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Ranking the 2022 NBA Christmas games by intrigue

By Holden Walter-Warner

May 16, 2021; San Francisco, California, USA; Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (12) talks to Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) after the game at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
May 16, 2021; San Francisco, California, USA; Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (12) talks to Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) after the game at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /
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NBA Christmas
Boston Celtics F Jayson Tatum and Milwaukee Bucks F Giannis Antetokounmpo (Adam Glanzman/Getty Images) /

NBA Christmas Game 2. Milwaukee Bucks at Boston Celtics, 5:00 PM ET

There will be plenty of teams with something to say about it, but the Bucks/Celtics game on Christmas may be a preview of the Eastern Conference Finals.

The Boston Celtics were the Eastern Conference Finals winner a year ago, and they should only get better as long as they don’t do anything drastic, like try trading Jaylen Brown for Kevin Durant. Boston has built their core the right way, around Brown, Jayson Tatum, and historic Defensive Player of the Year Marcus Smart.

Boston should be even better this season. Ime Udoka will no longer be green in terms of head coaching experience and the Celtics went out and got Malcolm Brogdon. They should be the conference favorite.

Milwaukee may have something to say about that. After all, this team is only two years removed from a title and has the most elite physical specimen in the history of the NBA, Giannis Antetokoumpo.

The Bucks feel a little stagnant in the past year. Their core of Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton, and Jrue Holiday is solid. But it has felt like they’ve gotten away from their defensive identity and doubled-down on offense-first players, like Bobby Portis and Joe Ingles.

Last year, the teams played an aggressive, memorable seven-game playoff series, the third time they’ve competed in the postseason in the last five years. The Christmas game will be the first time they play since last year’s series, so there could be some real fireworks.

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