New York Knicks Rumors: Did NBA Pick Best Christmas Matchup?

Rumors continue to fly about the New York Knicks’ matchup on Christmas day. Did the league choose the right opponent on a grand stage?

The NBA will release the full official schedule during the week, but according to Pro Basketball Talk’s Kurt Helin and The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor, the New York Knicks will play the Boston Celtics on Christmas Day:

It’s good to hear the league recognized the intrigue surrounding the Knicks, but why pit them against a purist basketball team like the Celtics?

Christmas Day games draw attention with stars on the court or when rivalries come to a head, the Celtics don’t have the full appeal matching up against the Knicks.

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Boston’s roster lacks star power. Sure, point Isaiah Thomas qualified as an All-Star last season, but he’s not an overall top-tier player. The Celtics just acquired their best player via free agency when they signed

The Celtics just acquired their best player via free agency when they signed Al Horford to a four-year, $113 million deal, per spotrac.com.

For Knick fans, it stung not to see the team play on Christmas Day in the previous year. However, on a return to a prominent stage, the Chicago Bulls would’ve been a more suitable opponent.

Banana boat brothers Carmelo Anthony and Dwyane Wade square off on opposing sides. The Knicks and Bulls completed a blockbuster trade, swapping several players. Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah would look across the court to see their replacements Robin Lopez and Rajon Rondo in the starting lineup.

Furthermore, the Knicks and Bulls rosters feature high-profile players on both sides, including two Olympians in Anthony and Jimmy Butler.

Until the NBA releases the official schedule, it’s just a rumor but more than one source heard the same opponent for the Knicks.

When judging the matchup from a pure basketball standpoint, it’s set up for a competitive game from the opening tip-off. The Knicks would play a playoff contender who could finish as their postseason opponent as the No. 4 and No. 5 seeds in the Eastern Conference.

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Ironically, the Knicks beat the Celtics in their last playoff series victory during the 2013 postseason, following a 54-win season. With both teams back on the rise, we could see a rematch and somewhat of a budding rivalry between two teams looking to knock the defending Cleveland Cavaliers off their pedestal.

Nonetheless, the NBA powers must realize fans turn into Christmas games for established rivalries and star power, which makes the Bulls the best matchup.