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(Rational) Hype for the NBA’s Christmas Day Games

The NBA recently announced this season’s Christmas Day block of games! Is it too early to make predictions four months in advance? Possibly.

By Charles ManiegoPublished 7 years ago 6 min read
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For the Win/USA Today

The NBA season is coming…in two and a half months. The full NBA regular season schedule will be revealed very soon. Random, fun matchups will be announced — with many people getting excited over a DeMarcus Cousins-Nikola Jokic matchup on a random day in February. (I have a feeling that NBA twitter will be less enthused about that matchup when the actual season starts.) Basketball is getting closer. But all we have now is Nike jersey announcements and NBA 2K player rating leaks.

This week, the NBA revealed this season’s Christmas Day matchups.

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December 25th is an all day basketball event. (NBA basketball has been the best gift I’ve received some years. Being an adult sucks.) Five NBA games — with teams of varying success will be played, with the obvious “big time matchups” seen as well. For many NBA fans, it could be their first exposure to a few of the less popular teams, and even a peek into teams that you may miss. Let’s break each game down!

Philadelphia 76ers vs. New York Knicks

This seems like the obligatory “we have to start off Christmas with an East Coast game” selection. It will be two of the NBA’s oldest franchises facing off. As of now, both teams have futures up in the air. Fans will flock to see the Full-Process 76ers take the floor against Kristaps Porzingis and the Knicks. Carmelo Anthony may or may not be a Knick for that game. Joel Embiid — fingers crossed — may go full unicorn against Kristaps Porzingis.

The 76ers have the brightest future of every NBA team — if everything goes according to plan. The team’s core of Fultz — Simmons — Saric — Embiid (with a side of J.J. Redick) could be a Championship level squad — in 2022. Christmas Day could be a coming out party for the 76ers, especially at Madison Square Garden, where the most memorable basketball moments from the world’s most famous arena came from the opposite team. (Aside from a few isolated incidents.) The Knicks, most likely, will not be an Eastern Conference contender in 2017–2018. But NBA games at Madison Square Garden always have a certain gravity to them, despite the undermining of James Dolan. The game may not have huge playoff implications, but it will be a glimpse into the future of the NBA.

Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Golden State Warriors

It’s an NBA Finals rematch! The Warriors, somehow, some way, got better this summer, adding solid pieces in Nick Young, Omri Casspi and Jordan Bell. The Cavaliers are in a self-inflicted turmoil, spurred by the departure of general manager David Griffin. Since then, LeBron James has been rumored to bolt to Los Angeles (HIS HOME) next time he hits free agency, and Kyrie Irving expressed his desire to lead a team on his own.

Despite the bumpiness, the Warriors and Cavaliers are the two best teams in the league. For now. This is the biggest matchup of the day, and one of the two regular season matchups between the two teams. Last Christmas, the Cavaliers won the matchup with a Kyrie Irving game winner, 109–108.

Irving may not even be a Cav by the time Christmas 2017 rolls around. Yes, I’m totally feeling a Derrick Rose 40-point outburst in December.

Washington Wizards vs. Boston Celtics

This is a battle of two challengers to the Cavaliers’ Eastern Conference Crown. Much like the previous matchup, one team improved by a decent margin, while the other stagnated. Jayson Tatum, Gordon Hayward and Marcus Morris will suit up for a newer look Celtics. (So will Guerschon Yabusele Aron Baynes and Shane Larkin, but let’s focus on the big names.) The Wizards’ biggest offseason moves were committing to their core. Otto Porter’s max-restricted free agency offer sheet was matched and John Wall signed a super max extension.

The Celtics beat the Wizards in the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals in the spring. It was a tightly contested seven-game series, with each team dominating the other at certain points. There was also a Kelly-Kelly tussle in Game 3.

With the Celtics seemingly only getting stronger, Washington could be left in the dust here and for the near future. Let the Boogie to DC rumors begin!

Also, it’s a Morris twins faceoff! Will the two pull a switcheroo? Tune into ABC on Christmas Day to find out!

(Side note: let’s pour one out for the Toronto Raptors. Canada’s team doesn’t have a Christmas Day game, despite being a perennial Eastern Conference playoff team.)

Houston Rockets vs. Oklahoma City Thunder

We have a good one here. It’s a battle of two MVP Finalists in James Harden and Russell Westbrook. The new running mates of each player will face off as well. Chris Paul and Paul George both changed teams this summer — to some surprise and much excitement. These two will try to lessen the monstrous offensive load (pause) of Harden and Westbrook, respectively.

This game could be an offense-only fireworks show. We know Mike D’Antoni’s gameplan is to push the pace. Russell Westbrook does the same as well, sometimes all by himself. The addition of George and Paul to the mix could decrease offensive lulls and add to the excitement. And then there’s Carmelo Anthony — who may end up being a Houston Rocket after all.

Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Los Angeles Lakers

It’s Christmas, so the Lakers have to play to boost those rating. In the final game of the Christmas quintet, two teams with new looks face off. Tom Thibodeau and the Timberwolves went all in over the summer, adding Jimmy Butler and Jeff Teague to the most promising young core in the West. Lonzo Ball plays for the Lakers. Despite the distractions, Ball alters the offense in such a way that it’s hypnotizing. The Lakers added solid pieces in Brook Lopez and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope as well. While the Lakers may not make the playoffs, they could at least make teams sweat.

This will be an interesting test for the Timberwolves. Their offense seems to be just fine with the addition of Butler, Teague and Taj Gibson. But last season, their defense was their downfall. Karl Anthony-Towns simply did not look ready on the defensive end. Teague hasn’t been a plus defender in a few seasons. Andrew Wiggins posted a poor defensive rating (115), not using his athletic gifts to their fullest potential. With a buzzing offensive team like the Lakers, the Timberwolves will need to clamp down on Christmas Day and in their push to the playoffs.

All I Want for Christmas is Hoops

Yeah, Christmas is far away. It (definitely) is way too early to be cutting deep into regular season matchups. But the Christmas matchups of 2017–2018 reflect the NBA’s star-driven marketing model. Today’s superstars (James, Durant, Harden, Westbrook, etc.) are all taking the floor Christmas day. Tomorrow’s possible superstars (Embiid, Fultz, Porzingis, Towns, Ball, etc.) are also suiting up Christmas day too.

They may also wear some snazzy Christmas uniforms as well, just in time for the Holiday push for sweet, sweet Nike NBA jerseys. Personally, I saw way more Stephen Curry Christmas jerseys in and around New York City in the past year than regular Warriors jerseys.

While some other interesting NBA stars, namely Giannis Antetokounmpo and Kawhi Leonard, were left out of the Christmas festivities, there is enough talent to fill that gap. Christmas day games may be just another day in an 82-game grind, but the matchups festivities and overall jolliness of the holiday season make the matchups more memorable.

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About the Creator

Charles Maniego

Basketball, Society, Science & Medicine. Unbalanced.🍦🔬🏀🤼 ✈🤷🤙🏽

[@ignisyon]

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