NBA Christmas Day Spectacular showcases future and past

Garrett Ey • 12/24/2016

The NBA showcases their brightest stars on Christmas Day. The New York Knicks and Boston Celtics get the day started at noon in the East.

[dropcap]F[/dropcap]or me, Christmas Day in the NBA always represented the unofficial start of the season. By this time, teams have begun to gel, contenders have emerged and the bottom dwellers start thinking about making league altering trades.

This is the day for the NBA to march out their brightest stars, from Lebron James to Dwayne Wade, Steph Curry and Kevin Durant, along with the hallowed grounds of Madison Square Garden and bright lights of Los Angeles. The slate is normally set with intriguing matchups, from historic rivalries, Championship rematches, and superstar versus superstar. [sc name=”NBA Center Right” ]

This year is filled with the same. To say it is my favorite day of basketball, would be an understatement. The games are all nationally televised, with the only obstacle being, staying awake for the West Coast, 10:30 p.m. ET start.

The five-game heavyweight card gets started at noon on the East Coast, with a legendary rivalry game between the New York Knicks and Boston Celtics. The day continues with a Marquee rematch of the 2015-16 NBA Finals when Lebron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers play host to Steph Curry, Kevin Durant and the Golden State Warriors.

Christmas Day staples, the Chicago Bulls, San Antonio Spurs, and Oklahoma City Thunder fill the evening spots, as Russell Westbrook welcomes in the future stars of the Minnesota Timberwolves during the 8:00 p.m. ET game. The Los Angeles Derby caps off the night, as Staples Center tenants the Los Angeles Lakers challenge the Los Angeles Clippers. In what no doubt will be an exciting day of hoops, here is a preview of each game.

In what, no doubt, will be an exciting day of hoops, here is a preview of each game.

[sc name=”Generic Link Next” link=”elitesportsny.com/2016/12/24/nba-christmas-day-spectacular-showcases-nba-future-and-past/2/” text=”Boston @ New York” ]