BBNBA 2021 Christmas Day preview: Health and safety protocols edition

This year’s batch of NBA Christmas Day games might be a little light on its superstar appeal, but the Kentucky effect will give you plenty to look forward to. With 13 hours of hoops on the docket, your escape from nagging relatives should be quite easy.

For our fans of the BBNBA, the likes of Julius Randle (NYK), DeMarcus Cousins (MIL), Devin Booker (PHX), Rajon Rondo (LAL), and Willie Cauley-Stein (DAL) will all take the floor on Dec. 25. If we’re lucky, we might even see some Brandon Knight (DAL) or Wenyen Gabriel (BKN) action.

Unfortunately, due to COVID-19 health and safety protocols, former Wildcats Nerlens Noel (NYK), Kevin Knox (NYK), Immanuel Quickley (NYK), and Enes Kanter Freedom (BOS) will all sit out on the holiday fun. As many as 45 players across the 10 franchises playing on Saturday are in the NBA’s health and safety protocols

Additionally, a knee injury will prevent Anthony Davis (LAL) from playing in his fourth Christmas Day game. Let’s quickly break down all five games.

Hawks @ Knicks – 12:00pm | ESPN

Kentucky players in: Julius Randle (NYK)
Kentucky players out: Nerlens Noel (NYK), Kevin Knox (NYK), Immanuel Quickley (NYK)

There will be no Trae Young for the Atlanta Hawks in the Christmas Day opener, so there will be no repeat of what he did to the Knicks at Madison Square Garden in last year’s playoffs. And thanks to the NBA’s health and safety protocols, a trio of former Kentucky players won’t make an appearance either. There is a chance that Immanuel Quickley gets some run, as he cleared protocols on Friday, but the lack of conditioning might prevent that from happening.

This all means you better be ready for a steady diet of Julius Randle. The New York big man is having a down season compared to his All-Star campaign in 2020-21, but still posting 19.8 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 5.1 assists per game. This will be Randle’s fourth Christmas Day game, but the first since he played three in a row as a member of the Los Angeles Lakers from 2015-18. He scored double-digits in all three.

With the bright Christmas lights of MSG shining down on Randle, he has an excellent chance to get his 14-18 Knicks back on track against its new rival.

Celtics @ Bucks – 2:30pm | ABC

Kentucky players in: DeMarcus Cousins (MIL)
Kentucky players out: Enes Kanter Freedom (BOS)

The expectation is that Giannis Antetokounmpo will suit up for the Milwaukee Bucks after clearing health and safety protocols on Friday. If that’s the case, the second game of Christmas gets a hell of a lot more exciting.

DeMarcus Cousins has, all things considered, filled in quite nicely as the new Milwaukee center. The 31-year old has actually started the last four games while Antetokounmpo was out, averaging 15.3 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 2.3 assists while shooting 48.9 percent from the field.

He’s just a temporary solution until starting center Brook Lopez returns from injury, but it’s awesome to see Cousins finding a role in the NBA again. If he keeps this up, the Bucks will have to keep feeding him minutes and he’d make for a solid backup come playoff time.

As for Enes Kanter Freedom on the Boston Celtics side of things, he’s currently in health and safety protocols and doesn’t expect to get out in time. Boston will have its two stars in Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum, so this game will still be must-watch TV.

Warriors @ Suns – 5:00pm | ABC

Kentucky players in: Devin Booker (PHX)

There’s only one former Wildcat to discuss from this game, but he sure is an important one. In fact, with Devin Booker now back from injury for the Phoenix Suns, I’d argue this matchup will be the best of the whole day. This is a battle between the league’s top two teams in the 26-5 Suns and 26-6 Golden State Warriors.

As of right now, both sides should have all their stars at full health. Outside of Andrew Wiggins (health and safety protocols) and Klay Thompson, who could make his return from two years of injuries in January, this game will feature the least amount of absences. Booker, Chris Paul, and Deandre Ayton against Steph Curry, Draymond Green, and, uh, Jordan Poole (?) will easily be the most exciting game of the game.

Let’s keep our fingers and toes crossed that it can stay that way.

Nets @ Lakers – 8:00pm | ABC/ESPN

Kentucky players in: Rajon Rondo (LAL), Wenyen Gabriel (BKN)
Kentucky players out: Anthony Davis (LAL), Malik Monk (LAL)

With Kevin Durant out (health and safety protocols) for the Brooklyn Nets, it’ll be the James Harden Show in the fourth outing of the day. Brooklyn is actually decimated by COVID-19 right now and could be without 10 players by tipoff.

The Los Angeles Lakers aren’t in nearly as bad shape as the Nets but will be missing a few key reserves and Anthony Davis. Speaking of Davis, his timeline for a return from an MCL sprain is roughly a month. At a time when the Lakers are 16-17 and fighting for every win, that’s not ideal. With Brooklyn down several players, LeBron James might just need to take over by himself for the Lakers.

Malik Monk will sit for L.A. due to health and safety protocols but point guard Rajon Rondo will suit up and go. Considering how many players the Nets are out, there is a possibility we see some run from Wenyen Gabriel, who was recently picked up through a 10-day contract by Brooklyn.

Mavericks @ Jazz – 10:30pm | ESPN

Kentucky players in: Willie Cauley Stein (DAL), Brandon Knight (DAL)

The Christmas nightcap unfortunately won’t include Luka Doncic for the Dallas Mavericks. It will, however, feature Willie Cauley-Stein and maybe some sneaky minutes from Brandon Knight, who was picked up by the Mavs earlier this week. On Thursday, he actually played in his first NBA games since March 11, 2020.

Without Doncic, this game loses its luster a bit. The Utah Jazz are insanely good right now at 22-9 and should be considered one of the NBA Finals favorites, but they don’t hold the weight of the other teams playing. This might be the game to have on while nodding off for the night.

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Christmas Day NBA games are my favorite of the entire season. COVID-19 is doing its best to slow down what is always an exciting day, but the show will go on and there is plenty of BBNBA action to indulge in.