EARLIER in the week, we got a teaser into what the NBA schedule will look like next season. The league released the fixtures for Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Opening Week of the season and of course the famous Christmas Day matchups. Five games will be played on Xmas this year with some of these games more appealing than others.
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5. Blazers vs. Jazz
NO offense to Portland and Utah, but this one doesn’t have the same star power as the other matchups. Still two potential top-4 teams in the West isn’t a bad way to start the list. Watching Donovan Mitchell try his hand against one of the best backcourts in the league in Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum is worth tuning in to. Not at the cost of missing any of the other matches though.
4. Bucks vs. Knicks
NEXT on the list is the Greek Freak at MSG. If Kristaps Porzingis was a guaranteed starter I might be tempted to bump this one up. The Bucks visiting New York seems like a great early afternoon game that you have on in the background and passively watch what happens. This could be the season that Giannis takes a huge leap though and becomes an MVP candidate. Watching him pour in 40+ against the Knicks would be a nice present for Milwaukee fans.
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3. Rockets vs. Thunder
NOW things start to get interesting. The storylines with this matchup are obvious with James Harden and newly acquired Rocket Carmelo Anthony facing their old club. Harden has much stronger ties to OKC, having played there for three seasons before being traded to Houston. Melo’s ties aren’t as strong with the Thunder after appearing in just 78 games for them during last season. They aren’t the only popular names involved in this one with All-Star Chris Paul, Russell Westbrook and Paul George all likely to take the court too.
2. Boston vs. Philly
THIS one speaks for itself. I could have maybe given the West powerhouses a bit more respect, but this game deserves the No. 2 rung. Watching Boston plethora of wings like Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum and Gordon Hayward combat Philly’s superstars Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid should make for entertaining basketball. Of course, the names don’t stop there with Kyrie Irving, J.J. Reddick, Al Horford, Terry Rozier, the list goes on. If you want to get a glimpse into the future while also watching two of the best teams in the East go to war, look no further.
1. Lakers vs. Warriors
DER. LeBron James vs. Kevin Durant alone is a must watch event and this time when they meet they will be in the same conference for the first time ever. As the Lakers prepare for their climb back to supremacy, the Golden State Warriors will look to make the 2018-19 calendar their third straight championship-winning season. LA won’t be a title contender right away, but anything is possible with a team led by LeBron. Besides, anytime he faces the Warriors we can’t look away.
Peace ✌
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