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NBA Schedule 2018-19: Ranking Christmas Day games by watchability

By Brendon Kleen

BOSTON, MA - MAY 9: Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers handles the ball during the game against the Boston Celtics in Game Five of the Eastern Conference Semifinals of the 2018 NBA Playoffs on May 9, 2018 at 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 2018 NBAE (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - MAY 9: Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers handles the ball during the game against the Boston Celtics in Game Five of the Eastern Conference Semifinals of the 2018 NBA Playoffs on May 9, 2018 at 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 2018 NBAE (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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ESPN announced its NBA Christmas Day schedule Wednesday, lined with marquee teams and signature stars. Here’s what you should make your priority among the mistletoe and hot chocolate this winter.

5. Milwaukee Bucks at New York Knicks

The NBA, by scheduling this match for its vaunted Christmas-Day slate, is establishing a Mendoza Line of Knicks competency which allows the team to still host a game on the league’s biggest day.

Odds are Kristaps Porzingis will still be recovering from the torn ACL he suffered in February by the time the Bucks enter Madison Square Garden on Christmas. New York is being incredibly patient with Porzingis’ recovery, a smart decision considering his size and youth. That means, though, that the marquee Greek Freek vs. Porzingod brouhaha is unlikely.

And Christmas in the NBA is about individual brilliance. Aside from the one game on the schedule which holds actual title implications and tells us more about the top teams (this year it’s Sixers-Celtics), the rest of the slate is predicated upon stars doing battle.

So Giannis Antetokounmpo matching up with Porzingis would have been great. But it won’t happen.

On the other hand, the Knicks carry some intrigue even without Porzingis. They will feature their youngsters heavily, including Frank Ntilikina, Kevin Knox and Mitchell Robinson, who haven’t yet reaped the benefits of their team being in the spotlight.

If New York can put up a real fight against their visitors, who hired a new coach and added a ton of shooting this summer, it would be an impressive feat.

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