(Image courtesy Charlotte Bobcats on Instagram)
While I was bummed to realize earlier this week that we wouldn't be spoiled with a usual Thursday night TNT doubleheader and all that comes with it because of Thanksgiving Day in the U.S., the truth is that it's a nice break for the players, media and even fans a month into the season.
I know these guys are getting paid millions of dollars to entertain the masses, but we're talking about a league that plays on Christmas Day - and in fact makes Christmas Day one of its marquee events - and keeps us and our families entertained on Christmas while we get to enjoy each other's company and they often don't. Giving them a day off to perhaps share time with their own families or just to gather round the table at a teammate's house is a nice reprieve, even if it means no Charles Barkley complaining about Blake Griffin or no Shaq complaining about Dwight Howard for a week (Did you know that neither player has a post game?).
For basketball fans, the day off means one Thursday night during the fall/winter/spring where you're not glued to a couple of games on tv (that's what football is for on Thanksgiving Thursday), and I suppose that might be a healthy break as well. For the media, the short break is a chance to recharge the batteries for the next 25 days ahead of the annual Christmas Eve night off. The stories and photos from team Thanksgiving dinners also give us the chance to get a little more creative with content, as Blake Murphy can attest with his hilarious take on a Raptors Thanksgiving gathering and feast.
So there'll be no complaints here that we had to go one night without NBA ball, so long as all that tryptophan doesn't take away from Friday night's games.
About last night...
There's nothing to report, as the NBA took Thanksgiving Day off.
On tap tonight: We've got 13 games on the go tonight, headlined by the Warriors in Oklahoma City (remember the last time these two teams met?), the Mavericks in Atlanta, the Nets in Houston and the Knicks in Denver.
Kidd fined: The NBA came down hard on Jason Kidd for his little spillage, fining him $50,000 for the hilarious way he went about getting his team an extra timeout, if you will. The size of the fine is a little harsh (it's the largest since Roy Hibbert was fined $75K last June), but I don't blame the Association for taking action. As funny as the whole thing was, and as much as I'm on board with coaches thinking on their feet to give their team an edge, the league still had to do something, especially with the evidence ("hit me") available. We'll never forget though, Jason.
Cuban on Dirk's future: Mark Cuban confirmed that he wants Dirk Nowitzki to retire a Mavericks, saying "we're going to do all we can to keep him forever." Nowitzki can become an unrestricted free agent after this season, and while he won't command the $22,721,381 he's making this year, the Mavs will still have to pay the NBA's 14th all-time leading scorer a handsome sum to keep him in Dallas beyond their 16th season together. For the record, the Mavs have nearly $30 million in cap space without Dirk on the books this coming summer.
Best basketball fan journey ever? If you haven't gotten a chance yet, check out our latest Points In the Paint podcast from yesterday (and subscribe on iTunes!), as I had a chance to catch up with Peter Robert Casey, the basketball superfan currently embarking on a 29 arenas in 30 nights tour of the NBA. He's got some awesome stories, including witnessing that epic Warriors/Thunder finish from earlier this year courtside...with the Warriors owner.
