With the NBA gearing up for the holidays, teams across the league are making their preparations for Christmas Day. While most will be able to spend the entire day with their families and loved ones, there are a select few who will be presenting fans with a gift of their own by suiting up to play.
Per usual, only the elite teams with the most intriguing matchups tend to be scheduled to play. That said, Toronto Raptors star shooting guard DeMar DeRozan was not too happy about his squad being snubbed from the holiday festivities once again, according to The Undefeated's Marc J. Spears:
Article Continues Below“We've won. We've been one of the best in the league the past few years. To not get that look is definitely crazy. … There is really no excuse,” DeRozan said. “We've proven we are a top team in the league for a reason.”
While it may seem like DeRozan is being a bit of a holiday humbug, the three-time All-Star does make a point. The Raptors have been among the elite teams in the Eastern Conference for some time now thanks to their star backcourt pairing of DeRozan and point guard Kyle Lowry. Furthermore, they currently own the fourth-best record in the league at 22-8.
However, the Raptors have been unable to make Santa's NBA Christmas list since 2001 when the legendary Vince Carter was still in Toronto. That said, perhaps avoiding another sweep in the Conference semifinals could help their case for next year's bid.