Happy Holidays Hoopus

For the second consecutive season, the Timberwolves are playing on Christmas Day.

Growing up in New Hope, Minnesota, I remember wondering why the Wolves never played on Christmas. WHY DAD???? WHY?

My brother and I would usually start the morning playing the new video game we would get for Christmas and almost every year it would be the latest version of NBA. I still remember fighting with him over who would get to be the Houston Rockets in NBA Live 2002 because we both wanted to play with Steve Francis. (This year my brother was kind enough to give me NBA2K18.)

Year after year, I would always think “maybe next year,” the Wolves would play on Christmas but it never happened. Then last year it finally did, only it wasn’t exactly what I had hoped for all of those years; the Thunder and eventual MVP Russell Westbrook put them in their place, running through them 112-100 (it was never close).

Tonight, the Wolves get their second chance at winning on Christmas Day against the Lakers, who will be without rookie Lonzo Ball. (He is out with a left shoulder sprain and will be reevaluated in one week.) This time Jimmy Butler is part of the equation and I am thankful he’s a Wolf. I am also thankful the Wolves matter enough to be playing again today.

But I’ll leave the rest of the commentary on the team, and this game, for another post (and Twitter later). I want to take this time to say thank you.

Thanks to all of the loyal readers of Canis Hoopus, and thanks to the dedicated commentors that come back every single day to keep things interesting.

I truly appreciate all of the guys that help Eric and I keep this ship afloat; Josh Clement, Kyle Theige, Anthony Iverson, Tony Porter, Drew Mahowald, the Olstad brothers (Neil and Scott), Micah Vegter, and others.

There are five games on the schedule today so let’s enjoy some basketball! I’d recommend getting a little nap in at some point if you plan on making it through the Wolves/Lakers game starting at 9:30 CT tonight on TNT.

11:00 AM — PHI @ NY (ESPN)

2:00 PM — CLE @ GS (ABC)

4:30 PM — WSH @ BOS (ABC)

7:00 PM — HOU @ OKC (NBA)

9:30 — MIN @ LAL (TNT)

What are you looking forward to seeing today? LeBron flexing on the Warriors? Maybe a Kevin Love Christmas Day 30-30 special? The Battle of the Unicorns, Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid vs. Kristaps Porzingis? Kyrie vs. Wall? The Beard against his old club? Paul George and Russell Westbrook? Towns crushing the Lakers? Jimmy G. getting late night buckets?

It should be a wonderful day of basketball. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to everyone.

20-13...onward and upward. Playoffs here we come.

Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports