Nothing says Christmas quite like basketball — at least, that’s been the case since 1947. In addition to stockings, eggnog, and general yuletide cheer, each Christmas Day brings about an annual lineup of basketball games featuring the National Basketball Association’s best of the best, and it’s become a time- honored tradition. Merry Hoopsmas! Why Basketball Is a Christmas Staple
But where in the North Pole did this idea come from?
While it’s hard to pinpoint an exact reason, the NBA has hosted Christmas Day games since 1947, when the New York Knicks beat the Providence Steamrollers 89–75. For decades, teams across the league would play their regional rivals on Dec. 25, ensuring the basketball season moved forward and players didn’t have to travel too far from their families. That looks different today. In contrast to the National Football League’s Thanksgiving Day games, where the Detroit Lions and the Dallas Cowboys always play, Christmas Day is now reserved for the NBA’s top teams. In many ways, this is a marketing ploy designed to heighten NBA viewership on a day when few other sports host games, and by using their best teams, the NBA can ensure viewers are treated to great games. However, for loyal fans and viewers, the tradition has sparked a few great moments, including the following greatest games, statistics, and achievements — plus a potential record to watch for this year. • Kings of Christmas Day: Since their initial 1947 debut, the New York Knicks have gone on to play the most holiday games of any other NBA team. They have 22 wins and 31 losses, giving them the most losses on Christmas Day. (Until recently, they had the most wins, too, but the Los Angeles Lakers now hold that title.) • Point Pros: This year could be a historic one for the NBA. LeBron James is slated to surpass the late Kobe Bryant for the most points scored on Christmas Day. James just needs 13 points to outpace Bryant when the Lakers host the Brooklyn Nets this year. However, the title for most points scored on a single Christmas Day game goes to Bernard King of the Knicks, who scored 60 points in a 1984 loss to the then-New Jersey Nets. You can catch all five Christmas Day games on ESPN and ABC this Christmas Day!
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4. It’s easy to forget that the air quality in our home isn’t just magically clean! Dust, contaminants, and allergens can easily circulate in your home. Luckily, your furnace filter is your first line of defense — but it won’t clean your home’s air if you don’t replace it often. A dirty filter can even cause expensive utility bills and damage your HVAC equipment. UNDERSTAND THE TRUTH ABOUT FURNACE FILTERS. Furnace filters are designed to trap airborne contaminants to prevent them from entering your heating and cooling system! So, when you forget to change your filter, the delicate components of your heating and cooling equipment suffer. For example, imagine your filter is dirty and clogged. Your HVAC system might continue to run, but air won’t circulate properly. Your system has to expend more energy to operate, and you’ll probably turn up the heat because it’s not working as efficiently. Your equipment is working twice as hard for half the result. Many other problems can occur when furnace filters aren’t changed, including “short-cycling” your HVAC equipment. Dust-heavy filters can cause your equipment to run at a higher temperature, and it might overheat and shut off. Even though it might cool down and start up again, the cycle will continue in the same short bursts, thus “short-cycling.” CHANGE THE FILTER REGULARLY. This varies from home to home. With more people living in the house, especially those with allergies, and a few furry friends, you may want to consider replacing your filter more often. However, a great way to determine how often to change it is to look at what type of filter you have, categorized by thickness: Wait, Why Do I Need to Replace My Furnace Filter? Read This, and You Won’t Forget
For 1–2-inch filters, replace them every 1–3 months.
For 3–4-inch filters, replace them every 6–9 months.
For 5–6-inch filters, replace them every 9–12 months.
If you need more help, try calling your local HVAC professional and get their opinion! They may even give you further information and insights about keeping your home’s air quality healthy.
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