Preview: NBA Opener/Christmas Games 22-23

[SparzWizard]

NBA leaked out some previews of next season's marquee matchups including Warriors vs Grizzlies and Lakers @ Mavericks both on Christmas Day.

The opening night second-header will be another classic LeBron's Lakers @ Curry's Warriors.

The rest of the schedule should come out next week. Season's about to get wild again!

[SparzWizard]

I'm surprised the C's are not gonna be playing the Warriors for an NBA Finals rematch on Christmas Day.

I'm gonna go on a limb and say we play the opening night first-header against the 76ers, and playoff rematch against the Bucks on Christmas Day or vs the Nets (if KD still remains a Nets).

EDIT: Full schedule's out for the Christmas Games per Yahoo Sports and Shams:

Bucks vs. Celtics
76ers vs. Knicks
Suns vs. Nuggets
Lakers vs. Mavericks
Grizzlies vs. Warriors

Suns/Nuggets could be an interesting game too!

[Roy H.]

Makes sense.  Celtics v. Bucks will draw eyeballs.

[ozgod]

No Nets, interesting but not surprising.

[Roy H.]

No Nets, interesting but not surprising.

Yeah, there's just too much in flux there.

I would have liked to see the Twolves make the schedule.  Give us some new blood!

[nickagneta]

I'm surprised the C's are not gonna be playing the Warriors for an NBA Finals rematch on Christmas Day.

I'm gonna go on a limb and say we play the opening night first-header against the 76ers, and playoff rematch against the Bucks on Christmas Day or vs the Nets (if KD still remains a Nets).

EDIT: Full schedule's out for the Christmas Games per Yahoo Sports and Shams:

Bucks vs. Celtics
76ers vs. Knicks
Suns vs. Nuggets
Lakers vs. Mavericks
Grizzlies vs. Warriors

Suns/Nuggets could be an interesting game too!

So Celtics getting prime time, maybe something like:

76ers vs. Knicks 12:00PM EST
Lakers vs. Mavericks 2:30PM EST
Suns vs. Nuggets 5:00PM EST
Bucks vs. Celtics 8:00PM EST
Grizzlies vs Warriors 10:30PM EST

Or do they give prime time to the Warriors and Lebron/Doncic late love:

76ers vs. Knicks 12:00PM EST
Bucks vs. Celtics 2:30PM EST
Suns vs. Nuggets 5:00PM EST
Grizzlies vs Warriors 8:00PM EST
Lakers vs. Mavericks 10:30PM EST

Probably the latter if I know The Mouse.

[bdm860]

Knicks usually get a spot, but that should definitely be Miami instead.

Personally, I think the Christmas match-ups suffer a little when there's no great East/West match-up going on.  Good chance all these teams will have already played each other 1-2 times by the time Christmas rolls around.  Having to wait till Christmas to see a particular match-up helps build the excitement, IMO.

I think I'd be most excited to see a MIL/LAC match-up on Christmas.

[Celtics2021]

I'm surprised the C's are not gonna be playing the Warriors for an NBA Finals rematch on Christmas Day.

I'm gonna go on a limb and say we play the opening night first-header against the 76ers, and playoff rematch against the Bucks on Christmas Day or vs the Nets (if KD still remains a Nets).

EDIT: Full schedule's out for the Christmas Games per Yahoo Sports and Shams:

Bucks vs. Celtics
76ers vs. Knicks
Suns vs. Nuggets
Lakers vs. Mavericks
Grizzlies vs. Warriors

Suns/Nuggets could be an interesting game too!

So Celtics getting prime time, maybe something like:

76ers vs. Knicks 12:00PM EST
Lakers vs. Mavericks 2:30PM EST
Suns vs. Nuggets 5:00PM EST
Bucks vs. Celtics 8:00PM EST
Grizzlies vs Warriors 10:30PM EST

Or do they give prime time to the Warriors and Lebron/Doncic late love:

76ers vs. Knicks 12:00PM EST
Bucks vs. Celtics 2:30PM EST
Suns vs. Nuggets 5:00PM EST
Grizzlies vs Warriors 8:00PM EST
Lakers vs. Mavericks 10:30PM EST

Probably the latter if I know The Mouse.

The definitely wouldn’t put the Lakers on at 11:30 LA-time on Christmas, so no way for a 2:30 EST start for that game.

[SparzWizard]

Battle of LA returns on Oct 20...Lakers @ Clippers! The first time LeBron and Davis will face off Kawhi Leonard and Paul George since 2020

[SparzWizard]

Knicks usually get a spot, but that should definitely be Miami instead.

Personally, I think the Christmas match-ups suffer a little when there's no great East/West match-up going on.  Good chance all these teams will have already played each other 1-2 times by the time Christmas rolls around.  Having to wait till Christmas to see a particular match-up helps build the excitement, IMO.

I think I'd be most excited to see a MIL/LAC match-up on Christmas.

Knicks are the Mecca of Basketball, so they gotta be on every Xmas game despite how garbage they can be lol. Wolves vs 76ers would've been entertaining at least; they really are missing the Wolves on this marquee matchup. Edwards-KAT-Gobert definitely shaking the league.

[Roy H.]

NBA’s 2022-23 Opening Night, Oct. 18 on TNT: – 76ers at Celtics – And as previously reported: Lakers at Warriors – via Twitter ShamsCharania

[Roy H.]

Shams Charania: Golden State-Boston NBA Finals rematch dates for the 2022-23 season, per sources: Dec. 10 in Golden State Jan. 19 in Boston – via Twitter ShamsCharania

[SparzWizard]

NBA’s 2022-23 Opening Night, Oct. 18 on TNT: – 76ers at Celtics – And as previously reported: Lakers at Warriors – via Twitter ShamsCharania

Nailed it!  Hope we smash the 76ers.