Each NBA contender's Christmas

With Christmas just around the corner, we here at CommRadio are thinking about the presents NBA contenders want to see under their Christmas tree this year. Will it be the final piece to a championship roster or a lump of coal for the pretenders?

Boston Celtics

First up, is the reigning champions Boston Celtics. It has already been a pretty great season for the Celtics, they are looking poised for another playoff run, but coach Mazulla would enjoy a big for Christmas.

The Celtics major defense this season has been close to the basket and if they brought in a defensive big it would work well with the spacing they already have.

Cleveland Cavaliers

The Cleveland Cavaliers have had the perfect start to this season, for Christmas they would have hoped for the No. 1 seed but since they have it their hope has to be to just not wake up from the dream they are living.

They have been successful because of their core staying healthy, all missing no more than one game.

Dallas Mavericks

The Mavericks have had an alright start to the season, sitting fourth in a very contentious West around Christmas is not a bad position. The Mavericks just need to continue to build momentum and they will do that through hitting their free throws.

Luka Doncic shooting just under 80% from a “charity stripe” is disappointing for a team trying to win now. If they don’t make the easy points they won’t get the tough wins.

Houston Rockets

The Rockets have turned their rebuild around in a hurry, already a top-three seed after having selected third overall just a few months ago.

Their problem is simply scoring, they don’t have any real bucket-getting players so if Santa could leave a scorer for Houston then this team could start wishing for the NBA Finals

Orlando Magic

Last week, I wrote about how the Orlando Magic could make a playoff run, since then Franz Wagner has torn his right oblique, just like Paolo Banchero.

So, there is one wish Orlando has this Christmas, it isn’t to add anyone, it’s to just get Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner healthy.

Oklahoma City Thunder

The Oklahoma City Thunder have maintained the No. 1 spot despite the lack of frontcourt players, and similarly to the Orlando Magic, they want to get healthy.

Chet Holmgren, Jaylin Williams, Isaiah Hartenstein, and Kenrich Williams have all missed time, with Holmgren fracturing his hip.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams have kept the Thunder more than afloat but Holmgren with All-NBA and Defensive Player of the Year upside would have a huge impact on boosting an already all-time great OKC defense.

There are plenty of letters being written from general managers across the NBA to Santa Claus hoping for players and picks this Christmas all to make the perfect playoff run to raise the Larry O’Brien Trophy.

We’ll just have to see who has been naughty and who has been nice. Thank you all, and have a merry Christmas.

Massimo Manfra is a first-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email mgm6116@psu.edu.