The NBA’s Christmas Day tradition isn’t just a batch of fun games to enjoy with a warm beverage in a robe. It’s a chance to take stock at what serves as the unofficial midway point of the season. With a third of the league on display and compelling matchups from the early afternoon into late in the evening, basketball fans can get a look at some of the true contenders who will use the next few weeks between Dec. 25 and the NBA’s MLK Day slate to see what they have, what changes need to be made, and what moves they’ll have to consider at the Trade Deadline.
Nine of the 10 teams playing on Christmas are legitimate playoff threats, and only two (Knicks and Jazz) are under .500. LeBron (and his new Lakers) get to play a familiar foe in the Warriors, former teammates square off, as Russell Westbrook and James Harden clash, the Sixers and Celtics get a rematch of their 2018 playoff series, and more. While no one day matters in the NBA, it’s clear the league has taken Christmas as a chance to showcase the league, find enough intrigue to draw in casual fans, and leave diehards with plenty to talk about heading into the New Year.
ESPN’s Chauncey Billups will be on the call for Bucks-Knicks to tip off the day. Billups has added in-game analysis to his broadcasting duties this year, and he’s excited for the chance to be a part of the festivities.
“It’s been cool,” Billups says of game coverage. “It’s totally different obviously, but it’s been a great challenge for me being able to try and do the in-game stuff. I’ve gotten four games now and every single game I start to feel a little bit better. I love it though. I love being in the arena, feeling the energy in the arena, being there. Talking to the players, talking to the coaches, that’s a pretty cool thing. I’m just grateful to be able to have the opportunity to do it on Christmas Day. It’s such a big day for the NBA. I’m looking forward to it.”
Billups took some time to help Dime break down each of the five games, so we’ll all have a bit more to discuss when we’re filling up that next glass of nog.
Bucks (22-10) vs. Knicks (9-25), 12 p.m. ET, ESPN
Milwaukee has been an absolute dynamo this season, as Giannis Antetokounmpo has developed into the fully formed kaiju that’s dunking on everybody and leaving a path of destruction in his wake. Following a pantsing of Boston a few days ago — which prompted the Celtics to hold a closed-door team meeting — the Bucks look like a legitimate threat to win the East, and could be a terror to handle even if they don’t make an additional move following the salary shedding deal with the Cavs that brought them George Hill a couple weeks ago.
Chauncey’s Take
Milwaukee: “Bud’s defense has been even just as big in contributing to that jump that they’ve made. The defense that they play, they compete on that end. They’re focused, they’re ready, they’re prepared every game. Coach Bud has made an unbelievable impression on these guys. They respect him on both ends. Offensively, they’re spacing the floor. They’re knocking out threes. Leading the league in scoring. They have a MVP candidate in Giannis, and they’ve built a good team around them. Bud was, Bud is the reason why, one of the biggest reasons. But their front office, they put the right pieces in place for Bud to be able to be successful.”
New York: “Coach Fizdale is doing a really good job, but you’re just trying to set a culture there. It’s tough to do it without your best player on the floor, but he’s doing it, and doing it as good as he could do. I’m really liking the development of Emmanuel Mudiay. I’ve been a fan of his since he’s been in the league. Obviously, he’s taken a rough little path. It reminds me of my path, a little bit, being given up on early in his career, but he’s starting to find himself. He’s doing a good job. Kevin Knox, I think, is a young player that’s going to be a really, really, really good pro. He’s starting to have some good games. But the most important piece of that is what I just mentioned. If you’re Coach Fiz, you’re just trying to set the culture there before you start plugging in more talent, and better players.”
Thunder (21-11) vs. Rockets (17-15), 3 p.m. ET, ABC
Paul George made a commitment to Oklahoma City after the team took a chance on trading for him heading into his free agency, and he’s rewarded their good faith with some of the best play of his career to help the Thunder to the No. 3 spot in the Western Conference so far this season.
“I kind of attribute his growth this season to just the familiarity,” Billups says, “and him being settled in now in OKC, and he and Russell knowing how to make each other better on the floor, which will in turn make everybody else better.” The Thunder have an identity, and it’s helping them grind out wins even if it’s not always ugly.
On the flip side, after an offseason that saw them lose key players and replace them with question marks, the Rockets are still trying to find out who they want to be. They’re finally stabilizing above .500, and James Harden has continued his MVP play, but with Chris Paul out a couple weeks (enter: Austin Rivers) and questions about depth persisting, the Rockets may be buyers — and soon.
Chauncey’s Take
Oklahoma City: “OKC is a team I’ve pretty much been impressed with all year. They find ways to get it done, defensively. They’re the best team in the league on the defensive side of the ball. I love, love, love what Dennis Schröder has been able to bring to that team. They can now have two playmakers that are able to play at the same time. For a team that doesn’t shoot it well, they have an identity, though. They get the flexes, they score on transitions, they rebound the ball. Steven Adams has done a terrific job of manning the paint, so they have an identity which keeps them in games, every single night.”
Houston: “I always felt like teams, when you go through some adversity, you start to realize who you really are. You’re starting to have to pull together. If you come out of that, you will. If not, you find out that you really wasn’t the team that you thought you were. That team is starting to kind of come out of it. James is, man, back to playing on a MVP level. Chris was coming around [before his injury]. They’ve been able to get some consistency.”
76ers (22-12) vs. Celtics (19-13), 5:30 ET, ABC
Both Philly and Boston are trying to fill the vacuum left by LeBron James’ departure to the Lakers, and the two teams can make a case talent-wise that they belong in the Finals conversation, but there are still questions to be answered. The Celtics are currently the five-seed in the Eastern Conference standings, and haven’t quite been able to get it going with regularity despite their deep and powerful roster. Philly made their move early, trading for Jimmy Butler and have to be pleased with the results in surrounding Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons, and co. with a player of Butler’s caliber. That said, there will still be growing pains as the roster works on fit. Both teams are looking up at Toronto, Milwaukee, and Indiana, who are a bit ahead of the curve when it comes to establishing who they want to be heading into the Playoffs.
In a rematch of last year’s playoff series, it’ll be an interesting barometer to see just how close either of Boston or Philly are to their true selves.
Chauncey’s Take
Philadelphia: “There are a couple of teams that are better than them over there right now. But the Jimmy Butler trade was a huge deal, because they brought a player in that they didn’t have, a guy that can be a scorer on pick and rolls. He can make plays. He can really, really defend. He’s an All Star. He’s clutch. He’s knocking down shots, and things like that. He brings a certain edge and swagger that I don’t think that they had, because they had so many young guys, so big deal that they brought him in, but we’ll see if their lack of, I think, depth will come into play later in the playoffs, like the second round of the playoffs. We’ll see if that shows up.”
Boston: “They’ve been through quite a bit this year. I just think that inserting Kyrie and Gordon back into that lineup, when those young guys were starting to ascend, has made it a little tough. It’s made it a little bit tough. Even Scary Terry, coming off the bench. He hasn’t had the same impact this season, nor has Tatum, nor has Jaylen Brown, because they’re just trying to please too many people. But I just feel like lately, here, roles are starting to be defined. They’re starting to win some games. They got a couple guys coming off the bench, and it seems like that’s not really an issue. They’re just starting to play through it, so this team is starting to, they’re starting to come out of it. When they do, we all know how dangerous they can be.”
Lakers (19-14) vs. Warriors (23-11), 8 p.m. ET, ABC
In the night’s primetime affair, there’s no doubt this one will deliver on entertainment value. LeBron always seems to play his best when the lights are brightest, and there’s no need for extra motivation anytime he’s going up against the Warriors. For Steph Curry and Golden State, it’s not been the smoothest season so far, but the reigning champs just have to avoid the natural letdown that comes from having to play at such a high level year-in and year-out before they get to the playoffs. As has been the case all year, the Lakers are still trying to see what they need, and who will be part of the future moving forward in the LeBron era, and measuring sticks like this one will be hard to overreact to one way or another.
Chauncey’s Take
Los Angeles: “This whole year’s an experiment for the Lakers. I’ve said it on NBA Countdown. I feel like this whole year is a tryout for everybody on that team other than, I would say, LeBron. It’s like you’re the JV trying out to see who’s going to make the varsity squad next year. That’s kind of been my whole play on it. Now, they’ve got some really good, young players. Some good young talent. But really, in my opinion on the matter of how good they are, if they don’t fit in with LeBron James, you find a new address for them. That’s just kind of how it is.”
Golden State:“I don’t think they’re vulnerable at all. Look, I’ve played in, I won one championship. Only one. Been in the Finals twice. I can tell you, from personal experience, playing that regular season, after going to the Finals, it’s boring, man. I’m going to be honest with you. It’s boring. You’ve got to find ways to motivate yourself, because all you want is to get back to that level again, because the basketball’s so good in the playoffs, and in the Conference Finals and Finals. The game is so good, and every possession is so big, and then, you get back to the regular season, when it’s like, ‘Oh, man.’ I say that to say I don’t think they’re vulnerable. I think that they just need to be healthy, when it counts the most, when the playoffs start. They are by far the best team in basketball. They won’t be bored when that time comes around. They’re just waiting for that opportunity, in my opinion.”
Trail Blazers (19-14) vs. Jazz (16-18), 10:30 p.m. ET, ESPN
The nightcap should be a good one. Utah has won two of its last three and dominated the Blazers in a 120-90 win just a few days ago. The Jazz have struggled to match the intensity and consistency they showed in the second half of the season last year (leading to a surprising postseason run), but they still the personnel to not only make it to the playoffs, but make some noise in the process. It’s all a matter of letting defense dictate what they want to do, and making open shots. For Portland, we all know how good they can be in the regular season, and they have a pair of dominant guards in Damian Lillard and CJ McConnell. It’s finding that consistent third option on the perimeter that sometimes leaves them a bit short at times.
For now though, let’s just enjoy a little more hoops before Christmas is officially over.
Chauncey’s Take
Portland: “With Portland, obviously you have Dame, who is one of the league’s best, hands-down. First team All-NBA last year, and deserved it. Then, you have CJ, who can get going, and play well against anybody. I’m a big fan of Nurkic. I think he does well, too. But I just feel like they have to establish that third scorer, that third option. Maybe it’s the guy on the wing. Somebody that when teams start doubling Dame, teams start taking away pin downs, and doubling CJ when he gets hot, who else can we ride to loosen up these defenses? To unlock these defenses, so we can get our guys back going. They just don’t have that one guy, and I think that’s much needed.”
Utah: “I’ve been surprised with Utah this season. I thought that they would make the jump in the Western Conference, and be one of the elite teams. But they have yet to do that. I thought Donovan Mitchell would take that next step. He’s yet to do that. I just think they’ve got to get back to the basics, and look at how they played last year, and how they together, as a team, I feel like Donovan Mitchell, he hasn’t made that jump. It seems like he’s shooting a lot more than he did last season. He was a lot more efficient, I felt, last season. They just played better, as a team, as a unit. That’s the way they can win, if they’re a unit. Not with just one guy just going out there and just kind of going to get 40. That’s not how they play. I think they’ve got to go back to the drawing board, and just kind of look and see how they did it last year, how do we get back to that point? Because they are really, really talented, man. Their cultural is good. The team is put together really well. I’m looking forward to seeing if they can get back to that.”
