturday night, with a nice drink in your hand, and watching a good movie, or sometimes, a bad movie.

But keeping the basketball theme going, I thought I would choose Uncle Drew which is debuting on HBO. Now I have never seen the movie, but Kyrie Irving, Reggie Miller and Shaq dressed as old men playing in a pick-up game? I am in!

I have absolutely no expectations for this movie, but if I can get a couple of chuckles out of it, its a win. I couldn't tell you one guy on either Tennessee or A&M and I doubt the Lakers, nor the Warriors will show us much if they are destined to meet in the playoffs. So I am not buying the hype. But Tiffany Haddish, Nick Kroll, and Lil Rey Howery, I'll roll the dice with.

I am looking at IMDB and am now seeing Nate Robinson is in it. How was this move not nominated for an Oscar?