Dec 23, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama (1) shoots the ball against the Philadelphia 76ers during the fourth quarter at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images The menu is now out for the NBA’s annual Christmas feast. No expense has been spared.
It’s a full day’s worth of meatloaf, cranberry slices, Brussels sprouts, eggnog and fruitcake. All you can stomach.
Enjoy.
Or better yet, grab your NBA cup and bottoms up.
Actually, bottoms up seems to be a foreign concept to NBA schedule-makers.
Want a fun holiday matchup? How about showcasing teams that have made the first third of the season enjoyable?
Like the Cavaliers, Thunder, Grizzlies and Rockets.
Even the Pacers and Hawks have registered an accelerated heartbeat of late.
So have LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Paul George and Kevin Durant, but for different reasons.
Alas, it’s Christmas and everyone’s got to eat. So here’s how I’d rank the five nationally televised games on a strictly digestible basis …
1. Spurs-Knicks
Here’s your cranberry slice. At least it has a little juice. Lew Alcindor vs. Elvin Hayes. Except with a 3-point line. Can you imagine John Wooden’s reaction to seeing the towering Alcindor bomb away from 25 feet? Guy Lewis instructing the powerful Hayes to anchor over by the sideline to space the defense?
It’s what the game has become. And gotta say, it can be enjoyable in small doses. Wembanyama is the new LeBron—an unstoppable force for the next couple of decades or so. He needs games like this to imprint himself in the national mindset. Thank goodness Santa does his work early out west. The best basketball of the day tips off at 9 a.m.
2. 76ers-Celtics
Nov 8, 2023; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) controls the ball against Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) in the first quarter at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images The card features two regional rivalries that used to be entertaining but rarely reclaim their glory days. This is one, although the 76ers seem to have found a winning formula. Now let’s see if the NBA—wink, wink—cites office closure for the holidays when announcing Joel Embiid’s suspension a game late.
Few players in the NBA are more polarizing than Jayson Tatum. You either adore his son or hate his sense of entitlement. You make the call: Focus on Tatum on defense in this game. He’ll be given the easiest assignment, have eight rebounds fall into his lap because he’s not guarding anybody, and a broadcaster will inform us, “He’s doing all the little things” when he struggles offensively, as he does routinely under the bright lights. And his son will get more airtime than Taylor Swift.
3. Lakers-Warriors
Oct 25, 2024; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) warms up before the game against the Utah Jazz at Delta Center. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-Imagn Images LeBron vs. Curry used to be must-see TV. It’s gotten the premium positioning in this lineup, so obviously some advertisers must think that’s still the case.
But let’s be honest … If this game were Dec. 26, it’s likely both would be given an old-man’s day off. LeBron has played through aches and pains to flash his greatness in recent games. Curry… well, the guy who thought moving him off the ball was a brilliant idea doesn’t understand the No. 1 Rule of Defense: It’s easier to guard a guy without the ball than with it. The Tatum Principle.
4. Nuggets-Suns
Dec 13, 2024; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant (35) and forward Royce O’Neale (00) react to a play against the Utah Jazz during the first quarter at Delta Center. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-Imagn Images This game would rate higher if not for two major flaws, each of which was predictable long ago. First off, it’s a rematch of a game two nights earlier at the other site, so been there, done that. That said, it won’t be hard to improve upon a 117-90 blowout.
And secondly, injuries to teams that always have injuries will keep at least one marquee performer (Devin Booker) out of action, and very possibly a second (Jamal Murray). That relegates this to an all-exciting duel of rosters with less depth than the University of Arizona football team on the day the portal opens. Fittingly, the Grand Canyon State will host the last-call Christmas slumber party.
5. Timberwolves-Mavericks
Dec 23, 2024; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (77) celebrates during the second half against the Portland Trail Blazers at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images Where’s flex scheduling when you need it? The Timberwolves are playing the worst basketball in the NBA north of the Big Easy—did you know the Mississippi River connects Minneapolis and New Orleans? – having lost their last three games by a total of about 100 points to the Knicks, Warriors and Hawks. Not the type of team you want to be showcasing.
Sure, the Mavericks feature Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving and Klay Thompson. But do they really? Doncic is being eased back into the lineup after an injury, which makes this cakewalk a prime candidate for a night off. At the same time, expect Irving and Thompson to watch more than they perform. Keep an eye on Olivier-Maxence Prosper. Or don’t. A fresh fruitcake—especially after meatloaf—can be very underrated. Or not.
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