The buzz surrounding the NBA during All-Star weekend is showing some impressive staying power. Days after the All-Star game saw a big jump over last year’s viewership, Shaquille O’Neal’s first game with his new team, the Phoenix Suns, generated the third-highest ratings for an NBA game in ESPN history.
Meanwhile, Jason Kidd’s recent trade from the New Jersey Nets to the Dallas Mavericks dominated sports radio and TV talk shows, and word yesterday that Houston Rockets superstar Yao Ming may miss the Summer Olympics for host China sent the blogosphere typing.
Tonight at 8 p.m. on TNT the NBA buzz continues with a matchup of two of the top Western Conference contenders, the defending NBA champion San Antonio Spurs (38-17) and the Mavs (38-19), who trail the Spurs by one game in the Southwest Division.
The Spurs are on fire. Through yesterday, they’ve won nine of their last 10 games playing in the NBA’s toughest division, where four teams have won at least 37 games and all but one squad, basement-dwelling Memphis, seems likely to make the playoffs.
This game could be a preview of the Western Conference finals, or at least that’s what the Mavs hope. After a shocking first-round playoff exit last year, following an NBA finals appearance the year before, the squad acquired veteran guard Kidd to guard against another postseason letdown.
Kidd led the New Jersey Nets to two straight NBA finals appearances after his 2001 acquisition. Though he’s bounced around the league and has a reputation as a bit of a malcontent, he is a good leader and exactly the sort of addition the Mavs hope will push them back into contention.
Since this is one of his first big nationally televised games with the team, ratings for tonight’s matchup should be strong, if not quite as high as the 2.81 million who tuned in for Shaq’s debut, because of the greater broadcast competition tonight.
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A look at this week’s top TV draws
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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28
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Time
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Network
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Program
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Description
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7 a.m.
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NBC
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“Toady” (N)
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Reunion day! The cast of “Knots Landing” guests.
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8 p.m.
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CBS
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“Survivor” (R)
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An unexpected person tries to execute a power play.
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8 p.m.
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Fox
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“American Idol” (R)
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Four more contestants, two male and two female, are bounced from the competition.
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9 p.m.
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ABC
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“Lost” (D)
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Sayid and Desmond run into trouble while on their way to the freighter.
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9 p.m.
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NBC
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“Celebrity Apprentice” (R)
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The two teams try to put together a four-page magazine spread.
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10 p.m.
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VH1
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“Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew” (R)
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The first of a two-part season finale.
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11 p.m.
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Spike TV
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“Pros vs. Joes” (G)
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The Joes try to survive getting cross-checked by hockey legend Paul Coffey.
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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 29
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Time
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Network
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Program
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Description
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7 a.m.
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ABC
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“Good Morning America” (N)
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Actress Reese Witherspoon and singer James Blunt both guest.
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7:30 p.m.
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ESPN2
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“Arena Football Preview” (S)
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A look at the upcoming season, as well as some of the most memorable moments in AFL history.
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8 p.m.
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CBS
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“The Price is Right” (G)
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The classic game show will try to test its muscle against NBC’s new game “Amne$ia.”
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9 p.m.
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NBC
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“Dateline” (N)
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Reporters Dennis Murphy and Sara James investigate two separate murders.
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10 p.m.
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History Channel
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“Battle 360” (N)
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Series premiere. A look at the USS Enterprise – the WWII carrier, not the “Star Trek” ship.
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10:30 p.m.
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ESPN
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“NBA Basketball” (S)
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Carmelo and the Nuggets host the Clippers.
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SATURDAY, MARCH 1
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Time
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Network
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Program
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Description
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2 p.m.
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CBS
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“College Basketball” (S)
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Marquette hosts Georgetown in a Big East battle.
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3:30 p.m.
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ABC
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“College Basketball” (S)
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North Carolina travels to Boston College for an ACC tilt.
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8 p.m.
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Fox
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“Cops” (R)
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Cops in California try to chase down a drunk suspect on foot.
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9 p.m.
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BET
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“Generation Now: Top 25 Under 25” (N)
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A countdown of the most promising celebrities under the age of 25.
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9 p.m.
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ESPN
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“College Basketball” (S)
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Huge Big 12 rivalry game between Kansas State and Kansas.
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11:30 p.m.
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NBC
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“Saturday Night Live” (C)
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Actress Ellen Page hosts.
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SUNDAY, MARCH 2
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Time
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Network
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Program
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Description
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Noon
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CBS
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“College Basketball” (S)
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Important SEC game between Kentucky and Tennessee.
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3:30 p.m.
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Fox
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“NASCAR Racing” (S)
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The UAW-Dodge 400, live from Las Vegas.
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3:30 p.m.
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ABC
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“NBA Basketball” (S)
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The new-look Mavs take on the new-look Lakers in L.A.
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7 p.m.
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Fox
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“The Simpsons” (C)
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Topher Grace lends his voice as a new student who helps Bart pull pranks.
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8 p.m.
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ABC
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“Oprah’s Big Give” (G)
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Series premiere. First of an eight-part series in which contestants try to change people’s lives in a positive way.
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9 p.m.
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NBC
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“Quarterlife” (D)
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Now in its regular timeslot, can it build on Tuesday’s premiere?
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10 p.m.
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ABC
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“Here Come the Newlyweds” (G)
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Series premiere. Seven couples compete to test their teamwork.
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A = awards show or special, C = comedy, D = drama, DD = daytime drama, G = game show, K = kids, M = movie, N = news/documentary, R = reality, S = sports, T = talk/variety show.
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