NBA Game Reviews: 2020 Christmas Day

1. There is no clear favorite in the Eastern Conference

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The Eastern Conference surrounding LeBron James was the laughingstock of the NBA for the better part of the last decade. LeBron-led teams were the Eastern Conference representatives in the Finals every year from 2011-2018, forcing many of the NBA’s best to team up in the West. When LeBron finally headed West prior to the 2019 season, the East became wide open, and began to strengthen. The Toronto Raptors reached the Finals in 2019, the 5th-seeded Miami Heat were the conference’s representative last year, and this season, the East is even deeper.

Jimmy Butler left the Christmas opener at halftime, while MIA’s supporting cast proved their dominance in a 111-98 victory over NOP. The Eastern Conference favorite Milwaukee Bucks embarrassed Steph Curry and the Warriors, in a 39-pt obliteration in Milwaukee. Kyrie Irving exploded for 37 in his return to Boston, leading the Nets to a dominant 123-95 victory over the Celtics in a potential Eastern Conference Finals preview. The East put on a show this Christmas, a day that didn’t even showcase the 76ers, Raptors, or Wizards. Few predicted the Heat winning the East last year. This year shouldn’t be any easier to predict with three legit contenders

2. The Los Angeles Lakers are deeper than ever

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Last year for the Lakers, it was LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and then everybody else. There was never a true third star behind the dynamic duo, and the team tended to stall whenever LeBron James left the floor. The Lakers had a big offseason, one of the strongest for a reigning champion in recent memory. The best team in the league got better, and they displayed it on Christmas Day, in their 138-115 beatdown of the Dallas Mavericks in primetime.

Anthony Davis led the way for the Lakers with 28 points and eight rebounds, with Lebron’s 22-point, 7-rebound, 10-assist performance not far behind. But the story of the game was the newcomers. Montrezl Harrell scored 22 points on 10/13 shots and seven rebounds, while Dennis Schroder added 18 points on 7/11 shooting and six assists. Following the shortest offseason in NBA history, LeBron and AD will likely be getting more rest than usual, but with Schroder, Harrell, and a bevy of other talent from last year’s championship team, the Lakers are going to be tough to beat day-in and day-out. 

3. Paul George is well worth his new max contract…so far

It’s only been two games, and Paul George has enjoyed strong regular seasons over the course of his career, but George is looking to be worth every bit of that $190 million contract extension the Clippers awarded him this offseason. Paul George has been bad in his postseason career. Historically bad. His poor shooting was one of the many factors that led to the Clippers collapse last year, and George even noted his struggles with depression and anxiety during the bubble run amidst his offensive woes. This could be an impossible hurdle to overcome for some players, and it’s only the regular season, but it looks like Paul George has bounced back.

Paul George followed up his 33-point opening night performance with a 23-point, 9-assist showing on Christmas Day, against those same Denver Nuggets the Clippers were embarrassed by just a few months ago. Paul George is shooting 66% from the field and 58% from three over his first two games, and looks like he’s put last season’s struggles in the rearview mirror. The Clippers showed George that they believed in him this offseason with a huge contract extension through 2025. George will have to earn his money in the playoffs, but at least for now, George is proving to the Clippers they made the right decision.