All I Want for Christmas
Is Some (Probably Wrong) Predictions
by Head Blog Writer : Graham Walker
Happy Holidays, dear reader! Whatever you celebrate at this time of year, be it Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, the Solstice, or, for any readers in Germany, Krampusnacht, I hope this holiday season is filled with peace and joy.
My (Probably Wrong) Prediction for the Emirate NBA Cup Final did not bring me peace and joy however. I predicted an OKC Thunder win and a Shai Gilgieous-Alexander MVP. What we got was a monster game from Giannis Antetokounmpo - 26 points, 19 rebounds, and 10 assists. In addition to this triple double, he added 3 blocks and 2 steals, leading a defensive effort that held Oklahoma City to 81 points on the night and made life difficult for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who scored 21 points on an inefficient 8-24 shooting. Giannis went on to win tournament MVP and gave me a beautiful white and green box of WRONG! for Christmas.
So, dear reader, I guess all I want for Christmas this year is to be correct on some (Probably Wrong) Predictions and there is no day better for some predictions than Christmas Day. You see, as an NBA fan, Christmas Day is like, well, Christmas Day. While the kids are playing with their new toys, you can sit down in front of the TV at 11 AM CT for the first of five nationally televised games.The last game will tip off at 9:30 PM CT, long after your children have broken their new toys and gone to bed.
So top off that egg nog and grab some turkey my friends. Walker’s Wrantings presents a Walker’s Wrants Holiday Production:
(Probably Wrong) Predictions:
NBA Christmas Day Edition
11:30 AM CT - San Antonio Spurs at New York Knicks
The first NBA present we get to open this Christmas morning is wrapped in some orange and blue paper with a lovely black and silver ribbon. Nothing says Christmas is coming like Santa in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and movies like Miracle on 34th Street, Elf, Home Alone 2: Lost in New York all lend a hand to the mystique of Christmas in New York City. An already magical day gets better as the third overall team in the Eastern Conference hosts the NBA’s most exciting prospect.
San Antonio’s Victor Wembanyama is the NBA’s Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer - two genetic “freaks” who have completely changed the rules of the games they play, be they basketball or reindeer. Victor is a generational prospect, a 7'3'’ center with the handles and grace of a shooting guard. The second year player averages 25 points per game and is a defensive monster, averaging 3.8 blocks a game. Paired with Chris Paul and coached by Gregg Popovich, Wemby and the Spurs are ahead of schedule, and are in the thick of the play-in tournament race.
The hosting Knicks are on a three game winning streak with Jalen Brunson leading the way while averaging 25 points and 7 assists and Karl-Anthony Towns adding 24 points and 14 rebounds. Madison Square Garden has been a jolly place this season, the Knicks going 8-4 when playing in New York. The New York defense is phenomenal, as any defense coached by Tom Thibodeau will be, allowing only 109 points per game.
Prediction: The Knicks will win as their sicth place defense will be too foggy for even San Antonio’s Victor the Red Nosed Reindeer to penetrate and the Spurs will not have a very Merry Christmas.
1:30 PM CT - Minnesota Timberwolves at Dallas Mavericks
The next present we have under the tree is wrapped in blue and silver and trimmed with green. The Dallas Mavericks host the Minnesota Timberwolves, the team they beat in the Western Conference Finals in last year's playoffs. The Mavericks Luka Dončić became the Grinch that Stole the Finals after he averaged a near triple double and the Mavericks won the series decisively in 5 games.
Anthony Edwards and the Wolves are having a down year, after having traded longtime fan favorite Karl-Anthony Towns to the New York Knicks. Julius Randle, the returning trade piece, has had trouble finding his role early in this season as Minnesota has struggled to a 14-13 record and tenth place in the West. Rudy Gobert is still the team’s defensive anchor with almost 2 blocks a game.
Luka is having another fantastic year, averaging 29 points, 8 assists, and 8 rebounds. The Mavericks are 8-2 in their last 10 games and show no sign of slowing down. Kyrie Irving has averaged 21 points and 5 assists in that stretch as he continues to be Max the Dog to Luka’s Grinch. The Mavericks are 18-10 overall this year and fourth place in the West.
Prediction: Luka will continue his Grinchy ways and steal the Christmas joy from the hearts of Minnesota fans.
4:00 PM CT Philadelphia 76ers at Boston Celtics
The third present we get comes in a green and white bag and has the chance of having some red, white and blue socks on the inside. The 9-17 76ers have been on the naughty list all year, while the 22-6 Celtics are third overall in the NBA.
Philadelphia will need Santa to leave some new knees and a sinus cavity for their star center Joel Embiid. Embiid has only played 7 games this season, averaging 22 points in those contests while their major free agent signing, Paul George, is only averaging 16 points. Tyrese Maxey has been asked to carry the load, averaging 25 points, but no other 76er is averaging more than 15 points.
The Celtics, on the other hand, have an embarrassment of riches. Five players are averaging 16 points or more for Boston, while their defense is rated seventh in the league. Boston fans got the ultimate present last year, as they watched their Celtics win an NBA record 18th Championship. They are well on their way to representing the East in the Finals again, as Jayson Tatum continues to dominate, averaging 29 points and 9 rebounds.
Prediction: This will be the perfect time to grab some food and talk to your family so they don’t bother you about “spending time with them”. This game will be a giant lump of coal in the stocking of Philly fans as the Celtics win big.
7:00 PM CT Los Angeles Lakers at Golden State Warriors
A lovely blue and yellow box with a lavish purple and gold bow, our fourth present is delivered to us from California, where Lebron James has beaten Father Time and become Father Christmas. This will be LeBron’s 18th consecutive Christmas Day game and now he is as much of a staple of the holiday season as the jolly old elf himself is. LeBron averages 27 points, 7 assists, and 7 rebounds on the 25th, going 10-7 in his previous Christmas Day matchups.
This will be the first meeting this year between the two teams. The Lakers are half a game ahead of the Warriors in the standings and both teams want to start the 4 game season series with a win. Tiebreakers are important in the Western Conference, only 8 games separate tenth place from first place. LeBron is averaging 23 points, 8 assists and 9 rebounds while Anthony Davis is averaging 27 points and 12 rebounds, with 2 blocks per game.
Much like Lebron, Golden State’s Steph Curry is giving Father Time a run for his money. The 36 year old is averaging 22 points and has led the Warriors to seventh place in the wild west. The rest of the Warriors aren’t helping Steph out much, Andrew Wiggins being the only other player averaging more than 15 points. The Warriors are currently 15-12, but unless someone else steps up, it will be difficult for Curry to carry the Warriors the rest of the way.
Prediction: LeBron James will add to his NBA legacy, beating Steph Curry in a close Christmas Classic, prompting one query: Do you want a Sprite Cranberry?
9:30 PM CT Denver Nuggets at Phoenix Suns
We end the evening with a classic Christmas night cap, a tall glass of milk with orange and purple iced sugar cookies covered with blue and yellow sprinkles. The kids will be in bed and you’ll get to relax with some of the best, most pure basketball in the league. This game will be the present you’ll give to yourself.
The Denver Nuggets Nikola Jokic is averaging 31 points, 13 rebounds and 9 assists and has a bag of tricks as big as Santa’s bag of presents which he uses liberally. Setting up teammates Jamal Murray and Micaheal Porter Jr., both averaging 18 points, Jokic has a complete command of the game, his basketball IQ unparalleled. Jokic is an extremely unselfish team player and he knows exactly when to pass and when to shoot, making him one of the most dangerous players on the court.
Kevin Durant and Devin Booker are averaging 27 and 25 points respectively, with Durant scoring 37 and 43 points in his last two games. Durant and Booker have taken turns having monster scoring games this year. The Suns had a fantastic 8-2 start this year, but have been inconsistent in the past few weeks, going 4-6 in their last ten for an overall record of 14-13. The Suns are talented enough to correct the course, and Christmas Day is the perfect starting point.
Prediction: Nikola Jokic has a triple double, but can’t overcome the offensive outputs of Durant and Booker as Phoenix beats Denver in a close game, one last cup of cocoa for NBA fans as they go to bed on Christmas Day.
Walker’s Weekly Wrecommendations
Each week I’m gonna review and recommend random things - TV shows, music, or a restaurant. IDK. Whatever I feel like. This is my blog.
This week's Triple W is Jim Henson’s “Muppet Family Christmas”. This classic Christmas movie featuring Jim Henson’s creations came out in 1987 and it features characters from the Muppet Show, Sesame Street and Fraggle Rock as they come together for Christmas at Fozzie Bear’s family home. The Muppets sing songs and crack jokes as they discover the true meaning of Christmas is the love you share with your friends and family. I have watched this movie every year since I was a kid, it is my favorite Christmas tradition. I hope you make it yours.
NEXT WEEK: Walker’s Wranting’s presents “New Year’s Resolutions”