The National Basketball Association has been holding games on Christmas Day since 1947. Currently, five games are played on this day. Each of the teams participating in these games is from a different city. These are the Denver Nuggets, the Los Angeles Lakers, the Miami Heat, the Boston Celtics, and the Houston Rockets.
NBA Christmas Day games
The NBA always goes big on Christmas Day. This year’s schedule will feature five games on the biggest day of the year. All of them will be televised on ABC and ESPN.
The Golden State Warriors will travel to play the Memphis Grizzlies on Christmas Day. It should be a great game with plenty of stars on the floor. However, Steph Curry is injured, and the Grizzlies aren’t the only Western Conference team with aspirations of a championship.
The Philadelphia 76ers have a history of winning on Christmas Day. They have won seven out of the last nine. Earlier this month, they defeated the New York Knicks 101-87. That win averaged around 4 million viewers.
Another exciting matchup on the NBA Christmas day schedule is between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Dallas Mavericks. LeBron James will lead the LA Lakers against Luka Doncic of the Mavericks.
NBA All-Star Weekend
The NBA All-Star Weekend is a three-day sports festival. It is hosted by the National Basketball Association (NBA) every February. It features many popular competitions and exhibition games. In addition, the NBA All-Star Game is a featured weekend event.
In this event, the top players from each conference compete. Five starters are chosen from each panel. They are voted on by current and former head coaches, current and former media members, fans, and other NBA players. Each position has a specific number of points earned after each shot. Depending on the team’s performance, money is donated to a charity.
There are other events, including the Dunk Contest and Skills Challenge. Fans can enjoy these competitions by watching them live or on television.
NBA play-in tournament
Play-In Tournament is the first stage of the NBA playoffs. This tournament determines the final two playoff slots in each conference. It also serves as a preliminary postseason tournament for teams that finish in the lower seven or eight spots.
The NBA Play-In Tournament will begin on Tuesday, April 11, and conclude on Friday, April 14. Teams that have earned a seventh or eighth seed in their conference will play games to determine the final two playoff slots.
In the Eastern Conference, the winners will play in a double-elimination game. The loser will be eliminated from the playoffs and goes into the NBA draft lottery.
Teams in the Western Conference earning a ninth or tenth seed will also have a chance to advance to the playoffs. They will play against a team with a ninth- or tenth-highest winning percentage.
NBA trade deadline
The NBA trade deadline is coming on Thursday, and many players and teams are on the market. However, some good teams don’t have much to offer but could still get in the mix.
Miami Heat – After a rough start, the Heat are starting to look better and may be back in the playoff race. With plenty of draft compensation available, the Heat can take advantage of the trade market and make a splash. For example, they could trade for a big man or an All-Star. Or, they could try to add an extra shooter or a backup center.
Boston Celtics are missing an All-Star, but they’ve made several moves this season. They traded Derrick White, Malcolm Brogdon, and Al Horford. And they have enough assets to get an All-Star forward, too.
NBA players born in the U.S. possessions are counted as “international.”
If you’re an NBA fan, you’ve probably noticed the proliferation of international players on your favorite team. These players aren’t just filling out rosters. They are also helping to create a more global game. This is because basketball is an international sport.
A few years ago, there was an international game’s talent explosion. As a result, players are being drafted regularly. Some of these players will be cut in the next few years.
However, the process isn’t always a breeze. International recruiting is a whole different animal. Getting a player’s attention isn’t easy. Many coaches on the other side of the pond don’t have the same luxury of watching players develop throughout a season.
In short, it’s a good idea to be thorough in your scouting. Even if you’re not a star-powered, superstar athlete, you can still make a splash by taking the time to understand your competition.