NBA Schedule 2019-20: Ranking Christmas Day games by watchability
By Kareem Gantt
1. Clippers at Lakers (8 p.m. ET on ABC/ESPN)
If the NBA didn’t schedule this cross-hall matchup between arguably its two best teams for primetime, we probably would’ve had to hold a mass protest at the league offices.
Never before in the history of these two franchises has a matchup between the Clippers and Lakers held so much weight. This Christmas Day “Battle of L.A.” is so huge it had to be telecast on both ESPN and ABC, just to make sure NBA fans can tune in a witness what is sure to be the battle of the NBA titans.
Kawhi Leonard, who secured his spot as the league’s best player by leading the Raptors to ultimate glory, took his talents to the Clippers, and at the same time, convinced Paul George to demand a trade out of Oklahoma City to join him in SoCal — all without losing the significant pieces that helped the Clippers win a surprising 48 games and challenge the Warriors in the postseason.
The Clippers are the anointed favorites, but not if LeBron James and the Lakers have anything to say about it.
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Kawhi being in the same arena as him may have provided extra motivation for James to show the rest of the NBA that he’s still the best player in the world. He’ll have some major help in Anthony Davis, who finally got his wish to get out of the Big Easy.
James and Anthony will form a dynamic duo of their own, and this Christmas Day tilt will be the first salvo into who will be the kings of Los Angeles. Boy, I cannot wait for this matchup.