When will the Philadelphia 76ers Play On Christmas?
The NBA Has Played on Christmas Day since 1947. The Philadelphia 76ers have not played on Christmas since 2001. This feature explains why the Sixers will be back in the NBA’s Showcase in the 2018-2019 season.
Christmas Present:
The NBA rolls out its most successful and most storied franchises on Christmas Day, and it has been doing so for almost 70 years. Since 2008, they have been showing 5 games featuring ten of the league’s best teams. This year is no different with the premier rematch being the Golden State Warriors against the defending champion Cleveland Cavaliers.
Including this year, the Knicks, Lakers and Celtics will have played the most on Christmas, but given the Sixers’ historical importance to the league, I set out to answer the question: when will the Philadelphia 76ers Play again on Christmas?
To solve this all important mystery, I took a measured approach. I recognized historical and recent trends for teams that play on December 25th. I looked at this years performance so far. This very much sets the table for the schedule next year. I identified a number of categories for Christmas teams I feel will shape our Holiday for the next two years and beyond. The end result is a very reasonable, but optimistic outlook for the Philadelphia 76ers to give their fans a gift under their evergreens.
Christmas Future:
Next Christmas will be the 70th Anniversary of the 1st NBA Game played on Christmas. In that clash, New York Knicks took on the Providence Steamrollers at Madison Square Garden. I would imagine the NBA will commemorate that with a Christmas Day game at The Garden.
Since the NBA has held five games on Christmas since 2008, who will play the Knicks and in the other four games and 9 teams on Christmas 2017 and 10 teams in 2018 is unclear. However, based on my research of NBA Games from the last 10 years dating back to 2007, there are a couple of certainties when it comes to the NBA and Christmas.
The NBA Finalists
They almost always play on Christmas. The only exception I found to this was the 2007 Dallas Mavericks who famously lost to the Shaquille O’Neal and Dwayne Wade Miami Heat in 2006. So assuming the Knicks are not going to beat the Cavs in the East and the Warriors will take the West that means there are 7 more spots available for Christmas Day 2017.
As a corollary, LeBron James’ respective teams have on Christmas since 2007. Steph Curry’s Warriors made it 6 out of 7 year. If you include them that means there are 8 open slots for 2018.
The Los Angeles Lakers
As far as Christmas Traditions go, few last longer than Lakers playing on Christmas. The 1997 Season was the last time that the NBA played Games on Christmas that did not involve the Lakers. The hated rivals of the Sixers are certain to play again next year if the history holds up. That means 4 teams are solid for 2017, and 3 teams slotted for 2018.
Big 3 Market Teams
New York, Chicago and Los Angeles are the largest NBA Markets in terms of viewership and metropolis size. The NBA may not admit it, but they clearly want to capture these markets’ fans. I have established the Laker Tradition, but the Chicago Bulls have played on Christmas every year since 2010 and the Clippers every year since 2011. Since Jimmy Butler and Dwayne Wade are locked up through 2019 in Chicago, there is no reason to keep them out of the 2017 and 2018 showcases.
The Clippers have Chris Paul signed to 2017-2018 season with incentive to stay long term. (more on that later) So that star power will keep the Clippers in play for 2017 and 2018.
For 2018, if you add the Knicks, who also have played on Christmas 7 out of the last 8 years and have Kristaps Porzingis, this means there are four teams left fill to the 2017 and 2018 Christmas Day Games.
Side Note:
Since 2010, using the criteria outlined above you could predict over half of the NBA Christmas Day teams if you include Lebron and Steph’s teams as a qualifier.
CBA Note:
If you listened to many podcasts that talked about the newly minted Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), then you will know that stars will have even more incentive to stay with their teams instead of leaving free agency. A Super Max contract will become a thing for upcoming free agents like Chris Paul, (which is why I don’t see him leaving LA) Steph Curry and Kevin Durant. (which is why I feel confident about Warriors Cavs volume 4)
Midwestern MVPs
I believe three Midwest teams whose one individual MVP Candidates will keep the narrative juicy and win totals high enough to warrant 2017 Christmas Games. I am referring to San Antonio Spurs, Houston Rockets and Oklahoma City Thunder. Kawhi Leonard, James Harden and Russell Westbrook are all MVP candidates because they are carrying their teams without fellow stars (Sorry LaMarcus Aldridge).
Russell Westbrook’s is seriously flirting with averaging a Triple Double for the season. If it’s possible to have a second break out year, James Harden is experiencing it. At 11.7 Assists per game. he’s breaking out as an elite Point Guard!
Lastly, I could see San Antonio making it in 2017 on Kawhi’s defensive prowess alone, but you add in some history between Gregg Popovich and Mike D’Antoni. NBA junkies would love to see a Pop vs MDA Chess match on Christmas next year. They last faced off on Christmas in 2008.
I feel safe in predicting these teams for 2017. The Rockets and Spurs are on pace for 56 and 67 wins respectively. The Thunder have played in 7 straight Christmas day games. But until the Rockets and Thunder without Durant can sustain their success past this year, I don’t feel confident in saying 2018 is a guarantee for these teams.
Even though the Spurs are the Spurs, and I think they will average 60 wins until they prove us wrong, they took a 3 Year Break from 2010-2012 from playing on X-mas. So you never know. That means 2017 has 1 slot left and 2018 still has 4 to fill.
Budding Superstar Team
The NBA has recent history of showcasing young up and coming teams that have a budding young players or one supernova waiting to explode.
Examples are Wizards in 2014 with John Wall and Bradley Beal, Pelicans with Anthony Davis in 2015, and Minnesota with Karl-Anthony Towns in 2016.
We are finally at the SIxers’ path to Christmas Day. With Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons, the case can be made that Sixers fit the profile. Embiid is a leading candidate for Rookie of the Year and if Ben Simmons returns with enough time left in the season, he could breed the same excitement that bought the Sixers pole position in this year’s national TV Slate on ESPN.
Sadly in 2017 with only one slot left to fill, the team that best fits this profile is not the Sixers, especially with the Lakers starting out hot early this year. The NBA may decide the Lakers fill this spot. It could be the Minnesota again if they turn it around in the second half of the season. Or it could be the Milwaukee Bucks with Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jabari Parker and Khris Middleton returning and making the playoffs. 2017 is the year for the Bucks.
The Christmas Miracle
With the Sixers still hovering with 20-25 wins max this season, 2017 is, for my money, out of the question. I would love to be proven wrong and you can @ me if I am. But 2018 has four team slots up for grabs. With another top pick in the 2017 draft, (I am looking at you Markelle Fultz) the Sixers could display a really fun team for the 2017-2018 season that posts 30-40 wins.
They fit the profile for a Budding Superstar Team. With 30-40 wins they also replicate the Wolves or Pelicans as Christmas Day participants from the last two years. The Sixers will have “The Process” to dominate, Ben Simmons to distribute, and a 2017 top draft pick to debut for the league’s biggest games in 2018.
That is why I am calling it right here, right now. For the first time since 2001, the Philadelphia 76ers will play next on Christmas Day 2018.
Christmas Past (Philadelphia-Centric):
1961: Wilt’s Thirty Double against the Knicks
Wilt hanged 59 points and 36 rebounds on the New York Knicks. Even though Wilt did this as Philadelphia Warrior, this is truly an accomplishment Philadelphia should celebrate since this year is the 55th anniversary of this game.
1979: Dr. J takes downs the Bullets
In what is regarded as one of the best Christmas Day games in NBA History, Julius Erving, Bobby Jones and Darryl Dawkins beat the Bullets and Elvin Hayes. The Sixers and Bullets dominated the Eastern Conference in the decade spanning 1975-1984. They combined to win 7 out of 10 Eastern Conference Finals during that time. That rivalry culminated in this Christmas Day classic.
Next: Philadelphia 76ers Find Los Angeles Lakers 2017 First Round Pick Growing In Value
2001: Sixers-Lakers NBA Finals Rematch
Allen Iverson’s 31 points and 8 assists were not enough in a revenge matchup from the 2000-2001 NBA Finals against the Los Angelos Lakers. The Sixers fell short. But at least he will always have “The Stepover”.