Should the NBA champion host if they've a Christmas game?

campybatman · Post #1 » by **campybatman** » Wed Dec 24, 2008 9:59 pm

In other words, would you agree with Rivers' comments?

I don't agree or disagree because the scheduling and/or TV time slot could've had an affect on the decision on where to have the game for Boston. I mean you've to treat the game the same regardless if it's at home or on the road. Your objective remains the same and that's to win the game as any other game on your schedule.

Besides, I don't know whether or not it's a tradition to feature the team that won the NBA championship or to have both NBA Finals teams in a game on Christmas.

Wiretap

Celtics coach Doc Rivers was surprised earlier this season to learn that the team's Christmas Day battle with the Lakers was in Los Angeles.

"They told me we were playing on Christmas Day and I didn't really look at it, I just assumed it was at home," he said. "Then I saw it was on the road, and I said, 'What's that?'

"I'm sure arena availability probably had something to do with it. It's not just they wanted to play it in LA, but as a coach, I'll make it that way.

"One of the things I did before the season, the league has the coaches send in rules suggestions, I said one of the packages of winning the title is you should get the ring, the trophy, and a guaranteed home date on Christmas Day. So let's hope that gets through."

Truthiracy · Post #2 » by **Truthiracy** » Wed Dec 24, 2008 10:04 pm

Well, yeah, why would the Finals Loser deserve to host? And why does LA get a home game every Christmas anyways? They played the Heat for 2-3 straight years, at LA, doesn't make sense.

Truthiracy · Post #3 » by **Truthiracy** » Wed Dec 24, 2008 10:09 pm

I just checked, 3 straight years for the Heat @ LA, 04/05, 05/06, 06/07 with the Heat handling LA all 3 times. Last year they beat the Suns at home on Christmas, lost to Houston and Sac the years before they lost to the Heat... not a good record on Christmas for LA.

Chubby Chaser · Post #4 » by **Chubby Chaser** » Wed Dec 24, 2008 10:40 pm

We're the Lakers. The Staple of the NBA if you will. There's no bigger stage than playing against the Lakers in Los Angeles. So just be glad that you guys are relevant again and get to play in the big games against the big boys on Christmas day. 8-)

campybatman · Post #5 » by **campybatman** » Wed Dec 24, 2008 11:14 pm

LucerneStDoggz wrote:I just checked, 3 straight years for the Heat @ LA, 04/05, 05/06, 06/07 with the Heat handling LA all 3 times. Last year they beat the Suns at home on Christmas, lost to Houston and Sac the years before they lost to the Heat... not a good record on Christmas for LA.

Well, I believe it's a tradition for Dallas to appear on national TV for a Thanksgiving day game for the NFL. Perhaps, the national networks prefer to feature the Lakers assuming that they will be a good team. And the Lakers have Kobe Bryant who the NBA and national fans view as the "best player" in the league.

campybatman · Post #6 » by **campybatman** » Wed Dec 24, 2008 11:26 pm

Dating to the 1940's, the NBA has presented exciting Christmas Day matchups. Many have been noted as the greatest regular season games ever played. Some memorable Christmas moments include Philadelphia's Wilt Chamberlain scoring 59 points against New York in 1961 and the Knicks' rookie, Patrick Ewing helping New York comeback from a 25-point deficit to defeat the Celtics in 1985.

http://www.nba.com/news/christmas_2007.html

NBA TV Top 5 Christmas Most Memorable NBA Games
http://video.aol.com/video-detail/nba-t ... 1112988875

NBA on Christmas Day Games
http://www.listafterlist.com/tabid/57/l ... Games.aspx

Phil Jackson Calls Christmas Day Game a "Gimmick"

“It’s a gimmick game,” Jackson said. “We get back at 2 or 3 o’clock in the morning (on Dec.23), (then) practice on the 24th. It’s almost unfair after four games in five days (on the road). Obviously we have something to draw on from last June, but that was a long time ago. … It’s a good game, everybody will be watching it. But as far as teams being in the best position to play, I don’t know.”

The Lakers aren't the only ones who might be tired for this one. Boston will be playing it's fifth game in eight days, and the first of four games to kick off a West coast road trip. They'll also have to travel from Boston to Los Angeles, although if they leave after their game against the Sixers on the 23rd, at least they'll have a day in town to rest up.

Phil's quotes are an obvious attempt to lower expectations (and prevent a meltdown) in case the Celtics come in here and get a win, but he might also have a legitimate point. Christmas Day games are about ratings, and putting the two best teams on the marquee is going to guarantee that plenty of families will be spending at least part of Christmas together yelling at the television.

http://www.nbclosangeles.com/sports/bas ... ltics.html

Rocky5000 · Post #7 » by **Rocky5000** » Wed Dec 24, 2008 11:30 pm

I don't think you should have to play on Christmas at all. Needing to play on the road makes it even worse. I guess it's a plus that a few guys like Paul and Eddie have family on the West coach, so their Christmas's will be a little more normal.

The Lakers are probably used to it, that's just brutal that they've played every Christmas for the last 10 years or so. Maybe they should give both conference champions the day off.

Allanon · Post #8 » by **Allanon** » Thu Dec 25, 2008 12:04 am

It's nothing more than just TV scheduling...Celtics versus Lakers is a ratings bonanza, ABC wants to milk it for all it's worth so they have to accommodate the widest market possible.

It's PrimeTime, the only way to accommodate that is to play in LA, it would be too early for a PrimeTime slot if it was played in Boston. That's why the lesser matchups get scheduled earlier, they want as many people available to watch The Game.

DEEP3CL · Post #9 » by **DEEP3CL** » Thu Dec 25, 2008 12:06 am

LucerneStDoggz wrote:Well, yeah, why would the Finals Loser deserve to host? And why does LA get a home game every Christmas anyways? They played the Heat for 2-3 straight years, at LA, doesn't make sense.

Actually it was 3 straight years and one of the games was in Miami. It's just a scheduling thing for the most part. I believe it at least should be regional..........say Celtics at New York. But the thing is New York isn't a big media draw at this moment.

So the bottom line is Stern will play with both of his best toys for a while. Truthfully it should have been Celtics and Cavs and maybe Lakers and whoever they saw fit on the West.

Stern is a gangsta..............and the league is his toy.

Rocky5000 · Post #10 » by **Rocky5000** » Thu Dec 25, 2008 12:25 am

Do people make a tradition of watching basketball on Christmas? I know it happens with football on Thanksgiving, but my family has never really been watching TV on Christmas in general at all. If it wasn't the Celtics playing, I definitely wouldn't even watch a game.

campybatman · Post #11 » by **campybatman** » Thu Dec 25, 2008 12:50 am

Rocky5000 wrote:I don't think you should have to play on Christmas at all. Needing to play on the road makes it even worse. I guess it's a plus that a few guys like Paul and Eddie have family on the West coach, so their Christmas's will be a little more normal.

Yes. It's a homecoming for Pierce, Powe, House, Scalabrine and Pruitt. Ray was born in California but I don't think he grew up there.

Pierce should host a little get together for team and coaching staff today (Wednesday) in Nevada. That is, if they'd the day off from practice and everyone isn't busy.

Scalamental · Post #12 » by **Scalamental** » Thu Dec 25, 2008 12:58 am

Rocky5000 wrote:Do people make a tradition of watching basketball on Christmas? I know it happens with football on Thanksgiving, but my family has never really been watching TV on Christmas in general at all. If it wasn't the Celtics playing, I definitely wouldn't even watch a game.

I don't think so, but by the time the games come on, I'm bored out of my mind at my family's house, and the notion of Shaq vs. Kobe is enough for me to make a stink about puttin the tube on.

This year however, you have two teams that'd rather lose a left nut than lose on christmas, and the favorite, is our Boston Celtics. If this happened every year, it'd become a quick tradition in my home.

campybatman · Post #13 » by **campybatman** » Thu Dec 25, 2008 2:10 am

Is the NHL still struggling with overall TV ratings nationally for games or are they pulling in strong numbers in specific markets in recent years? The Bruins numbers should be good this season.

Wiretap

Mercury News - The collective bargaining agreement between the NHL and its players association mandates the two-day Christmas holiday break with no games on the 24th and 25th.

As late as 1971, the NHL had Christmas games on its schedule. Bargaining the following summer between the league and the NHL Players Association ended that practice and it’s safe to say that was something the union was happy to have.

The NBA turned Christmas Day into a showcase event, playing a limited schedule that always managed to feature the Chicago Bulls during the Michael Jordan era and drew decent TV ratings. The NHL wouldn’t mind trying something similar, and, according to a league source, floated the idea past the players union not too long ago, but they rejected the idea.

Kefa461 · Post #14 » by **Kefa461** » Thu Dec 25, 2008 3:36 am

Chubby Chaser wrote:We're the Lakers. The Staple of the NBA if you will. There's no bigger stage than playing against the Lakers in Los Angeles. So just be glad that you guys are relevant again and get to play in the big games against the big boys on Christmas day.

1st thing is for you to be quiet......adults are talking.....speak when spoken to. 8-)

rambo_ortega · Post #15 » by **rambo_ortega** » Thu Dec 25, 2008 5:17 am

it's more of sales and market that's why they choose LA.

I agree that we shouldve hosted it.

GreenGrizz · Post #16 » by **GreenGrizz** » Thu Dec 25, 2008 6:36 am

Look what is happening to the Detroit Lions. I think people are getting sick of the same team on Thanksgiving every year.

SashAlex · Post #17 » by **SashAlex** » Thu Dec 25, 2008 9:35 am

LucerneStDoggz wrote:I just checked, 3 straight years for the Heat @ LA, 04/05, 05/06, 06/07 with the Heat handling LA all 3 times. Last year they beat the Suns at home on Christmas, lost to Houston and Sac the years before they lost to the Heat... not a good record on Christmas for LA.

We played against the Heat at home only in 04/05. We lost 102 to 104. In 05/06 we lost in Miami 92-97, then again in 60/07 we lost in Miami by double digits, i don't remember the score, but we payed in Miami, for sure ! How did you check ? Where ? :lol:

BlamePitino · Post #18 » by **BlamePitino** » Thu Dec 25, 2008 6:02 pm

Chubby Chaser wrote:We're the Lakers. The Staple of the NBA if you will. There's no bigger stage than playing against the Lakers in Los Angeles. So just be glad that you guys are relevant again and get to play in the big games against the big boys on Christmas day.

I'm sorry, how many championships do you have? Not counting ones won in Minnesota? And let's not forget that you're only relevant because of that Spanish-speaking guy you got to play with Kobe...which is actually just another example of a foreigner taking a job Americans don't want.

Staple? Yeah, we got that.

campybatman · Post #19 » by **campybatman** » Thu Dec 25, 2008 7:27 pm

On the contrary, the Boston Celtics are one of the two storied franchises of the NBA. The other being the Knicks. Not to mention, the Celtics are the winningest franchise in the league's history. They and the New York Knicks are the lone remaining of the original NBA franchises (eleven) and the only ones who are still present in their original city.

DEEP3CL · Post #20 » by **DEEP3CL** » Thu Dec 25, 2008 9:38 pm

bonsaiflipflops wrote:On the contrary, the Boston Celtics are one of the two storied franchises of the NBA. The other being the Knicks. Not to mention, the Celtics are the winningest franchise in the league's history.

That's not true bons..

The Lakers hold records for having (at the end of the 2007–08 season) the most wins (2,905), the highest winning percentage (61.5%) the Celtics had 2,860 at end of 07-08.

bonsaiflipflops wrote:They and the New York Knicks are the lone remaining of the original NBA franchises (eleven) and the only ones who are still present in their original city.

Very much true.