Fansided

10 NBA things to watch for on Christmas Day

By Bryan Toporek

CHICAGO, IL - DECEMBER 4: Kevin Love
CHICAGO, IL - DECEMBER 4: Kevin Love /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
8 of 11
Next
BOSTON, MA – MAY 19: Shaquille O’Neal, Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith, and Ernie Johnson are seen before the game between the Boston Celtics and the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game Two of the Eastern Conference Finals during the 2017 NBA Playoffs on May 19, 2017 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA – MAY 19: Shaquille O’Neal, Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith, and Ernie Johnson are seen before the game between the Boston Celtics and the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game Two of the Eastern Conference Finals during the 2017 NBA Playoffs on May 19, 2017 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) /

4. Inside the NBA, play-by-play

To round out the Christmas Day action, the Inside the NBA crew will be taking their talents to the sidelines during the nightcap between the Minnesota Timberwolves and Los Angeles Lakers.

Turner Sports announced Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith and Shaquille O’Neal will be calling their first-ever Christmas Day game that night live from Staples Center “in addition to their traditional pregame, halftime and postgame coverage.” According to Turner, this will be the first time the quartet has done a full game’s worth of play-by-play together.

Regardless of how you feel about the analysis on Inside these days — or lack thereof, in certain cases — this game presents no shortage of storylines worth discussing. Shaq, a Laker legend, can opine about how he sees this young L.A. squad coalescing ahead of perhaps its most important foray into free agency yet. Barkley, a vocal critic of subpar teams, can voice his disdain for a rebuilding Lakers squad drawing a premium nationally televised spot on Christmas Day. Hilarity will ensue.

Will the Inside crew opine about Timberwolves head coach Tom Thibodeau’s questionable minutes distribution? Will they sing the praises of budding second-year star Brandon Ingram or rookie surprise Kyle Kuzma? What will they say about Lonzo Ball? There’s only one way to find out: Tune in to TNT at 10:30 p.m. ET on Christmas night.

Next: 3. A Big Baller Christmas

Home/NBA