Dec 25, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (left) reacts as Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (right) looks on in the first half of a NBA basketball game on Christmas at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
The NBA is a league of giving, providing its fans with endless reasons to watch. As the marquee games of Christmas Day kick off, we reflect on what the league has given us this year.
The NBA has a lot to offer fans, from highlight plays to captivating storylines. No league better uses social media to spread its best plays, or offers such relatable personalities. They engage with social issues, have public and private fights, and keep entertaining events happening through a season.
During the holiday season the gifts only increase, as the NBA has selected Christmas as its marquee holiday. Ten teams in all will play Sunday, including a rematch of the past two epic Finals showdown as the Golden State Warriors visit the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Christmas may be the center point, but the NBA has plenty going on throughout the holiday season. In the festive spirit, here are twelve of the gifts the NBA is giving this Christmas and throughout the season thus far.
Nov 26, 2016; Charlotte, NC, USA; Charlotte Hornets guard Kemba Walker (15) drives past New York Knicks guard Derrick Rose (25) during the second half of the game at the Spectrum Center. Hornets win 107-102. Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe-USA TODAY Sports
12 Teams A-Winning
The NBA is made up of 30 teams, but the distribution of talent and wins is rarely even. Certain teams collect the stars, and often those very same teams collect the wins. For Golden State to be 27-4, another team has to have lost significantly more than they have won. This is basic math, but also a clear explanation of the NBA standings.
This season 12 of the 30 teams have a record above .500, led by those fun-to-watch Warriors. The teams expected to be excellent before the season have come through, with San Antonio, Los Angeles (Clippers), Cleveland, Toronto and Boston all significantly above average.
Some of the other teams in the mix were less of a sure thing before the season. Utah is well above the middle at 18-13 despite a host of injuries; Memphis has weathered even worse health yet sit at 20-12. Oklahoma City and Houston may be one-trick shows, but those tricks are mighty good.
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The final two teams a firm step above .500 are a bit more of a surprise. Charlotte cleared the middle by a handful of games last season, but had to say goodbye to Jeremy Lin, Courtney Lee, and Al Jefferson this offseason. Despite their losses strong play from Kemba Walker has Charlotte in fourth place in the East.
The New York Knicks have been a surprise of their own. If you ask Derrick Rose, this “Super Team” should be higher than fifth in the East. If you ask most reasonable prognosticators, 16-13 is a very strong start for the Knick. While there has been plenty of drama for the organization, from Phil Jackson to Carmelo Anthony, they have won games this season and that shouldn’t be ignored.
Seven of the 10 teams playing on Christmas Day have winning records, including the three best. While often these national matchups are selected based on the fan draw of each team, this year’s slate of games looks to be high-quality and evenly matched.
Eleven Coaches Coaching
This season saw 11 first-time coaches hit the sidelines, and predictably they have debuted to mixed results. The sheer number of new coaches illustrates how quickly decision-makers are acting in the modern NBA, and how quickly new coaches must show results.
Mike D’Antoni is an early candidate for Coach of the Year, and has been the most successful out of his peers. James Harden has flourished in D’Antoni’s fast-paced offense, and the team’s new additions this summers fit the system like a glove. At 22-9 the Rockets have the best record of any team with a new coach.
Memphis’ David Fizdale is the other clubhouse leader among first-year coaches, shuffling the Grizzlies’ rotation and getting Zach Randolph to buy into coming off the bench. The way Memphis weathered the store during the absences of Mike Conley and Chandler Parsons showed a coach who has both connected with his team and understood how to re-tool a rotation to cover for missing players.
On the other end of the spectrum, Earl Watson and Kenny Atkinson have been unable to turn their respective teams around overnight. Tom Thibodeau took over the Minnesota Timberwolves with lofty expectations, but the Wolves have shown their youth in losing close game after close game.
The middle of the pack leaves a lot of uncertainty. The Sacramento Kings are in playoff position under Dave Joerger, but DeMarcus Cousins is leading the way for a roster getting into near-continual off-court trouble. Indiana’s Nate McMillan has been worse than Frank Vogel to start the season, but in Paul George and Myles Turner this squad has the talent to be good. Jeff Hornacek and the New York Knicks have a winning record but a negative point differential, and have a lot of proving left to do.
Luke Walton, Thibodeau, and Hornacek will lead their teams into matchups on Christmas Day, and attempt to show their respective teams’ mettle against more established coaches. On the other sidelines, longtime veterans Gregg Popovich and Doc Rivers will hold off the next wave and keep their thrones as the best in the business.
Dec 29, 2015; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) shoots the ball in front of Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) during the fourth quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
10 Triple-Doubles
This season may be known in the future as the year of the triple-double. Russell Westbrook is currently averaging a triple-double after 30 games, most recently dropping 45 points in a win against Boston that brought him to a league-high 14 triples-doubles.
Not since the “Big O” has a player averaged a triple-double this late into a season. Oscar Robertson himself was benefiting from a pace and era that was conducive to counting stats, but the complete lack of any player to emerge as a triple-double contender previous to Westbrook is a major point.
In total, 10 players have racked up triple-doubles this season, from the relatively unknown Tim Frazier to MVP contenders James Harden and Westbrook. While Westbrook and the Beard will continue to accrue triple-doubles, most of those currently on the leaderboard have their sights set on other goals.
Marc Gasol has put the Memphis Grizzlies on his back during Mike Conley’s absence, and threw up a 28-point triple-double that highlighted his increased role as a facilitator this season as he plays more on the perimeter. Draymond Green has taken on a decreased role with the addition of Kevin Durant, but he still nabbed a triple-double, and Draymond-lite Julius Randle added one of his own.
The future challenger to Westbrook’s throne is Giannis Antetokounmpo, a 6’11” point forward on track to make his first All-Star appearance this season. The “Greek Freak” runs the offense for Milwaukee and guards all five positions on defense, and is in the top five in steals and blocks during his breakout season. While he has just two triple-doubles this season, he has come close a number of times and should have many more by the time the season ends.
The true centerpiece is of course Russell Westbrook, and he will be on full display Christmas Day as the Thunder host the upstart Minnesota Timberwolves. Another triple-double on national television would be a great Christmas gift to all the fans tuning in, and it’s a sure thing Westbrook will be gunning for just such an accomplishment.
Dec 21, 2016; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Houston Rockets guard James Harden (center) drives to the basket against Phoenix Suns center Tyson Chandler (left) and forward P.J. Tucker at Talking Stick Resort Arena. The Rockets defeated the Suns 125-111. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Nine Elite Scorers
The NBA is filled with players who can score, whether in the flow of an offense or by calling your own number. Even the worst offensive player in the league is destroying playground kids by pouring in points.
The difference in the NBA is that the defenders are elite, and those players who put up 30 per game in high school are relegated to reserve roles as they cannot overcome the defensive schemes and athleticism. That makes those players who can still put up elite point totals truly special.
This season, nine players are averaging at least 25 points per game, a spectacular display of scoring in a year where offense is up around the league. Last season six players averaged 25 or more, and 20 put up at least 20. This season there are nine dropping in 25, and 33 are putting up 20 per game.
Russell Westbrook leads the way with 31.8 points per game, once again a standout among standouts. He is one of a number of “Lone Wolves” – star players putting their team’s entire offense on their back. Anthony Davis is dropping in 29.7, and DeMarcus Cousins is just behind at 29.1. James Harden is the conductor of Houston’s dynamic offense, stirring the drink to the tune of 27.4 points himself.
Isaiah Thomas and Damian Lillard are leading the way for their squads from the point, tied at 27 points apiece. Lillard is the top dog on an all-offense, no defense squad; Thomas runs the show for a Boston team that is solid on both ends but relies on Thomas to make things work. DeMar DeRozan and Kevin Durant are both scoring from the wing during hyper-efficient seasons, and LeBron James rounds out the group with a quietly elite season in all facets of the game.
The most remarkable part of this group is not who is on the list, but who is not – but might be there soon. Stephen Curry, Kawhi Leonard and Jimmy Butler are all having All-NBA seasons and are within a point per game of joining the 25-point club. It would not be that surprising to see any or all of them join by season’s end.
Defenses may win championships, but scoring is what brings fans flocking to the NBA. Seven of the players mentioned above play on Christmas Day, not to mention another 11 players putting up at least 20 per game. There will plenty to enjoy on the NBA’s marquee day.
November 3, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) dribbles between Golden State Warriors forward Kevin Durant (35) and guard Stephen Curry (30) during the second quarter at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Eight MVPs
Every season the field of MVP candidates begins wide open, but after a week or two it becomes clear which players are truly in the running. A star player begins “in the MVP picture” and soon fades into “All-Star consideration.” But this year is not like every year.
Eight players are legitimately in the MVP spotlight, and any of the eight could win the award by season’s end. Many agree that Russell Westbrook is the leader, on the back of the triple-double he is averaging for the season. But if the Thunder end up with fewer than 50 wins and the sixth or seventh seed in the West, it will be difficult for him to win the award.
If team success dictates the award – and it often does, with every MVP since the merger coming from a 1 or 2 seed – then LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and Stephen Curry have the best shot come the end of the year. Barring the unexpected the Warriors and Cavaliers will be the top seeds for their respective conferences, and will begin what is hopefully a nine-game season series Christmas Day.
The other elite teams in the league boast transcendent talent as well, and in a great run for the league all of its best players have been healthy through the first third of the season. Chris Paul will have a chance to improve his case in the absence of Blake Griffin, while James Harden shines alone in Houston and is burning bright thus far.
Kawhi Leonard is the best player at both ends of the court for a team quietly right behind the Warriors in the West (how are the Spurs under the radar every single year?) and his case is boosted by that great defensive ability. Anthony Davis is the longest shot, as his team is a long shot to make the playoffs, but the numbers he is putting up as the best big man in the NBA are tremendous.
Any of those players can win the MVP, and all are deserving of being in the conversation. The NBA is at its best when its stars shine the brightest, and all but Davis will be suiting up in their Christmas finest.
Dec 2, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) in action against the Orlando Magic during the second quarter at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Seven Sixers Wins
One of the league’s most embarrassing situations has been the blatant tanking of the Philadelphia 76ers. While the Sixers simply made use of the system given to them, and many fans vocally backed the strategy, the indifference to winning from the 76ers’ organization caused waves that may have resulted in the league stepping in.
Whether mandated by the league or not, former Philly general manager Sam Hinkie was marginalized by the team as they brought on a new front office team. The new regime signed NBA veterans that could help now to mix into the rotation with the team’s recent draft picks.
That has resulted in a significant change in quality of play from the 76ers this season. Joel Embiid is the runaway leader in the Rookie of the Year race, putting up per-minute numbers that boggle the mind. Philadelphia has seven wins after 29 games, good (bad?) for last in the league, but still a step up from last season.
The tank-tastic Sixers of last season lost their first 18 games, and were 1-30 on Christmas Day. They didn’t win their seventh game until a Jan. 26 win over the Phoenix Suns pulled them to 7-39. This year’s “worst team” are better and more enjoyable to watch than last year’s, showing how deep the league’s quality runs.
Nov 14, 2016; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Memphis Grizzlies center Marc Gasol (33) dribbles the ball along the baseline as Utah Jazz forward Derrick Favors (15) defends during the first half at Vivint Smart Home Arena. Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports
Six Western Contenders
Entering the season, it seemed like the Western Conference was a mirror image of the East. One team was clearly better than the rest, and the remainder of teams were just fighting for second.
Then on opening night the San Antonio Spurs crushed the Golden State Warriors by 29, and the Western Conference was turned on its head.
The Los Angeles Clippers were the best team in the league through the first month, leaping out to a 10-1 start on top of a historic defense. They have since fallen back to earth, but they are perhaps the only team in the West with the star power to attempt to match the Warriors.
Houston has come through on the offensive promises they made before the season, with James Harden orchestrating a wonderful symphony built on penetration and countless threes. Their defense has been better than expected, vaulting them to third in the West and a victory over the Warriors.
The Memphis Grizzlies also boast a victory over Golden State, one of many contests they won despite the absence of Mike Conley and Chandler Parsons. The Utah Jazz join the Grizzlies among the top-five defenses, with the front lines to block out penetration and the wing playmaking to juice their offenses.
The Warriors boast the best record and should be considered the favorite, but the next tier is deeper and stronger than anticipated. And that doesn’t even count the Oklahoma City Thunder, with the league’s early MVP frontrunner and one of the best storylines in league history awaiting a possible first-round matchup with the Warriors.
From there, anything could happen in a strong West ready to contest everyone’s expectation of a Warriors – Cavaliers rematch. Those watching Christmas Day will get to see the Thunder, Clippers, and Spurs in action as they look to build towards the postseason.
December 25, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30, left) dribbles the basketball against Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) in the fourth quarter of a NBA basketball game on Christmas at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Cavaliers 89-83. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Five Christmas Showdowns
The NFL may dominate Thanksgiving, and college football has New Year’s locked down, but the NBA is now the marquee presence on Christmas Day – and this season boasts a lineup like no other.
The headliner is Golden State taking on the Cleveland Cavaliers, the first meeting since the Cavs strung together The Block, The Shot, and The Stop to bring home the first title in franchise history. While there is plenty of basketball left to play, these two teams look to be tuning up for June.
But the NBA has storylines outside of Oakland and Ohio, and those will be on full display Sunday in the other games. The New York Knicks are fighting to sustain their early success, and will take on their northeast rival Boston in the day’s opener. Isaiah Thomas has been on fire recently, and Knicks fans have had horrible experiences inflicted on them by just such a name, dating back to the 80s.
The Minnesota Timberwolves have a big-three on the rise, and are often compared to the Oklahoma City Thunder of a few seasons ago. They face off in the day’s third game, a very different Thunder team now with only Russell Westbrook left from their elite youth movement.
The Chicago Bulls and San Antonio Spurs will face off in the Pau Gasol bowl, with the Spurs winning game after game even as they seek to balance out their aging veterans. The Bulls have waned after a hot start, but Dwyane Wade is no stranger to Christmas Day games and will show up for the national stage.
The nightcap is the Los Angeles faceoff, as Luke Walton and the young Lakers take on Doc Rivers and the reeling Clippers. Blake Griffin is out for a few months after knee surgery, and the Clippers lost Thursday night to the Dallas Mavericks. The Lakers will be motivated to play well on Christmas and should provide a fight for those tuning in late.
Dec 20, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis (23) rebounds the ball in front of Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) during the second half at Wells Fargo Center. The New Orleans Pelicans won 108-93. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Four 50-Point Games
If the best moments in the NBA are when the ball goes through the hoop, then the best nights are when a player knocks in shot after shot after shot. The league has had four 50-point games this season, and they were each beautiful.
DeMarcus Cousins most recently joined the group, putting up 55 points against the helpless Portland Trail Blazers Tuesday night. Perhaps riding a personal grudge against Portland center Meyers Leonard, Cousins destroyed their front line before capping his night with a string of braggadocious swearing that saw his mouth guard fly into the crowd and a temporary ejection handed out.
John Wall also joined the club this month, dropping 52 in a losing effort to the Orlando Magic. While Wall is an All-Star point guard, his core strength is as a facilitator, not a scorer. This outburst was both a career-high, and not enough to keep his team from losing. But it was fun to watch.
Russell Westbrook and Anthony Davis both combined their elite scoring with unfathomable complementary stats. Westbrook put up 13 assists and 11 rebounds in a 51-point triple double, and the Thunder needed every shot to win a close game against the Suns.
Davis had perhaps the most impressive single game of any player this season, a monstrous stat line in an opening night loss to the Denver Nuggets. Not only did he put up 50 points against a defense that knew no one else was scoring, but he added in 15 rebounds, five assists, five steals, and four blocks. No player since Kareem has put up those numbers.
This arbitrary “four 50-point games” ignores the season’s top scoring night, a hyper-efficient 60 points poured in by Klay Thompson in a blowout win over the Indiana Pacers. Not only did Thompson score those 60 points in only 29 minutes, but he did so on only 11 dribbles. The feat was incredible and for as many words as have been written on it, twice as many could be.
Klay gets to show off his scoring ability Christmas Day against a Cleveland defense that just lost its best guard defender in J.R. Smith. Can he catch fire again?
April 18, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; ESPN broadcaster Mark Jackson (left), broadcaster Jeff Van Gundy (center), and broadcaster Mike Breen (right) talk before game one of the first round of the NBA Playoffs between the Golden State Warriors and the New Orleans Pelicans at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Three National Networks
Outside of a dozen or so games on ABC, the regular season of basketball is spread between three national networks. ESPN, TNT, and NBA TV each provide a variety of reasons to make viewers tune in, and their collective payouts bring in the league’s largest source of income and keep interest in the league sky-high.
NBA TV is often maligned as the network of the bad games, but they provide a number of unique perspectives on the game. First is 24/7 coverage of the league, something no other station offers – especially during football season. The second is The Starters, a nightly TV show and weekly podcast that combines comedy, media, and sharp basketball commentary to provide one of the best NBA shows out there.
TNT has top-notch production and game selection, but their “Inside The NBA” crew is untouchable. Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal, and Kenny Smith are kept in check by Ernie Johnson, and they provide over-the-top antics, next-level analysis, and social engagement unlike anything being put on television.
Finally, ESPN brings the full level of the sporting world’s flagship behind covering the NBA. Mike Breen is second to none as a play-by-play analyst, and Jeff Van Gundy and Mark Jackson provide intelligent and at times belligerent commentary. Rachel Nichols’ “The Jump” is one of the best NBA programs being produced, and the True Hoop TV podcasts allow fans to engage through every medium.
The NBA is being covered at an all-time level, and the production going into Christmas Day will ensure yet another excellent day of basketball.
Dec 23, 2016; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Toronto Raptors guard Kyle Lowry (7) is congratulated by teammate guard DeMar DeRozan (10) after a basket in the fourth quarter against the Utah Jazz at Vivint Smart Home Arena. The Toronto Raptors defeated the Utah Jazz 104-98. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Swinger-USA TODAY Sports
Two Historic Offenses
The Golden State Warriors won 73 games a year ago, on the back of one of the best offenses the league had ever seen. Stephen Curry won the MVP award after hitting over 400 three-pointers, greater than 100 more makes than any player before him. Klay Thompson was the perfect complement as the second Splash Brother, and Draymond Green was simultaneously one of the league’s best defenders and its best passers.
Then they went out and added Kevin Durant, most likely one of the top scorers in league history. Durant has been incredible on the Warriors, putting up 26 points per game on league-leading efficiency. With seemingly only a few games of adjustment, the new-look Warriors are putting up insane offensive numbers – fueled by the most assists by far in the league – and the best could still be yet to come.
The most unbelievable part of the Warriors’ success is not how quickly they have come together as a unit, but that they are not the best offense in the league.
That honor goes to the Toronto Raptors, who currently would rate among the 10 best offenses of all time. DeMar DeRozan has been absolutely balling on offense this season, but hasn’t been alone. Kyle Lowry, Cory Joseph, Terrence Ross, and Norman Powell have all been shooting lights-out from deep to complement DeRozan’s midrange game.
The longer everyone is forced to wait for Toronto’s eventual fall back to earth, the more likely it seems that they are for real. An offense this good is a threat to beat anyone, including the Cleveland Cavaliers. And if the Raptors can snatch the title of best offense from this combination of talent in Oakland, then they deserve all the accolades that can be given to them.
Dec 23, 2016; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson (11) celebrates with forward Kevin Durant (35) during the fourth quarter against the Detroit Pistons at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Warriors won 119-113. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports
And A Lockout Free NBA
Dec. 15, 2016 marked the final day for either the league of the player’s union to opt out of the current collective bargaining agreement. Although rumors floated around for weeks that a deal was close to being done, it wasn’t until the pen strokes were official that NBA fans could finally breathe easy.
There didn’t seem to be any reason for a work stoppage this time around; the NBA was bringing in all-time levels of revenue, they had a massive new television contract, and players were getting a solid amount of the pie.
Thankfully both sides recognized this and brought negotiations to an amicable halt with a new agreement just this past week. While the new CBA provides new rules, the body of the work stays much the same and reflects a growing level of trust between the league and the player’s association, as well as the ability to make decisions in a timely manner.
Basketball won’t have to wait until Christmas next year to begin this season; games will start on time (which is now the middle of October) and fans will get the full level of the NBA experience.
The NBA has a lot to offer its fans, and the first weeks of the season have brought its many gifts to the forefront. In between unwrapping presents and filling up on delicious pies, take some time to tune in and see where the amazing happens with the full slate of games on Christmas Day.
