Thunderous Intentions
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OKC Thunder Christmas Day Round Table – memories, gifts and resolutions

By Tamberlyn Richardson

Dec 24, 2016; Cocoa Beach, FL, USA; Thousands turn out on Christmas Eve morning in Cocoa Beach to watch hundreds of surfing Santas hit the waves. The event started eight years ago when George Trosset went surfing in a Santa suit with his son and daughter-in-law. The event has ballooned into a major Christmas event supporting Grind for Life and the Surf Museum. Mandatory Credit: Malcolm Denemark/Florida Today via USA TODAY NETWORK
Dec 24, 2016; Cocoa Beach, FL, USA; Thousands turn out on Christmas Eve morning in Cocoa Beach to watch hundreds of surfing Santas hit the waves. The event started eight years ago when George Trosset went surfing in a Santa suit with his son and daughter-in-law. The event has ballooned into a major Christmas event supporting Grind for Life and the Surf Museum. Mandatory Credit: Malcolm Denemark/Florida Today via USA TODAY NETWORK /
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Dec 23, 2016; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Toronto Raptors guard Kyle Lowry (7) is congratulated by teammate guard DeMar DeRozan (10) after a basket in the fourth quarter against the Utah Jazz at Vivint Smart Home Arena. The Toronto Raptors defeated the Utah Jazz 104-98. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Swinger-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 23, 2016; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Toronto Raptors guard Kyle Lowry (7) is congratulated by teammate guard DeMar DeRozan (10) after a basket in the fourth quarter against the Utah Jazz at Vivint Smart Home Arena. The Toronto Raptors defeated the Utah Jazz 104-98. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Swinger-USA TODAY Sports /

If you could add two teams to the Christmas Day schedule who would they be?

Surprisingly there wasn’t much variety among the scribes on which teams should be playing with the Raptors, Rockets, and Bucks getting the most love. As you’ll note at the end, this Canadian had a fairly strong opinion on the matter!

Casimir Cuffy: I would add the Houston Rockets and the Toronto Raptors to the Christmas day schedule. Those two teams tote two of the best shooting guards in the game. I also believe the Rockets got snubbed from a Christmas day game this year and should definitely be in over the Timberwolves, but I digress.

Tony Heim: Bucks vs. Sixers. I’m an NBA nerd and I choose to watch the young up-and-comers over the established teams every time. Giannis vs. Embiid? Sign me up 365 days of the year.

Cole Hixon: Rockets and Raptors because those are the 2 best teams not already playing and I just like watching good match ups.

Jeremy Lambert: Utah vs. Milwaukee. It’s not a marquee match-up, but it’s two well-rounded teams with a lot of young talent.

Eric Snyder: Pelicans vs T-Wolves because the world needs to see more of Anthony Davis and Karl Anthony-Towns. Both teams are struggling but over the next decade, Towns and Davis are going to rule the NBA.

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Joshua Lea: Probably Houston versus Portland or something along that vibe. I like watching Portland this year, I feel like their one or two players away from contending for a ring. Houston is fun to watch if you enjoy lots of offense.

Heather Koontz: I’d love to see a Rockets/Hawks match-up. I actually used to like the Rockets, and it was mainly because of Dwight Howard. I once met the entire team at an OKC Blue game, and Howard was seriously the nicest celebrity I’ve ever encountered. The entire team was great (excluding James Harden, of course). Now that Howard is gone and Harden remains, I have no reason to like the Rockets. Santa, please bring them back together.

Chris Hughes: Probably the Houston Rockets for starters, because my favorite player outside of Oklahoma City is James Harden. And probably the Milwaukee Bucks because I like Antetokounmpo!

Rich Condon: Utah vs. Toronto. Both teams play beautiful basketball, Utah is on the rise, and the fact that Toronto as a top-5 team in the league has yet to play on Christmas is egregious to me.

Yaman Khabbaz: The Raptors and the Rockets, surely. I picked the Raptors because they are a pretty great team this year, and the rockets because they’ve finally found their way of play and have excelled at it thus far.

Tamberlyn Richardson:

In the history of Christmas games only 3 teams haven’t appeared: Minnesota Timberwolves (who’ll clear that hump today), Charlotte Hornets, and Memphis Grizzlies. Right behind them are the Toronto Raptors with one appearance back in 2001 no doubt due to Vince Carter’s popularity.

Here’s the thing, of last year’s Conference Finalists the Toronto Raptors are the only team not playing today.  They’ve improved every season for the past 5 years, have the top ranked offense (ahead of last years finalists), the third best NBA road record, and 2 All-Star, Olympic guards who provide ample highlights worthy of National T.V.

Instead they had to fly to Utah for one game, return home and return back to the road for dates in Portland, Golden State, Phoenix, L.A. (Lakers) and Spurs. Then they return home to face the Jazz again. That’s 15,000 kilometers and leaves them with only 4 road games remaining out West. Meanwhile the Cavaliers have played one (yes ONE road game in the West – the infamous Grizzlies game where Cleveland’s big 3 stayed home).  So, I’m just not sure exactly what the Raptors have to do to garner the Association’s respect.

Instead today features 4 teams who didn’t make the 2015-16 playoffs and of course the typical Lakers, Knicks games featuring their 42nd and 50th Christmas appearances respectively.

Don’t get me wrong I completely understand why Cleveland, Golden State, San Antonio, the Clippers and OKC Thunder make the cut.  And, I’m thrilled Minnesota is in the line-up. But, would it hurt the powers that be to change the rules so that a Conference Finals berth earns you a Christmas appearance the following season?

Suffice to say I was hoping for a Raptors appearance against a team featuring one of the many Canadian talents in the league: Andrew Wiggins (Wolves), Trey Lyles (Jazz), Jamal Murray (Nuggets), Kelly Olynyk (Celtics), Tristan Thompson (Cavaliers), Tyler Ennis (Rockets) etc.  Okay, rant over.

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