AP Photo / Darron Cummings

Ummm….so….hi there…..

Yep…yep, you’re right – this article didn’t appear last week.  I can neither confirm nor deny the rumors that I was still hanging from the ceiling of The Leveson Hotel, resplendent in bright red Budweiser sunglasses and somewhat hung over until yesterday evening.  Anyway, let’s just make a pact to never speak of it again and get on with our post-NFL season US sport watching.

NBA

Well, the All Star break is nearly upon us and as Houston gets ready to host it all this weekend, let’s take a look at who’s hot and not.

Hot

• San Antonio Spurs (40-12, 9-1 in their last 10) – So the Spurs are yet again the owners of the best record in all of the NBA.  Just goes to show you what brilliant but surly coaching can do for a team!  On an Aussie note, don’t forget that Patty Mills and Aron Baynes are now both playing for the league leaders.
• Denver Nuggets (33-19, 9-1) – As we’ve mentioned in previous columns here, the Nuggets bad start to the season was in part due to their horrid schedule which had them play only SEVEN of their first 24 games at home.  Now getting to play a lot of games in the thin air at the altitude of the Pepsi Center in Denver, the Nuggets are hot behind the play of Gallinari, Faried, Lawson and Iguodala.
  (A quick aside here – check out this link for the Denver Nuggets fan in your life!)
• Miami Heat (34-14, 8-2) - Yes, the Heat are No. 1 in the East, but more specifically it’s @KingJames that’s scorching – FIVE 30+ point games in a row.

Not

• Charlotte Bobcats (11-39, 1-9) - What can I say?  I tried watching a Bobcats game on League Pass last night…I made it through the first four minutes before switching it off with a sad shake of my head.
  
• Minnesota Timberwolves (18-30, 1-9) - The poor T-Wolves season is falling apart.  Rubio is back, but it’s not helped much and Kevin Love’s injury has decimated them.  They’re going to have to do something drastic soon as Love has more than hinted that he would like to be traded out of the team from the North.
• Orlando Magic (15-36) – Similar to the Timberwolves, the Magic started well but have fallen apart in the past two months.

Must Watch Game

The 2013 All Star Game!

Time & Date:  Monday February 18, 12:00pm

Coverage:  LIVE on ESPN and ESPN HD w/Replay at 9:00pm on ESPN and ESPN HD (See TV Guide for details)

• So the All Star Game and weekend is always fun.  Basketball lends itself far more to showtime and exhibition than NFL, NHL or MLB.  The usual stars will all be there, but I’m looking forward to seeing newer talent like the brilliant Kyrie Irving, James Harden playing at home, and the Warriors David Lee.  The result is totally immaterial here – it’s the entertainment and celebrity that we really watch for here.  It’ll be another enjoyable one at least one moment that we’ll remember for years.

NHL

The NHL season has started rolling at a frenetic pace and there’s a few standout teams to watch for:

• Chicago Blackhawks (10-0-2):  Chicago are clearly the best team in the NHL right now.  The ‘Hawks lead the Western Conference and the League with ten wins and only two losses – which both came in overtime.  They’re doing it on both ends of the ice, ranking 2nd in offence and 3rd in defense in the league.  Starring this season has been right winger Patrick Kane, who has nine goals and ten assists in these first twelve games!
• New Jersey Devils (8-1-3):  The Devils look good again this year.  Built around a great defense, they’re definitely built to take advantage of this shortened season.
• Boston Bruins (8-1-1):  The Bruins are the other standout team in the Eastern Conference, but they’ve been a little more lucky than Chicago and New Jersey with quite a few close games – including two wins in penalty shootouts.

Must Watch Game

Colorado Avalanche (4-6-0) @ Minnesota Wild (5-5-1)

Time and Date:  Friday 15 February, 12pm

Coverage:  LIVE on Fox Sports 2 and Fox Sports 2 HD, with Replay on Saturday on Fox Sports 2 and Fox Sports 2 HD at 1:30am

• Even though these two have struggled so far this year, they’re both teams with a lot of improvement and potential in them.  With rabid fan bases, flashy free agent signings and playoff success in years past, this should be a fun one to watch.

NCAA Basketball

Wow!  We’ve had a fun season so far and it just keeps getting better.  You HAVE to just watch this clip of Notre Dame v Louisville….trust me…

Hmmm….so a 5-OT game…what else has been going on?  Oh, that’s right – the Number 1 teams keep losing!  For the past FIVE CONSECUTIVE WEEKS, the No. 1 team in the country has lost!

Have a look at how Indiana managed to lose with only 0.9 seconds on the clock to Illinois on the weekend:

Not enough for you?  Well, what about this finish to regulation between No. 3 Michigan and Wisconsin:

Now if that doesn’t make you look forward to the NCAA Tournament, then nothing will!  Bring on March Madness!

Ok, so that’s a wrap for this week.  As always, hit us up here or on Facebook or Twitter and let us know what you’re watching in US sports.