NBA fans all over the globe are patiently waiting for the Battle in the Golden State, featuring the Los Angeles Lakers at the Warrior’s Oracle Arena.
If there is anything NBA fans are excited about this month, it has to be the Christmas Day game. It is the first time in the last few years that the two teams face each other on Christmas Day. For the previous three consecutive years, 2015-2017, the games have been against the Golden State Warriors vs. LeBron James’s Cavaliers. But, this year, since LeBron has joined the Los Angeles Lakers during his free agency, the game will feature the Warriors vs. the Lakers. The teams have not faced each other on Christmas Day in this decade, but this will change.
For two out of those three years, and most of the other games, the Warriors have easily secured a victory. But the question is… Will LeBron and his new teammates, the Lakers, be able to outscore the reigning champions? This game will be LeBron’s first game against the champions in this season, although they will face again on Jan. 21 at Los Angeles, Feb. 2 at Golden State, and Apr. 4 at Los Angeles. Regardless of the fact that the two teams will face again, they are looking forward to it.
The price to get in starts at $280. The average ticket price for the game is the highest it has been in the entire decade, at a record high of $1292.
Why does this game mean a lot of basketball fans all over the world? That is because the world wants to see if LeBron can defeat the reigning, defending champions, the Golden State Warriors, with his new team. Will the Lakers capitalize a win? Or will the Warriors foreshadow what will happen in the finals, if they can pull an easy victory?
The Warriors’s starting five are Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Draymond Green, Kevon Looney, and Klay Thompson. Although Damarcus Cousins is also on the team, he hasn’t yet made his return from his Achilles injury yet. The man is expected to return soon though, although the Warriors head coach Steve Kerr says the team is in no rush to get him back. Kerr feels that his recovery is of much importance, and doesn’t want to hurry it. The Warriors team, who has taken the NBA to a whole another level, are confident that they can win.
The Lakers’s starting-five are LeBron James, Lonzo Ball, JaVale McGee, Kyle Kuzma, and Brandon Ingram. Using these five stars, a victory over the Warriors will be a great Christmas gift for head coach Luke Walton.
To conclude, the Warriors have home court advantage. They are 13-3 at Oracle Arena, their home court, which is the highest win-loss ratio for home games this season. The Lakers have a ratio of 7-9 for away games during this season. According to math, the Warriors will win. But, LeBron James, arguably the greatest player of all time, will not go away without a tough battle.
