What to Watch, You NBA Sicko: Dec. 22 - Dec. 28
The best viewing experiences the NBA has to offer
Monday - December 22
Early Slot: Dallas Mavericks at New Orleans Pelicans (8:00 PM)
And you may ask yourself, “Well, how did I get here?” The Mavericks and Pelicans are not anyone’s definition of good teams, but right at this moment, maybe they are. The Pelicans have won four straight games, and the Mavericks are 3-2 over their past five games with victories over the Rockets and Pistons. I’m not promising this will be a good game, but what I am promising is that this is the absolute best time to catch a game between the Mavericks and the Pelicans. Plus, it isn’t like these teams are bereft of talent. Cooper Flagg and Derik Queen might finish one and two in the Rookie of the Year voting, and have you heard of Anthony Davis and Zion Williamson?
Late Slot: Orlando Magic at Golden State Warriors (10:00 PM)
The Warriors and Magic have both been disappointingly mediocre this season, but their playoff hopes remain strong nonetheless. The Magic are 16-12 and are still very much in play for the three seed, while the Warriors are 14-15 and have their work cut out for them if they want to avoid the play-in bracket. Despite the Eastern Conference’s depth of mediocre teams, the Magic probably have more margin for error, while the Warriors are quickly venturing into every game is a must-win territory.
Tuesday - December 23
Early Slot: New York Knicks at Minnesota Timberwolves (8:00 PM)
As far as underlying metrics go, the Knicks have separated themselves as the best team in the East. While the same can’t be said of the Timberwolves, that’s mainly a reflection of the quality at the top of the West. These are two of the best teams in the league. When they play, you watch and enjoy.
Late Slot: Los Angeles Lakers at Phoenix Suns (9:00 PM)
Unfortunately, the best game of the late slot tips at 9:00. The Lakers are once again laughing at the point differential gods as their 19-8 record blows past their projected 14-13 record. Does this mean they’re good, bad, or mediocre? I have no idea, but the Suns are 15-13 with a 14-14 projected record, which makes this an even contest if you believe the Lakers are riding the luckiest late-game hot streak in league history. Now, I’d check the injury report before tuning in. Austin Reaves is currently out with a calf strain, and Luka Doncic left a game with a leg contusion. If both are out, the 10:00 PM slate has the Magic in Portland, and at 10:30 PM, the Rockets play the Clippers.
Wednesday - December 24
No games. The true nightmare before Christmas.
Thursday - December 25
Cleveland Cavaliers at New York Knicks (12:00 PM) ESPN/ABC
This should have been an Eastern Conference Finals preview, and perhaps it still will be, but the Cavaliers have been an unmitigated disaster this season. Still, they are a solid team, and Donovan Mitchell loves to light up the garden.
San Antonio Spurs at Oklahoma City Thunder (2:30 PM) ESPN/ABC
The San Antonio Spurs are second in the West at 21-7 and just knocked the Oklahoma City Thunder out of the NBA Cup. The Thunder are 25-3, and have lost two games in a week, which means they’re a team in crisis. This is the best matchup of Christmas Day, bar none.
Dallas Mavericks at Golden State Warriors (5:00 PM) ESPN/ABC
If you’re planning to go to the movies with your family, I’d recommend getting tickets for 5:00 PM. This isn’t a bad game, but for Christmas day, it’s like tearing through wrapping paper and opening a box only to find really nice socks. On any other day, receiving really nice socks is great, but on Christmas, it feels a bit passive-aggressive.
Houston Rockets at Los Angeles Lakers (8:00 PM) ESPN/ABC
The Rockets and Lakers have had inverse seasons. As noted before, the Lakers are drastically outperforming their point differential, while the Rockets are dramatically underperforming theirs. They’re 17-9, but own the league’s second-best net rating with a projected record of 19-7. Their biggest issue has been their 1-4 record in overtime games. Hopefully, this will be a close affair, so we can see if the clutch gene is real.
Minnesota Timberwolves at Denver Nuggets (10:30 PM) ESPN/ABC
Ever since the Nuggets and Timberwolves’ epic seven-game playoff series, their matchups have become appointment viewing. The Wolves were built by the builder of the Nuggets to vanquish the Nuggets like a hungry teenager, while Nikola Jokic is the NBA’s foremost problem solver. This game is worth making it to December 26th for.
Friday - December 26
Early Slot: Miami Heat at Atlanta Hawks (7:00 PM)
The Miami Heat and Atlanta Hawks have both been hanging around .500 for most of the season. The Heat’s uptempo style of play has made them a delight to watch, while the Hawks’ length and length approach without Trea Young has been equally intriguing. Young is now back, which presents as many solutions as it does problems.
Late Slot: Detroit Pistons at Utah Jazz (9:30 PM)
The Pistons have, unsurprisingly, tapered off since their 13-game win streak, but are still clearly an excellent team. The Jazz have been surprisingly plucky at 10-17 and are 7-9 at home. This should be an easy victory for the Pistons, but I have a feeling the Jazz will make it interesting.
Saturday - December 27
Early Slot: Dallas Mavericks at Sacramento Kings (5:00 PM)
What makes this Mavericks and Kings game so special, you ask? Well, it’s the only game at 5:00 PM, and every other game starts at 7:00 or 8:00 PM. While that’s not a rousing endorsement, the Mavericks are a bit more interesting than your run-of-the-mill 11-18 side, thanks to Cooper Flagg and Anthony Davis. The same cannot be said of the Kings, but they did just beat the Rockets.
Late Slot: New York Knicks at Atlanta Hawks or Cleveland Cavaliers at Houston Rockets (8:00 PM)
Since there are eight games to choose from, and two that are equally intriguing, I’m leaving the decision up to the reader. It’s a true choose-your-own-adventure blurb. I’d probably lean towards the Cavaliers-Rockets because I think the Cavs have a little more entertainment potential than the Hawks do, but if offensive rebounding isn’t your thing, I wouldn’t fault you for picking the Knicks-Hawks game.
Sunday - December 28
Early Slot: Philadelphia 76ers at Oklahoma City Thunder (3:30 PM)
The Sixers have been quite solid, considering they have Joel Embiid and Paul George half the time and are starting a rookie in their backcourt. That being said, I’m incredibly interested in seeing how Tyrese Maxey handles the backcourt buzzsaw that is the Oklahoma City Thunder. If Embiid has a nuclear performance, George can turn back the clock, and Maxey can best Cason Wallace, Lu Dort, and Alex Caruso just enough, the Sixers should be able to make this a compelling game.
Late Slot: Boston Celtics at Portland Trail Blazers (6:00 PM)
The Celtics’ gap year has me wondering if they’ll be right back in the title mix once Jayson Tatum gets back. Despite losing Tatum, Jrue Holiday, Al Horford, and Kristaps Porzingis, the Celtics have a +6.2 net rating this season. The Blazers have been a solidly bad team at 11-17, but they’ve played most of the season without a real point guard. Jrue Holiday should be back for the Blazers, which raises their ceiling considerably.
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