NBA: Ranking the 2019 Christmas Day games

1. Lakers vs Clippers

This couldn’t have been put together more perfectly for the NBA. The Los Angeles Lakers and LA Clippers are not only two of the top teams in the entire league, but they’re facing each other on the day the NBA owns.

This game is incredible exposure for the league, and it’s in one of the top sports markets in the world.

With the additions of Kawhi Leonard and Paul George this offseason, Clippers fans have plenty to be excited about for the first time since Lob City was in its heyday.

Not only are these two players capable of scoring 30-plus on any given night, they’re also two of the best defenders in the entire NBA.

On the other side of the Los Angeles coin, the Lakers have not only a chance to make the playoffs for the first time in six years, but a shot at the title as well.

Considering the addition of Anthony Davis and a plethora of basketball savvy, role playing veterans to a roster that already has LeBron James, Lakers fans have to be salivating.

With the recent injuries to James, George and Leonard, load management will likely be a point of emphasis for both squads going into the 2019 season. In other words, the regular season and playoff seeding won’t mean much to either team.

They’ll both win enough games to be top four seeds in the loaded west, purely based on talent, if nothing else.

Despite the lack of urgency in the regular season for both teams, this matchup will be dubbed by the media as the battle for LA. Two talented teams, two title contenders, two of the best duos in the league.

Between LeBron coming off his first major injury, Anthony Davis joining him and Leonard and George returning home, this could be a regular season battle for the ages.