NBA Opening Day: Why Clippers vs. Warriors Is the Game to Watch

Just when you thought that Christmas couldn't get any better, the NBA has added two new games to its opening day slate. The Oklahoma City Thunder will host the Orlando Magic, followed by the Los Angeles Clippers heading up the I-5 to take on the Golden State Warriors in the nightcap.

That brings the tally of Christmas day games up to five—but if you can only watch one, do yourself a favor and make it the last one.

On any other Christmas, the contest between the Clippers and the Warriors would be but an afterthought—an indulgent dessert after four courses of filling NBA basketball.

But this is no ordinary December 25 game day. It's opening day in the NBA.

That means there are no must-win games. No statements to be made. No switches for teams to flip. It's the first step of a six-month long marathon.

All the veteran playoff-bound teams know that they must conserve their energy for the back-to-back-to-back games on the schedule, as well as for playing on consecutive days in the postseason. 

On an occasion such as this, with no high-stakes games in the offing,  I want to be entertained more than anything else. And two young, hungry, energetic teams like the Clippers and the Warriors have the best chance to do just that.

Sure, the Boston Celtics at the New York Knicks sounds like an intriguing matchup. But we thought the same thing about their meeting in the opening round of last year's playoffs.

Boston went on to sweep the Knicks unceremoniously. Unless Chris Paul is in a Knicks uniform by tipoff, this game may not live up to the hype.

We also get an NBA Finals rematch between the Miami Heat and Dallas Mavericks. Our last memory of the NBA is this very same matchup. Other than seeing LeBron watch Dirk and the Mavs get their championship rings, this game doesn't pique my interest much.

Up next is a clash between the Chicago Bulls and the Los Angeles Lakers. I'm a Lakers fan, and even I'm disappointed in this selection.

I can't think of a single memorable meeting between the Lakers and the Bulls in the Kobe Bryant vs. Derrick Rose era. There's just not enough juice between these two teams to get me excited for this one.

While it's always a joy to see the Oklahoma City Thunder's young guys get after it, when was the last time you enjoyed watching the Orlando Magic play?

They've fallen back in the pack in the East, and the entire telecast will be inundated with speculation about Dwight Howard's days in Orlando being numbered.

That brings us to the grand finale. There's no tastier treat on the schedule than the matchup that pits two of the league's most entertaining teams. It features four of the NBA's top 25 scorers, and a couple of teams that love to get up and down the court.

Just sit back and watch the points flow. Last season, these two squads combined to average 213 points in their four meetings against one another. It will be raining threes and there won't be any shortage of fast breaks.

There are so many entertaining individuals to watch, too.

Monta Ellis is one of the most creative and explosive scorers in the league. Stephen Curry can put on a shooting display which few players can rival.

DeAndre Jordan will be looking to hammer home lobs with emphasis. And Eric Gordon's suave scoring abilities could have new Warriors coach Mark Jackson yelling "Hand down, man down!" at his players more often than he did as a broadcaster.

Then, of course, there's the reigning NBA Rookie of the Year, Blake Griffin. He's a highlight waiting to happen and there's no player in the league I'd pay more money to see than him.

Anytime you watch a game involving Blake, you're guaranteed at least one "WOW, I didn't know a human being could do that!" play. And against a defense as shoddy as the Warriors', there's a good chance you'll get more.

Here's just a sample of what you may witness. 

Plus, with the Christmas-spirited red and white uniforms on the court, you'll get a warm, cozy feeling as these two talented teams light up the night with their offensive fireworks.