The NBA released parts of its 2021-22 schedule on Tuesday, more specifically Opening Week’s games that are on National TV and their annual slate of Christmas day games. So, I decided to dive into each Christmas Game, how the matchups stack up and why the NBA chose said matchup.
Game 1: 12:00 PM/EST on ESPN: Hawks at Knicks
The Knicks are on Christmas most every year and even though they were not the previous 2 seasons, New York playing on Christmas always feels right. So, the league chose a very fun matchup with the Knicks hosting the Atlanta Hawks, who eliminated New York in the first round of the 2021 NBA playoffs. Trae Young became a Madison Square Garden villain in that series so yet again he gets to play in ‘The Most Famous Arena in the World.’ The game should be a fun one. With Atlanta returning most of their team from their 2021 Eastern Conference Finals run, with a few additions as well, they should be right back in the thick of the Eastern Conference race. The Knicks added 2 very good scorers, Evan Fournier and Kemba Walker, while also keeping a lot of the core that helped carry them to the 4th seed in the East in 2021.
Game 2: 2:30 PM/EST on ABC: Celtics at Bucks
The NBA champions always get a home game on Christmas day, so that is why Milwaukee is playing. However, I would have created an NBA Finals rematch in this slot with the Suns playing in Milwaukee, though I do not think Boston is a bad choice. They have a superstar in Jayson Tatum and one of the biggest fan bases in the NBA. The Sixers and Heat could have been a good matchup as well but Boston it is. The Celtics have rebuilt their roster around their duo of stars and the Bucks are the champs who have brought back the core of their team. They are likely going to be 2 of the better teams in the Eastern Conference so it should be a good game. The matchup of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jayson Tatum is always fun.
Game 3: 5:00 PM/EST on ABC: Warriors at Suns
The defending Western Conference Champs get their shot at the dynasty that Golden State hopes to resume this upcoming season. Klay Thompson will likely be back in time for this game so (hopefully) we will get to watch two dynamic backcourts go back and forth. We also are given a fun match up of Steph Curry vs Chris Paul, a rivalry that extends all the way back to Paul’s days with the Los Angeles Clippers. This will be a good stepping stone for both these teams, to see where they stack up against one of the (presumed) powerhouses in the Western Conference. This is especially true for the Warriors, who hope to get right back into the top of the West with rebuilt depth, after 2 seasons away from the playoffs.
Game 4: 8:00 PM/EST on ESPN/ABC: Nets at Lakers
The main event of the night, Nets-Lakers. It SHOULD be a matchup in which all the stars are out, however, these are two teams that have had injury problems in the past, so just a warning that it might not be the case. However, assuming the both are healthy, it should be an awesome game. Kevin Durant vs LeBron James is always fun, so is Kevin Durant vs Russell Westbrook, heck the only player who does not have ties to another one of the opposing teams stars is Anthony Davis. The Lakers are returning only 4 players from their 2021 team, while the Nets are mostly bringing the whole band back together. KD, Kyrie, and James Harden, vs LeBron, AD, and Russ, it should be an awesome matchup.
Game 5: 10:30 PM/EST on ESPN: Mavericks at Jazz
I'll be honest, staying up for the final game on Christmas has always been a struggle for me, because I live on the East Coast and 10:30 is so late at night. However, I try every year and I will again this year because Dallas and Utah should be a good game. To start, Luka vs Donovan Mitchell is going to be an awesome matchup because they are two of the top scoring guards in the NBA. Luka Doncic is so fun to watch because of just how talented he is. His craftiness on the offensive end is second to none and he is one of the best in the league at everything when it comes to the offensive side of the court. For Utah, the defense of Rudy Gobert is the stalwart of the team and to go along with all of their 3 point shooting, the Jazz should be at the top of the Western Conference again next season. With that being said if you live in the Eastern (or even Central) time zone, no one will fault you for going to bed after a long day with family and hoops, though you would miss a good game.
The NBA on Christmas is a tradition that is loads of fun every year and it will be again this year. In the grand scheme of the season, does it make that big of a difference? No, it does not but that does not mean you should not watch the games, it's the NBA on Christmas! Who does not love to try and escape from family gatherings to watch basketball every year?
Comments