NBA: Ranking the Christmas Day games by entertainment value

2. Golden State Warriors at Milwaukee Bucks

More so than any other matchup on the Christmas Day schedule, this game can be boiled down to two stars. Two-time MVP Stephen Curry returns from a lost season to face off against reigning two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo. Curry can hit 3-pointers from as far back as the North Pole; Antetokounmpo’s arms are something like 39.5 feet long, which means he can dunk, block and steal the ball from anywhere.

The two teams bring new presents to be opened in the form of new lineups. Jrue Holiday joined the Bucks to replace postseason underperformer Eric Bledsoe, and new signings D.J. Augustin and Torrey Craig will likely get some burn. Kelly Oubre Jr., Brad Wanamaker and rookie James Wiseman are all new faces for the Warriors.

Milwaukee hopes its new rotation around their core pieces will both convince Antetokounmpo to stay and lead to an NBA Finals appearance. Golden State hopes its expensive roster can keep the team competitive and bring fans back to the arena as soon as conditions allow.

The league quickly moves on from fresh new contenders, and both Curry and Antetokounmpo have experienced that. As the Warriors cling to contention and the Bucks try to prove their dominance, we should get an enjoyable Christmas contest to enjoy.