Most wonderful time of the year?

Photo courtesy of thefastertimes.com. Amar'e Stoudemire (pictured above) and the New York Knicks will be a team looking to prove something come Christmas Day when they take on the team that knocked them out of last year's playoffs, the Boston Celtics.

By Josh Kramer

So we are not sure at this point if the NBA will have a season next year.  But we do know that the games scheduled for Christmas Day should be outstanding as usual.  It would be a dire shame if these games were not played and put a real dent in my Christmas Day plans.

Honestly though, my appetite would be left unquenched if there were no NBA games on Christmas.

Here is a closer look at the probable triple-header:

Boston Celtics versus New Yorks:  We all know that the Knicks will bust out their traditional festive green jerseys.  And this matchup should be a great one.  Boston is an aging squad that I feel has worn out its welcome as a contender in the East, while the Knicks are a rising squad, that is looking to become a contender.  Any time you get guys who can score like Amar’e, Carmelo, Paul Pierce, and Ray Allen all on the floor together, you already know that there is going to be some fireworks.

Miami Heat versus Dallas Mavericks:  A finals rematch.  The whole world will be watching again.  Will LeBron once again fizzle under the bright lights?  I highly doubt it in that he has traditionally been outstanding in Christmas Day games, including his triple-double last year in a Heat massacre of the Los Angeles Lakers.  Plus December basketball is much different than June basketball. Can Miami’s “Big Two (compliments of Shaq, the broadcaster)” handle the defending champs?  Lets hope we get to find out.

Chicago Bulls versus Los Angeles Lakers:  Two teams that many will be expecting big things from in the 2011/2012 season.  Granted Los Angeles, could have a whole new look to the modern version of “Showtime” that we have become accustomed to in recent years.  We can be assured that Kobe Bryant will be in the building though.  Is Chicago ready to take the next step?  This game will not give us a definitive answer, but a victory over Kobe Bryant and the Lakers on Christmas Day will get the majority of the country believing.

So there you have it.  This Christmas could have a triple-header of epic proportions.  Now if it does not happen, lets hope that Time Warner, Comcast, and the other major cable providers find a way to bring us some International Hoops on Christmas.

What would Christmas be without some big time professional basketball?

It definitely would become much less wonderful in my eyes.

Stay tuned for the next edition of TheSportsKraze.