Could Cavs-Pistons Christmas Game Kick Off NBA’s Holiday Lineup?
cavs-pistons-christmas-game-projection
Sports media columnist Matt Yoder of Awful Announcing has issued an early forecast for the NBA’s annual five-game Christmas Day schedule, placing the Cleveland Cavaliers and Detroit Pistons in the noon ET slot.
Yoder sees the matchup as a natural choice after last season’s playoff meeting, when Cleveland eliminated top-seeded Detroit on its way to the Eastern Conference finals. A Christmas appearance would also end Detroit’s long holiday absence; the Pistons last played on Dec. 25 in 2005.
Projected Christmas Day slate
According to Yoder’s prediction, the NBA could organize the day as follows:
- Cavaliers vs. Pistons – Noon ET
- Celtics vs. Heat
- Knicks vs. 76ers
- Thunder vs. Spurs
- Lakers vs. Warriors – Nightcap
He labels the late-afternoon tilt between defending champion New York and a retooled Philadelphia 76ers led by LeBron James as the marquee attraction. Yoder also expects the league to lean on its dependable television draw by closing the night with the Los Angeles Lakers facing the Golden State Warriors, while Oklahoma City and San Antonio would renew their fast-growing Western Conference rivalry in the early evening window.
The NBA has not released its official Christmas schedule, and adjustments remain possible before the regular season tips off. For now, Yoder’s projection offers a glimpse at the type of star-studded lineup fans might see on Dec. 25.
Source: Hoops Wire
