Best Christmas Performances (Individual & Team)
Posted by Neil Paine on December 24, 2010
In honor of the Christmas Day games tomorrow, here are some great Christmas performances from the past. First, the best individual games (from 1986-2009) according to "APMVAL", the adjusted plus/minus-based game score metric I introduced here:
| Player | Date | Tm | Op | GS | MP | FG | FGA | 3M | 3A | FT | FTA | TS% | OR | TR | AS | ST | BK | TO | PF | PT | VAL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| D. Wade | 12/25/2006 | MIA | LAL | 1 | 41.3 | 12 | 20 | 1 | 1 | 15 | 16 | 74.0 | 0 | 4 | 11 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 40 | 1330 |
| T. McGrady | 12/25/2003 | ORL | CLE | 1 | 50.0 | 15 | 29 | 5 | 9 | 6 | 9 | 62.2 | 2 | 8 | 11 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 41 | 1233 |
| S. Webb | 12/25/1989 | ATL | CLE | 1 | 43.0 | 12 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 87.4 | 1 | 6 | 12 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 26 | 1116 |
| D. Nowitzki | 12/25/2003 | DAL | SAC | 1 | 47.0 | 9 | 22 | 3 | 6 | 10 | 10 | 58.7 | 1 | 14 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 31 | 1056 |
| T. McGrady | 12/25/2002 | ORL | DET | 1 | 44.0 | 14 | 26 | 0 | 3 | 18 | 21 | 65.3 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 46 | 1038 |
| A. Johnson | 12/25/1995 | SAS | PHO | 1 | 44.0 | 7 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 6 | 48.4 | 1 | 4 | 12 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 888 |
| M. Malone | 12/25/1986 | WSB | PHI | 1 | 41.0 | 11 | 28 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 10 | 43.2 | 10 | 21 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 28 | 877 |
| B. Roy | 12/25/2009 | POR | DEN | 1 | 43.4 | 16 | 26 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 71.6 | 2 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 41 | 876 |
| A. Stoudemire | 12/25/2009 | PHO | LAC | 1 | 32.1 | 10 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 7 | 71.9 | 5 | 9 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 26 | 857 |
| S. Elliott | 12/25/1992 | SAS | LAC | 1 | 43.0 | 11 | 14 | 1 | 3 | 9 | 13 | 81.1 | 0 | 3 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 32 | 852 |
| S. Pippen | 12/25/1991 | CHI | BOS | 1 | 34.0 | 9 | 18 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 10 | 60.3 | 0 | 4 | 8 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 27 | 842 |
| D. Armstrong | 12/25/2002 | ORL | DET | 0 | 27.0 | 3 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 58.1 | 2 | 6 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 840 |
| S. Nash | 12/25/2007 | PHO | LAL | 1 | 36.2 | 8 | 18 | 5 | 10 | 3 | 4 | 60.7 | 0 | 2 | 14 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 24 | 837 |
| M. Jordan | 12/25/1990 | CHI | DET | 1 | 43.0 | 14 | 23 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 10 | 67.5 | 3 | 8 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 37 | 818 |
| D. Wilkins | 12/25/1987 | ATL | PHI | 1 | 41.0 | 17 | 28 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 12 | 67.6 | 2 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 45 | 809 |
| Player | Date | Tm | Opp | GS | MP | FG | FGA | 3M | 3A | FT | FTA | TS% | OR | TR | AS | ST | BK | TO | PF | PT | VAL |
| E. Jones | 12/25/1996 | LAL | PHO | 1 | 34.0 | 9 | 16 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 6 | 64.4 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 24 | 808 |
| C. Barkley | 12/25/1993 | PHO | HOU | 1 | 47.0 | 15 | 27 | 1 | 4 | 7 | 9 | 61.4 | 2 | 18 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 38 | 805 |
| M. Williams | 12/25/2009 | CLE | LAL | 1 | 39.2 | 8 | 13 | 3 | 3 | 9 | 10 | 80.5 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 28 | 782 |
| T. Parker | 12/25/2008 | SAS | PHO | 1 | 35.2 | 10 | 23 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 7 | 51.8 | 0 | 3 | 8 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 27 | 772 |
| J. Hornacek | 12/25/1997 | UTA | HOU | 1 | 39.0 | 7 | 13 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 72.0 | 1 | 3 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 20 | 768 |
| D. Stoudamire | 12/25/2000 | POR | LAL | 1 | 40.0 | 8 | 15 | 1 | 3 | 10 | 13 | 65.2 | 2 | 9 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 27 | 763 |
| S. Pippen | 12/25/1996 | CHI | DET | 1 | 41.0 | 11 | 25 | 5 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 54.0 | 3 | 8 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 27 | 758 |
| K. Garnett | 12/25/2008 | BOS | LAL | 1 | 37.3 | 11 | 14 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 78.6 | 0 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 22 | 757 |
| T. McGrady | 12/25/2000 | ORL | IND | 1 | 44.0 | 13 | 31 | 2 | 4 | 15 | 19 | 54.6 | 2 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 43 | 753 |
| S. Pippen | 12/25/1994 | CHI | NYK | 1 | 53.0 | 11 | 28 | 3 | 10 | 11 | 17 | 50.7 | 0 | 16 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 36 | 742 |
| M. Jackson | 12/25/2001 | NYK | TOR | 1 | 34.0 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 6 | 85.1 | 0 | 9 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 13 | 729 |
| M. Cheeks | 12/25/1987 | PHI | ATL | 1 | 40.0 | 7 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 83.6 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 18 | 727 |
| D. Wade | 12/25/2009 | MIA | NYK | 1 | 38.2 | 11 | 21 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 8 | 61.2 | 1 | 9 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 30 | 714 |
| R. Butler | 12/25/2009 | LAC | PHO | 1 | 33.3 | 9 | 16 | 2 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 65.2 | 3 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 709 |
| S. O'Neal | 12/25/2002 | LAL | SAC | 1 | 41.0 | 8 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 16 | 51.8 | 8 | 17 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 27 | 694 |
And for fans of John Hollinger's game score, here are the best Christmas performances according to that metric since 1986:
| Player | Date | Tm | Opp | GS | MP | FG | FGA | 3M | 3A | FT | FTA | TS% | OR | TR | AS | ST | BK | TO | PF | PT | GSc |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| D. Wade | 12/25/2006 | MIA | LAL | 1 | 41.3 | 12 | 20 | 1 | 1 | 15 | 16 | 74.0 | 0 | 4 | 11 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 40 | 41.3 |
| T. McGrady | 12/25/2003 | ORL | CLE | 1 | 50.0 | 15 | 29 | 5 | 9 | 6 | 9 | 62.2 | 2 | 8 | 11 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 41 | 37.7 |
| T. McGrady | 12/25/2002 | ORL | DET | 1 | 44.0 | 14 | 26 | 0 | 3 | 18 | 21 | 65.3 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 46 | 36.3 |
| D. Wilkins | 12/25/1987 | ATL | PHI | 1 | 41.0 | 17 | 28 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 12 | 67.6 | 2 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 45 | 33.6 |
| B. Roy | 12/25/2009 | POR | DEN | 1 | 43.4 | 16 | 26 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 71.6 | 2 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 41 | 32.4 |
| S. Webb | 12/25/1989 | ATL | CLE | 1 | 43.0 | 12 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 87.4 | 1 | 6 | 12 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 26 | 31.9 |
| M. Jordan | 12/25/1990 | CHI | DET | 1 | 43.0 | 14 | 23 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 10 | 67.5 | 3 | 8 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 37 | 30.8 |
| D. Nowitzki | 12/25/2003 | DAL | SAC | 1 | 47.0 | 9 | 22 | 3 | 6 | 10 | 10 | 58.7 | 1 | 14 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 31 | 30.8 |
| C. Barkley | 12/25/1993 | PHO | HOU | 1 | 47.0 | 15 | 27 | 1 | 4 | 7 | 9 | 61.4 | 2 | 18 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 38 | 30.2 |
| T. McGrady | 12/25/2000 | ORL | IND | 1 | 44.0 | 13 | 31 | 2 | 4 | 15 | 19 | 54.6 | 2 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 43 | 29.7 |
| S. Elliott | 12/25/1992 | SAS | LAC | 1 | 43.0 | 11 | 14 | 1 | 3 | 9 | 13 | 81.1 | 0 | 3 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 32 | 29.1 |
| A. Bynum | 12/25/2007 | LAL | PHO | 1 | 42.0 | 11 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 8 | 84.7 | 8 | 12 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 28 | 28.5 |
| K. Bryant | 12/25/2007 | LAL | PHO | 1 | 41.3 | 12 | 20 | 1 | 3 | 13 | 14 | 72.6 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 4 | 38 | 28.0 |
| M. Malone | 12/25/1986 | WSB | PHI | 1 | 41.0 | 11 | 28 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 10 | 43.2 | 10 | 21 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 28 | 27.9 |
| K. Johnson | 12/25/1993 | PHO | HOU | 1 | 45.0 | 14 | 24 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 10 | 63.4 | 0 | 3 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 36 | 27.6 |
| Player | Date | Tm | Opp | GS | MP | FG | FGA | 3M | 3A | FT | FTA | TS% | OR | TR | AS | ST | BK | TO | PF | PT | GSc |
| M. Jordan | 12/25/1992 | CHI | NYK | 1 | 41.0 | 15 | 34 | 0 | 4 | 12 | 16 | 51.2 | 0 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 42 | 27.4 |
| A. Stoudemire | 12/25/2009 | PHO | LAC | 1 | 32.1 | 10 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 7 | 71.9 | 5 | 9 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 26 | 27.4 |
| D. Stoudamire | 12/25/2000 | POR | LAL | 1 | 40.0 | 8 | 15 | 1 | 3 | 10 | 13 | 65.2 | 2 | 9 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 27 | 26.7 |
| M. Williams | 12/25/2009 | CLE | LAL | 1 | 39.2 | 8 | 13 | 3 | 3 | 9 | 10 | 80.5 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 28 | 26.5 |
| S. O'Neal | 12/25/2002 | LAL | SAC | 1 | 41.0 | 8 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 16 | 51.8 | 8 | 17 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 27 | 26.4 |
| S. Pippen | 12/25/1994 | CHI | NYK | 1 | 53.0 | 11 | 28 | 3 | 10 | 11 | 17 | 50.7 | 0 | 16 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 36 | 26.1 |
| S. Pippen | 12/25/1991 | CHI | BOS | 1 | 34.0 | 9 | 18 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 10 | 60.3 | 0 | 4 | 8 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 27 | 26.0 |
| D. Wade | 12/25/2009 | MIA | NYK | 1 | 38.2 | 11 | 21 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 8 | 61.2 | 1 | 9 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 30 | 25.1 |
| S. Nash | 12/25/2007 | PHO | LAL | 1 | 36.2 | 8 | 18 | 5 | 10 | 3 | 4 | 60.7 | 0 | 2 | 14 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 24 | 24.9 |
| S. O'Neal | 12/25/1999 | LAL | SAS | 1 | 38.0 | 13 | 22 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 12 | 58.7 | 3 | 11 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 32 | 24.8 |
| C. Anthony | 12/25/2009 | DEN | POR | 1 | 39.8 | 11 | 23 | 1 | 2 | 9 | 10 | 58.4 | 4 | 9 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 32 | 24.4 |
| S. Pippen | 12/25/1996 | CHI | DET | 1 | 41.0 | 11 | 25 | 5 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 54.0 | 3 | 8 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 27 | 24.3 |
| C. Barkley | 12/25/1995 | PHO | SAS | 1 | 45.0 | 9 | 22 | 1 | 5 | 10 | 12 | 53.2 | 3 | 15 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 29 | 24.1 |
| H. Olajuwon | 12/25/1995 | HOU | ORL | 1 | 42.0 | 12 | 26 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 52.4 | 4 | 12 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 30 | 24.1 |
| T. Parker | 12/25/2008 | SAS | PHO | 1 | 35.2 | 10 | 23 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 7 | 51.8 | 0 | 3 | 8 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 27 | 23.9 |
Finally, let's look at the best team performances on Christmas, according to point differential above average (calculated by comparing the team's margin of victory to the opponent's Simple Rating):
| Season | Lg | Date | Team | SRS | Pts | Opp | SRS | Pts | Margin | Mgn vs. Avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1961 | NBA | 12/25/1960 | SYR | 1.92 | 162 | NYK | -5.44 | 100 | 62 | +56.57 |
| 1974 | NBA | 12/25/1973 | PHO | -3.20 | 135 | LAL | 0.85 | 100 | 35 | +35.85 |
| 2003 | NBA | 12/25/2002 | NJN | 4.42 | 117 | BOS | -0.75 | 81 | 36 | +35.26 |
| 1954 | NBA | 12/25/1953 | FTW | 1.44 | 108 | BOS | 1.97 | 79 | 29 | +30.97 |
| 1972 | NBA | 12/25/1971 | PHO | 5.57 | 116 | SEA | 0.86 | 86 | 30 | +30.86 |
| 1980 | NBA | 12/25/1979 | NYK | -0.96 | 131 | NJN | -0.98 | 102 | 29 | +28.02 |
| 1972 | NBA | 12/25/1971 | NYK | 2.28 | 114 | GSW | 0.92 | 89 | 25 | +25.92 |
| 1992 | NBA | 12/25/1991 | CHI | 10.07 | 121 | BOS | 3.42 | 99 | 22 | +25.42 |
| 2010 | NBA | 12/25/2009 | PHO | 4.68 | 124 | LAC | -6.01 | 93 | 31 | +24.99 |
| 1994 | NBA | 12/25/1993 | PHO | 4.68 | 111 | HOU | 4.19 | 91 | 20 | +24.19 |
| 1972 | ABA | 12/25/1971 | UTS | 5.16 | 150 | INA | 2.72 | 129 | 21 | +23.72 |
| 1984 | NBA | 12/25/1983 | POR | 3.13 | 141 | LAL | 3.32 | 121 | 20 | +23.32 |
| 1981 | NBA | 12/25/1980 | PHO | 4.83 | 131 | SAS | 2.18 | 111 | 20 | +22.18 |
| 2006 | NBA | 12/25/2005 | DET | 6.23 | 85 | SAS | 6.69 | 70 | 15 | +21.69 |
| 1971 | NBA | 12/25/1970 | BAL | 0.91 | 128 | CHI | 5.47 | 112 | 16 | +21.47 |
| Season | Lg | Date | Team | SRS | Pts | Opp | SRS | Pts | Margin | Mgn vs. Avg |
| 2009 | NBA | 12/25/2008 | ORL | 6.49 | 88 | NOH | 1.41 | 68 | 20 | +21.41 |
| 1997 | NBA | 12/25/1996 | LAL | 3.66 | 108 | PHO | 0.21 | 87 | 21 | +21.21 |
| 1989 | NBA | 12/25/1988 | UTA | 4.02 | 101 | LAL | 6.38 | 87 | 14 | +20.38 |
| 2010 | NBA | 12/25/2009 | CLE | 6.17 | 102 | LAL | 4.78 | 87 | 15 | +19.78 |
| 1948 | BAA | 12/25/1947 | BLB | 3.70 | 87 | CHS | 2.66 | 70 | 17 | +19.66 |
| 1977 | NBA | 12/25/1976 | PHO | 0.64 | 113 | LAL | 2.65 | 96 | 17 | +19.65 |
| 1975 | NBA | 12/25/1974 | PHO | -2.35 | 110 | BOS | 5.41 | 96 | 14 | +19.41 |
| 1962 | NBA | 12/25/1961 | CHP | -7.54 | 118 | DET | -1.72 | 97 | 21 | +19.28 |
| 1948 | BAA | 12/25/1947 | WSC | 2.57 | 73 | STB | 2.13 | 56 | 17 | +19.13 |
| 1977 | NBA | 12/25/1976 | WSB | 0.90 | 117 | CLE | 1.08 | 99 | 18 | +19.08 |
| 1986 | NBA | 12/25/1985 | NYK | -4.82 | 113 | BOS | 9.06 | 104 | 9 | +18.06 |
| 1993 | NBA | 12/25/1992 | CHI | 6.19 | 89 | NYK | 5.87 | 77 | 12 | +17.87 |
| 1980 | NBA | 12/25/1979 | POR | -0.87 | 113 | GSW | -4.20 | 91 | 22 | +17.80 |
| 1966 | NBA | 12/25/1965 | STL | -0.50 | 131 | NYK | -2.31 | 111 | 20 | +17.69 |
| 1997 | NBA | 12/25/1996 | CHI | 10.70 | 95 | DET | 5.45 | 83 | 12 | +17.45 |
December 24th, 2010 at 12:20 pm
So Armstrong puts up 8 points and 7 dimes in 27 minutes with a 58% TS and that's better than Nash's 24 and 14 in 37 minutes with a 61% TS? I don't understand math.
December 24th, 2010 at 1:47 pm
I'm not saying I agree with it, but plus/minus loves versatility (i.e., good numbers in many categories), really loves steals, and hates turnovers. Armstrong had 6 rebounds, 7 assists, 5 steals, & 2 blocks, shot a good %, and had 0 turnovers. Nash had the 24 pts and 14 dimes with the strong shooting %, but he had fewer rebounds, steals, & blocks with more turnovers. Again, not saying I agree, but that's the formula.
December 24th, 2010 at 1:55 pm
Neil--have you seen the latest iteration of my single-game ASPM? It's set up now so that it does not require any information outside of the game but the league averages that year and the team ratings in the game (for SoS adjustent).
It's in my spreadsheet here: (see the lower post) http://sonicscentral.com/apbrmetrics/viewtopic.php?p=32890#32890
I'm still working on revising and finalizing the whole spreadsheet--you broke several pieces by adding columns to the advanced team stats here! (I'll fix that soon.)
December 25th, 2010 at 7:03 pm
Best Christmas game in history is probably Bernard King's 60 point game from 1984, Knicks vs. Nets.
December 25th, 2010 at 7:09 pm
For anyone who wants to do the math, here is Bernard King's complete line:
41 minutes
19-30 fg
0-0 3pt
22-26 ft
2 offensive rebounds
5 defensive rebounds
7 total rebounds
4 assists
0 steals
0 blocks
5 turnovers
2 fouls
60 points
Happy holidays!
December 25th, 2010 at 8:38 pm
Bron should get into the list after this year's performance. 27 points, 11 rebounds (1 off), 10 assists, 4 steals, 8-14 FG, 5-6 3PFG, 6-6 FT, 1 TO.
December 26th, 2010 at 10:24 am
Of course two of McGrady's performances from when he was just other-worldly are near the top of the lists.
December 27th, 2010 at 8:54 am
Where would Durants game be on this list?
December 27th, 2010 at 11:57 am
Here were the Christmas 2010 games that made the lists, plus Bernard King's 1984 performance: