Although not much is known about the 2022/23 schedule, two Christmas Day games have already been leaked. According to NBA insider Marc Stein, the Lakers are expected to visit the Mavericks for the holiday and the Warriors will host the Grizzlies.
All four teams are natural selections for the Christmas showcase, considering their popularity and talent level. LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Luka Doncic, Stephen Curry and Ja Morant should all be good for holiday ratings.
The NBA traditionally schedules five games for December 25, and it’s important to have a strong lineup this year because the league will be competing with three NFL games. With six slots left to fill, let’s look at some of the teams that will be under consideration.
As defending Eastern Conference champions, the Celtics seem like a lock for Christmas Day, as do the Heat, who lost in a seven-game conference finals. Both teams have last year’s lineups returning virtually intact and figure to be at the top of the East again.
The Sixers have perennial All-Stars in Joel Embiid and James Harden, while the Bucks are also a title contender and sport two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Knicks represent the league’s biggest television market and are in a strong position to trade for Donovan Mitchell. The Nets are the wild card in the East because of the uncertain future of Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, who are a guaranteed ratings draw if they’re still on the team.
Out West, the Suns will get strong Christmas Day consideration after posting the league’s best record last season. The Clippers should be in the running if schedule makers expect Kawhi Leonard and Paul George to be fully recovered from last year’s injuries, and the Nuggets also have a two-time MVP in Nikola Jokic. A chance to showcase Zion Williamson could put the Pelicans in the running for a holiday game, while the young talent on the Timberwolves makes them an intriguing possibility as well.
We want to get your opinion. Which six teams would you add to the Christmas Day schedule and how would you match them up? Please leave your answer in the space below.
Timberwolves and Nuggets. Bulls and Bucks. Clippers and Sun’s.
Bucks vs. Sixers, Heat vs. Pistons, Suns vs.Nuggets.
Christmas Day games ….. Like the rest of the Regular Season ….. Pretty much useless!!
entertaining though
The regular season is only useless if you don’t enjoy watching hoops.
Useless when most of the Players themselves treat the regular season like it is useless other than collecting a paycheck.
Players have figured out that home court advantage means nothing. Win 1 game on opponent home floor and you now have advantage.
LeBron is the last in a list of all-time greats that includes Jordan, Magic, Bird and Kobe that played every game like it was there last. Not gonna let somebody embarrass them on the floor. Never! Guys now don’t really care.
The whole reason why the NBA has to resort to “Gimmicks” like an “In-Season Tournament” is because nobody is interested in the regular season other than those betting on the games. They even have to “Bribe” the players to get interested in the In Season Tournament with fat payouts. Why??? They otherwise would not care!
All sorts of people watch regular season hoops. You know it, I know it. I watch Summer league. I watch G-League.
Not really trying to argue, just saying, all sorts of people love watching the regular season, not everyone watches for the same reason.
Why are you here ????
You think coming to a basketball forum. Means you vent your hate for the game.
Bucks vs Celtics/Sixers
Knicks vs Heat
Pelicans vs Celtics/Sixers
MIL vs PHI
DEN vs MIN
ATL vs NOP
Best Christmas Day Lineup:
1. Celtics vs. 76ers
2. Clippers vs. Suns
3. Bucks vs. Heat
4. Grizzlies vs. Warriors
5. Lakers vs. Mavericks
You dont know ball if you think Warriors/Grizz is 4th. Go back to 1985 man, the Celtics and 76ers are mid.
A’sfaninLexington has no clue about Prime Time ratings, and being on the west coast also affects the schedule.
BOS/PHI @ NYK/BKN
LAL/LAC
SA/DAL
MIA/ORL
GSW/UTAH
MIN/CHI/MIL
Not a big fan of “big travel” at Xmas.
Great point. Looking at the games though I’m not sure that the NBA thinks the same way. Myself I like what somebody else said the other day.. I’d love to see the nuggets and Sixers match up on Christmas day. The two best centers on the planet going at it would be epic.
LAL VS LAC would have been way better than LAL VS DAL. Battle of LA would be great to watch(especially if everybody is healthy). With what happened last year in the playoffs PHX should have played DAL during Christmas. That could potentially become a new rivalry.
I’m surprised the Grizzlies were picked to play the champs.
Nets vs 76ers is a must.
Celtics/Bucks
Nuggets/Clippers
Heat/Bulls
After last year’s heated six game series I think it’s a nice change of pace game to feature Christmas day.
Will any of those players play in those games though?
Btw not putting Steph Curry as the #1 reason for ratings shows the writers bias – be better, Arthur Hill. We aren’t doing this “Steph isnt the #1 draw” thing anymore, because its been repeatedly proved its plainly a lie, he absolutely is the #1 tv+ticket draw in the league, and you should be falling over yourself to state this.
No one cares about AD.
Steph absolutely isn’t the #1 ticket draw. Lebron sells more jerseys and puts more fans in the seats on the road than Steph. The Bulls lead the league in road attendance, however. From ESPN:
1 Bulls 41GMS 18,198 Road attendance
2 Lakers 41GMS 18,179 Road attendance
3 Warrior 41GMS 18,064 Road attendance
Christmas Day usually kicks off the season for the avg fan ……. I do mean average
It should be rivals of the new season. West or East contenders. Division rivalries. Up and coming teams. Should make a statement about the upcoming season.
Bucks vs Celtics
Warriors vs Grizzlies
Knicks vs Nets
Sixers vs Heat
Pelicans vs Mavs
Great point Al, but you have to have the suns in there probably instead of the pelicans.
Yeah I just got quick ones in. We all want to see Pels real team. If you know what I mean.
Warriors vs Suns
Suns vs Clippers
Lakers vs Pelicans
Just set the season up. With good matchups that means something for the coming year. I know you get me.
You’re right !! I forgot about the Wonder child. Everybody is eager to see him in action when he does get out there.