Baby, it’s cold outside. But it’s hot in Cleveland where the Cavaliers are one of the hottest teams in the league right now winning five of six and finding themselves just a game and a half out of having the best record in the NBA!
Donavan Mitchell and this new Cavs lineup have been a revelation and I must admit the Cavs trajectory is rising faster than I had predicted. I thought they could make some noise this year but probably not contend for the title until 2023 but, folks, the knights of Charles seem a year ahead of schedule. And that’s with Evan Mobley, who missed most of the preseason with an ankle injury, with similar stats to last year’s Rookie of the Year runner-up performance (he lost by 15 points). If that guy progresses as expected? LeBron who?
The Cavs aren’t playing on Christmas this year but don’t expect that to be the case for the next several years because this franchise is well-positioned to contend for it all for years to come.
Darius Garland (22, Contract Expires 2028)
Donovan Mitchell (26, 2026)
Jarrett Allen (24, 2026)
Evan Mobley (21, 2025)
Not to mention after this season, nearly 30 million dollars will come off the books as Beach Boys nephew Kevin Love’s contract expires.
Superstars, schmooperstars. The NBA has finally reached NFL levels of parity. Eight of the fifteen teams in the East are above .500 and in the wild, wild West just five games separate the first from the tenth seed (where neither the Warriors nor the Lakers find themselves). There’s no doubt the game isn’t played the same as it was twenty and thirty years ago but there is also no valid argument that the talent has ever been at a higher level. Superstars still rule the day but with less-heralded players balling better than ever and most NBA teams doing a better job of identifying talent, a plethora of fanbases have legitimate title aspirations this year. It makes for an even more exciting reason for the season as the NBA gears up for its annual Christmas Showcase and the unofficial start of people giving a damn.
Here’s a look at the Christmas Day games this year followed by my Preseason Picks for this season.
12:00pm on ABC/ESPN/ESPN2
Philadelphia 76ers at New York Knicks
This traditional rivalry sets up two of the hottest teams in the league right now. The Sixers, winners of seven in a row, have James Harden back who claims he’s motivated to finally win a title and the Knicks have thrust themselves into the playoff mix winning eight of their last ten to be two games behind Philly for 5th place in the East. Not enough are talking about Joel Embiid, the league’s leading scorer, as a top MVP candidate this year which I think changes sooner than later. The headline in the Post on Monday? Lost in New York.
Pick: Philadelphia - 113 New York - 107
2:30pm on ABC/ESPN
Los Angeles Lakers at Dallas Mavericks
As Yuletide fans look forward to the annual showing of It’s a Wonderful Life, Lakers fans dread the yearly Anthony Davis long-term injury. Christmas came early for the haters this year as Davis injured his foot mid-air last week and is now expected to be out indefinitely. The Lakers find themselves at a dismal 13-19 with LeBron on pace to break Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s all-time scoring record on or around February 11th. His heir apparent, Luka Doncic, is having an MVP-type year but the Mavericks have struggled to a 17-16 mark. Both these teams are hoping for a spark of momentum Sunday desperate for a turnaround to avoid missing the playoffs.
Pick: Los Angeles 111 Dallas 108
5:00pm on ABC/ESPN
Milwaukee Bucks at Boston Celtics
The top two seeds in the East square off in their first rematch since the Celts blew out the Bucks in Game Seven of the 2022 Eastern Conference Semifinals. The Bucks have the most dominant player in the world while the Celtics have proven once again how strong their team and culture are, playing some of their best basketball under interim head coach Joe Mazzulla. If it weren’t for the Cavs lurking, this could well be a preview of the Eastern Conference Finals. But in the end, Celtics fans will be left wondering How the Greek Stole Christmas.
Pick: Milwaukee 113 Boston 92
8:00pm on ABC/ESPN
Memphis Grizzlies at Golden State Warriors
The primetime showcase on Christmas Night will be the exciting Memphis Grizzlies, tied for the best record in the West, taking on the reeling Warriors who’ll be without the injured Steph Curry. Curry may be out a couple more weeks and the Warriors, currently the eleventh seed in the West and three games under .500, are just hoping to stay near the race until he returns. Many a prognosticator’s preseason title favorite, Golden State has struggled this year, unlike the Grizz who have a bright future ahead of them with one of the best-built teams in the Association. It’s almost like these franchises are Trading Places.
Pick: Memphis 117 Golden State 94
10:30pm on ABC/ESPN
Phoenix Suns at Denver Nuggets
The late-night game could be a preview of the Western Conference Finals matching the Nuggets, the team tied with Memphis for the top seed in the West, against the still dangerous Suns who are only two games back. Phoenix is just two years removed from their Finals appearance and the Nuggets finally have Jamal Murray back this season for the first time since April of 2021 when they were considered contenders for it all. Come playoff time this season, I think we’ll find both these teams will Die Hard.
Pick: Denver 110 Phoenix 106
Here’s some predictions I made before the season started. As you can see with how off I sometimes was, I certainly didn’t look ahead.
2022 Season Predictions (current seed in parentheses)
Eastern Conference
1. Milwaukee Bucks (2)
2. Philadelphia 76ers (5)
3. Boston Celtics (1)
4. Brooklyn Nets (4)
5. Cleveland Cavaliers (3)
6. Miami Heat (9)
7. Atlanta Hawks (7)
8. Toronto Raptors (10)
9. Chicago Bulls (11)
10. New York Knicks (6)
11. Washington Wizards (12)
12. Charlotte Hornets (14)
13. Orlando Magic (13)
14. Detroit Pistons (15)
15. Indiana Pacers (8)
Western Conference
1. Golden State Warriors (11)
2. Denver Nuggets (1)
3. Phoenix Suns (4)
4. Los Angeles Clippers (5)
5. Memphis Grizzlies (2)
6. Los Angeles Lakers (13)
7. Dallas Mavericks (8)
8. Minnesota Timberwolves (10)
9. New Orlean Pelicans (3)
10. Portland Trail Blazers (9)
11. Sacramento Kings (6)
12. Houston Rockets (15)
13. Oklahoma City Thunder (12)
14. Utah Jazz (7)
15. San Antonio Spurs (14)
Playoff Predictions
Eastern Conference
2nd Round
Bucks over Nets
76ers over Celtics
Conference Final
Bucks over 76ers
Western Conference
2nd Round
Clippers over Warriors
Nuggets over Lakers
Conference Final
Nuggets over Clippers
NBA Finals
Nuggets over Bucks in 7!
League Awards Predictions
Rookie of the Year: Paolo Banchero / Runner-Up: Keegan Murray
Most Improved Player: Franz Wagner / Runner-Up: Josh Giddey
6th Man of the Year: Jordan Poole / Runner-Up: Malcolm Brogdon
Defensive Player of the Year: Joel Embiid / Runner-Up: Ben Simmons
Coach of the Year: Darvin Ham / Runner-Up: Joe Mazzulla
Executive of the Year: Koby Altman / Runner-Up: Daryl Morey
Most Valuable Player: Luka Doncic / Runner-Up: Joel Embiid
Here’s to a wonderful 2023! Cheers and Happy Holidays!!