One of the best and most stunning NBA Christmas Day matchups
What are the very best NBA Christmas Day video games this 12 months?
The 2019 slate will characteristic loads of star energy and revamped rosters, together with Anthony Davis and LeBron James vs. Paul George and Kawhi Leonard. The 5 video games:
• Los Angeles Lakers vs. LA Clippers
• Houston Rockets @ Golden State Warriors
• Milwaukee Bucks @ Philadelphia 76ers
• Boston Celtics @ Toronto Raptors
• New Orleans Pelicans @ Denver Nuggets
Our NBA specialists reply the massive questions in regards to the 5 matchups, establish the largest surprises and make daring predictions in regards to the video games and the groups concerned.
Which Christmas Day recreation are you most excited to look at?
Tim Bontemps: Bucks-Sixers — and, to me, it is not shut. Whereas the Western Convention subsequent season goes to be a dogfight, Milwaukee and Philadelphia are the huge favorites to complete atop the East. They seem destined for a showdown within the convention finals. Mix that with the truth that each groups have younger superstars (Giannis Antetokounmpo in Milwaukee, and Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons in Philadelphia) who may very well be enjoying in opposition to each other for years to come back, and this may very well be the beginning of an annual Christmas custom. Signal me up for that.
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Bobby Marks: Pelicans-Nuggets. Understandably, everybody will likely be centered on Los Angeles, however I’m taking probably the greatest groups within the West (Denver) versus Zion Williamson and a New Orleans squad that might contend for one of many last playoff spots.
Malika Andrews: The Battle of Los Angeles. This may very well be the primary time we see the new-look Clippers tackle the AD/LeBron Lakers. Only one recreation doubtless will not dictate if the Clippers can turn out to be the brand new kings of L.A., however it will likely be enjoyable nonetheless.
Kevin Pelton: Bucks-Sixers. Clearly, all eyes will likely be on the Staples Heart co-tenants who will sq. off in opposition to one another. Given the depth of contenders within the West, nonetheless, I believe it is extra doubtless that Milwaukee and Philadelphia will likely be a preview of a playoff collection — particularly, the more than likely consequence for the convention finals at this level. These groups performed a thriller in April on TNT received by the host 76ers, however the Raptors denied us a gathering in final 12 months’s playoffs, so we’ve not seen them sq. off since.
Which of the 10 groups are you most shocked to see included?
Marks: Toronto. Regardless of successful the NBA championship final 12 months, the inclusion of the Raptors feels a 12 months late and nearly like a make-up for earlier Christmas Day omissions. Toronto ought to be a playoff crew if the roster stays intact however definitely not one of many high 10 groups within the NBA — not to mention high 4 within the East.
Pelton: Denver. The Pelicans are the odd crew out, as they’re extra prone to miss the playoffs than make them, in line with Caesars Sportsbook. However we have seen star draft picks like Zion Williamson featured on the Christmas Day slate earlier than. The primary assembly between Greg Oden and Kevin Durant, for instance, was scheduled for Christmas Day earlier than Oden underwent season-ending microfracture knee surgical procedure. Regardless of ending second within the West through the 2018-19 common season, I am nonetheless a bit shocked the Nuggets are being highlighted given their comparatively small nationwide footprint. That is clearly a wager Denver can preserve its lofty standing in a deeper West and on Nikola Jokic as a budding famous person.
Andrews: New Orleans, which has performed on Christmas Day solely thrice and hasn’t made an look since 2015.
Bontemps: Most likely the Raptors. Toronto deserves to make the slate after successful its first NBA championship, however given Kawhi’s departure, it would not have been a shock for the Raptors to have been left off. Nonetheless, it is good to see the NBA reward Toronto for its title with the chance to play — and host — a recreation on Christmas Day. It’s one thing followers of the franchise have wished to occur for years, and now they’re going to get their want.
AP Photograph/Steve Marcus
Which crew is probably the most stunning exclusion?
Andrews: The Knicks is not going to play on Christmas Day for the primary time since 2015, however that is not the most stunning New York crew not scheduled to play on Dec. 25. Kyrie Irving and the Brooklyn Nets is not going to be spreading Christmas cheer — no less than not within the type of a recreation. I count on Kevin Durant’s return to additionally mark the return of the Christmas Day Nets the next season.
Marks: Utah. I get that the Pelicans have the market attraction based mostly on the Zion issue and Golden State has Stephen Curry, however excluding the Jazz doesn’t add up. The Jazz performed on Christmas final December with an inferior roster. They’ve made vital additions with Mike Conley and Bojan Bogdanovic, plus they have already got Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert, but they nonetheless missed the reduce.
Pelton: Brooklyn. Even with KD on the sidelines, I’d have guessed the mixture of including Kyrie Irving and being the marquee crew within the Large Apple would have gotten the Nets on the Christmas schedule.
Bontemps: I am going to cheat a bit and say two groups — the New York Knicks and Brooklyn Nets. Sure, Kevin Durant is injured, however it felt like Celtics-Nets — with Kyrie Irving making his return to Boston for the primary time — was the type of juicy recreation that may be saved for the Christmas Day slate. As an alternative, they had been unnoticed fully. And whereas the Knicks are all however sure to be among the many NBA’s worst groups, that hasn’t stopped the league from force-feeding them to the viewing public. It is good to see that the league is avoiding merely having huge markets play on its marquee day.
Will the Lakers or Clippers have a greater file on Christmas Day?
Pelton: I am going to put cash on the Clippers. They have extra present infrastructure in place with 5 of the seven gamers who noticed no less than 70 minutes of motion in final 12 months’s first-round collection nonetheless on the roster, plus longtime head coach Doc Rivers. Provided that, I believe the mixing of Paul George and Kawhi Leonard will go extra easily than the Lakers making an attempt to construct chemistry from scratch beneath new coach Frank Vogel.
Bontemps: The Clippers. Sure, working in Leonard and George will take time, however the Clippers are beginning the season forward of the Lakers. Plus, it is not just like the Lakers haven’t got a number of issues to kind out themselves (together with determining who, precisely, goes to play protection). This will likely be a enjoyable recreation, however I count on the Clippers to have the higher file when these groups sq. off.
Marks: The Clippers. Even with Paul George doubtless lacking elements of coaching camp as he nurses a torn left labrum, the addition of Leonard and the continuity issue with the remainder of the roster give the Clippers the sting.
Andrews: I am taking the Clippers as properly.
What’s your daring Christmas Day prediction?
Marks: That the crew representing the Western Convention within the Finals — the Utah Jazz — will likely be sitting at dwelling.
Andrews: If Giannis indicators the supermax subsequent summer time, Milwaukee will likely be internet hosting in 2020 and he will likely be enjoying on Christmas Day for no less than the following 5 years.
Pelton: Peace on Earth appears manner too daring at this level, so I am going to accept New Orleans having a greater file than no less than one different crew in motion.
Bontemps: That the following time the NBA will not have a Christmas Day that includes Giannis Antetokounmpo will likely be within the 2030s. Sure, I do know that is a good distance from now and leaves open loads of time for an harm to vary issues. However on condition that Antetokounmpo appears poised to rule the NBA for the foreseeable future, my perception is he will likely be a featured visitor on tv units world wide on Christmas for the following decade, no less than.