The Macho Rhino NBA Selections: It's Going To Get Hot In L.A. on Christmas Day
Merry Christmas, everyone! Hope you’re having a great holiday and are ready for some hoops. The NBA brings us some great games on Christmas and this year is no different. We get the matchup we’ve all been waiting months for: Heat at Lakers. Another LeBron-versus-Kobe showdown on Christmas. They’re the two best players in the game and it never gets old. There are also big games in New York and Orlando. Plus, Western Conference matchups in Oklahoma City and Portland. Here’s my first venture into picking NBA regular season games.
Chicago Bulls at New York Knicks (ESPN at noon EST)—Big games are being played again at Madison Square Garden, as the Knicks are much improved this year. Amar'e Stoudemire is playing as well as anyone in basketball so far this season. Taj Gibson is still recovering from a concussion for the Bulls, who will start Kurt Thomas instead. Derrick Rose gets a national stage on Christmas Day to show off his tremendous skills and he’ll keep his team in this one, but not enough to win in NYC.
My Pick: Knicks 104, Bulls 99
Boston Celtics at Orlando Magic (ABC at 2:30 P.M. EST)—Boston comes in banged up but rolling nonetheless. They just find ways to win. The Magic are still getting used to each other but had a great performance on Thursday night, destroying the Spurs. Doc Rivers will have his team ready for the new-look Magic and Paul Pierce will come up big as usual for the Celts to seal this one in the fourth.
My Pick: Celtics 94, Magic 91
Miami Heat at Los Angeles Lakers (ABC at 5 P.M. EST)—This is the marquee game of the NBA season so far. Dwayne Wade has been banged up, missing the win in Phoenix on Thursday night, but expects to play this one. The Lakers have been up and down this year. They have been able to win but haven’t played as well as you’d expect from defending champions. The Heat have been playing better and they make the best halftime adjustments in basketball. This team seems to gather at the half and decide to step up the defense in the third and fourth quarters. LeBron won in L.A. on Christmas Day last year, when he was the only star. Now, with his two sidekicks, he is ready to make a statement to the world.
My Pick: Heat 96, Lakers 90
Denver Nuggets at Oklahoma City Thunder (ESPN at 8 P.M. EST)—Carmelo Anthony left the team this week due to a death in the family and isn’t expected back for this one. J.R. Smith should start again in place of Anthony and should perform well. However, OKC is good at home and I think ready for this big opportunity on the national stage. They should pull away from the Nuggets behind their dynamic duo of Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook.
My Pick: Thunder 108, Nuggets 95
Portland Trail Blazers at Golden State Warriors (ESPN at 10:30 P.M. ET)—Portland is banged up and might be without three key players, as Brandon Roy, Marcus Camby and Joel Przybilla are listed as day-to-day. Monta Ellis is playing great and will be a tough match-up for the Blazers while LaMarcus Aldridge has been outstanding of late for the Blazers. It’s tough to predict this one not knowing who’s going to play for the Blazers, but I expect the Warriors to win regardless—just not sure by how many.
My Pick: Warriors 101, Blazers 93
