The Cleveland Cavaliers weren’t chosen to play on Christmas Day this season.
Truth be told, it’s easy to understand why.
As much as they have some great players, they no longer have players of LeBron James’ caliber and popularity.
They don’t play in a big market, and while they were a playoff-caliber team, they weren’t a top team in the Eastern Conference.
Notably, that last thing has changed.
Considering this, NBA analyst Tom Withers predicted that the Cavaliers would play on Christmas Day next season.
Betcha Cavs play on Christmas in '25.
— Tom Withers (@twithersAP) December 26, 2024
That should most definitely be the case.
We’re talking about a team that has lost just four games after one-quarter of the season.
The Cavaliers have beaten all kinds of things this season and have the best record in the entire Association.
Also, Darius Garland and Evan Mobley have made significant progress, so this team will likely have three All-Stars this season.
The league needs to do a better job of marketing their product.
That means showcasing the best teams regardless of where they play.
Instead, they chose to have two non-contending teams like the Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles Lakers, who both have flirted with .500 basketball all year, playing a primetime game.
Adam Silver needs to figure out how to bolster the ratings, and while the Cavaliers might not be the most popular team in the Association in the post-LeBron James era, the fans are showing that they want to watch a good product, not big-name teams.
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