After an absolute war of an NBA Finals, the Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors look like they’ll go head to head once more on Christmas Day, the biggest regular season date of the NBA season. ESPN’s Marc Stein reports that it’s “tentatively scheduled,” and the official schedule will be released next week. It’s a no-brainer for the NBA, as LeBron James and Stephen Curry look like the two biggest names in the sport going into this season, and their Finals matchup was the most-watched since Michael Jordan was a Bull.
With the injuries the Cavaliers sustained on their way to the Finals, the team that will likely face the Warriors in December won’t remotely resemble the all-LeBron, all-the-time Cavs that went down in six games in June. Obviously, anything can happen between now and then (stay safe on those jet skis, LeBron!), but it’s a safe bet that the Cavs will be healthier, and thus a bigger challenge. Even though it wouldn’t come with nearly the same weight as in the Finals, everyone wants a chance to see what these teams look like at full strength. The two teams split the regular season series last year, with the Dubs’ win coming with LeBron out of the lineup.
(Via ESPN)