>> ON TODAY'S SHOW, WE REVISIT
CHRISTMAS GAMES.
>> THE FIRST ALL-STAR BALLOTS
ARE IN.
WE WILL TELL YOU WHICH PLAYERS
DESERVE IT.
IT'S FRIDAY, DECEMBER 26.
THE STARTERS STARTS NOW.
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>> GOOD EVENING, SUITE WORLD.
WHETHER YOU'RE JOINING US LIVE
I'M J.E. SKEETS AND ALONGSIDE ME
AS ALWAYS IS TAS MELAS.
TO MY RIGHT, TREY KERBY.
AND FINALLY, THE INTERNATIONAL
MAN OF MYSTERY, LEIGH ELLIS.
A FUN SHOW FOR YOU TONIGHT.
IT THE WORST OF THE WEEK.
THE TOP 10 PLAYS OF THE LAST
SEVEN DAYS AND WE ARE ROCKING
THE UGLY NBA CHRISTMAS SWEATERS.
I AM THE ONE IDIOT THAT HAD THEM
MAKING THE PLAYOFFS THIS YEAR SO
I'M WEARING A KNICKS ONE.
>> THESE ARE TOO NICE TO BE
UGLY.
>> THIS IS A KID'S SIZE,
APPARENTLY.
I AM SURE YOU WATCHED A LOT OF
BASKETBALL YESTERDAY.
HOPEFULLY YOU ARE FEELING ALL
RIGHT TONIGHT.
A QUICK LOOK AT THE SCORES, THE
WIZARDS TAKING CARE OF THE 
KNICKS.
LSOOST 26 GAMES.
BULLS TAKING CARE OF THE LAKERS.
BEATING THE WARRIORS, THAT WAS A
LITTLE BIT OF A DISAPPOINTMENT.
IN THE END, THE CLIPS GET THE
WIN.
EVERYONE WATCHING, CHIME IN ON
TWITTER.
IT WAS YOUR BIG CHRISTMAS TAKE
AWAY FROM THOSE GAMES?
>> RUSSELL WESTBROOK AT THE
STATES TO HIMSELF WITHOUT KEVIN
DURANT AND HE CONTINUED HIS
M.V.P. SEASON.
A HUGE PERFORMANCE FOR THE
SPURS.
THERE ARE STILL DOUBTERS OUT
THERE THAT DOUBT HOW GOOD
RUSSELL WESTBROOK IS.
I LIKE THAT HE HAD THE STAGE TO
HIMSELF, THE NUMBERS ARE
RIDICULOUS.
34, 11 ASSISTS, FIVE BOARDS, AND
THIS MAN IS STILL ONLY SEVENTH
IN ALL-STAR VOTING FOR GUARDS IN
THE WESTERN CONFERENCE.
THE PEOPLE JUST DON'T APPRECIATE
HOW GOOD HE IS AND THE FACT THAT
HE IS GETTING BETTER AT 26 YEARS
OF AGE.
>> HE SEEMS LIKE THE BIGGEST
FORCE OF NATURE BECAUSE HE GRABS
A REBOUND AND TURNS AND THERE'S
NO WAY TO FIVE GUYS CAN STOP
HIM.
YOU NEED EVERYBODY ON YOUR
ROSTER.
HE GETS TO THE RIM WHEN HE
WANTS.
NOT ALWAYS A GREAT SHOT, BUT
STILL.
>> ON THE DEFENSIVE END, HE
HUSTLES EVERY SINGLE TIME AS
WELL.
HE'S TRYING TO GET THE STEAL AND
TRYING TO GET SOMETHING GOING.
YOU MIGHT THINK IT'S A LITTLE
BIT TOO MUCH BUT I THINK THAT'S
WHAT MAKES THEM SO GOOD.
-- MAKES HIM SO GOOD.
AND YESTERDAY, AGAINST THE SAN
ANTONIO SPURS, HE DESTROYED
THEM.
>> HE WAS DEFINITELY ATTACKING.
THE PLAYER EFFICIENCY RATING,
33.3 EFFICIENCY RATING.
IN FACT, HE'S ASSISTING ON OVER
HALF OF THE THUNDER'S MADE
BASKETS.
HE'S PUTTING UP CRAZY SCORING
NUMBERS.
NOT THAT I DIDN'T WANT KEVIN
DURANT TO NOT PLAY IN THE
CHRISTMAS DAY GAME, BUT YOU
THINK THAT MAYBE THE CASUAL FAN
WATCHING, THIS WESTBROOK GUY IS
PRETTY GOOD IT BASKETBALL.
HIS NARRATIVE IS TURNING A
LITTLE BIT.
HE HAS PROVEN THAT HE CAN CARRY
A TEAM.
>> YOU WILL BE ABLE TO SCORE AND
YOU WILL BE ABLE TO GET SHOTS.
JUST BECAUSE HE CREATES SO MUCH
ATTENTION THAT YOU HAVE TO FOCUS
ON HIM.
>> ANOTHER CHRISTMAS DAY TAKE
AWAY.
THE CLEVELAND CAVALIERS NEED
SOME HELP.
THEY ALREADY LOST TO THE MIAMI
HEAT.
BUT THE CAVS, WE WILL TALK ABOUT
THE INJURY THEY'VE SUFFERED OVER
THIS HOLIDAY BREAK.
THE HEAT, THERE IS NO ONE INSIDE
TO PREVENT GUYS FROM THAT.
>> WHEN THE GAME IS SUPPOSED TO
BE TIGHT, WE ARE WATCHING THE
POSSESSIONS WHERE THEY DON'T
DEFEND THE RIM WHATSOEVER.
THIS MIGHT EXPEDITE THE PROCESS
OF LOOKING BIG FOR THEM BECAUSE
THEY DESPERATELY NEED ONE TO
GUARD THE RIM.
KEVIN LOVE HAS NOT BE ABLE TO
GUARD ANYWHERE NEAR THE LEVEL
CHRIS WASHED IT WITH THE MIAMI
HEAT.
WE NEED A GUY BACK THERE TO
DEFEND THE RIM.
>> HE KNOWS THAT THEY SIGNED
CHRIS BERGMAN TO ATTEND DAY BACK
IN 2012.
>> ANDERSON, VAREJAO, TAS SAID
IT.
THEY CONFIRMED ON WEDNESDAY.
ON THE SHOW BEFORE, THEY TRY TO
MAKE A PLAY FOR IT.
A POSSIBILITY NOW WITH THE
CELTICS.
THAT ONE INTRIGUES ME.
>> I THINK HE WOULD BE A NICE
FIT BECAUSE HE CAN PLAY PICK AND
ROLL AND PLAY ABOVE THE RIM.
THAT THREAT OF ATHLETICISM, IT
WILL BE A HUGE PROBLEM WITHOUT
HAVING ANDERSON VAREJAO.
AND JUST THE PICK AND ROLL GAME
THEY CAN PLAY IS GOING TO BE
VITAL.
I WOULD LOVE TO SEE BRANDAN
WRIGHT.
>> DOES THAT MEAN THEY HAVE TO
GET A BACKUP DATE TO BE
CONSIDERED A CONTENDER?
>> I THINK SO.
AS YOU MENTIONED, TEAMS ARE
GOING TO ATTACK YOU IF YOU HAVE
A WEAKNESS.
AND THAT IS A GLARING WEAKNESS.
KEVIN LOVE IS A FANTASTIC
OFFENSIVE PLAYER BUT
DEFENSIVELY, HE CAN'T DO ENOUGH.
THAT PRICE NOW IS PROBABLY GOING
TO GO UP BECAUSE TEAMS KNOW THAT
THEY WILL TRY TO GET DRAFT PICKS
OR WHOEVER THEY CAN TO MAKE THE
CAVS PAY THE PRICE.
>> I DON'T THINK THERE IS
ANOTHER GOOD PROSPECT OTHER THAN
DION WAITERS.
IT WASN'T ALL SMILES.
QUINCY ACY GOT -- I DON'T KNOW
WHAT HE WAS DOING.
YOU ARE WEARING A COOL JERSEY.
WHY ARE YOU SO UPSET AFTER YOU
FOUL JOHN WALL? HE RECEIVED A
ONE-GAME FOR THAT SEMI-PUNCH.
THIS SCROOGE MOVE I LIKE A LOT.
THE LOS ANGELES CLIPPER OURS --
CLIPPERS ARE ADAMANT THAT THEY
DO NOT SHAKE THE HANDS OF THE
GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS.
YOU KNOW YOU HAVE TO TEACH THE
CAMES -- THE KIDS SPORTSMANSHIP.
PAU GASOL PLAYING HIS OLD TEAM
FOR THE FIRST TIME AFTER YEARS
AND YEARS OF TRADE RUMORS.
HE FINALLY MOVED ON TO THE
CHICAGO BULLS.
IS RESPECTED.
AND THEN THESE GUYS HAVING SOME
GREAT LAUGHS.
>> BEST FRIENDS FOREVER.
>> MARIO CHALMERS.
JUST LOVING LEBRON AT THE BENCH.
>> SOME PEOPLE ANGRY.
ANOTHER TAKE AWAY FROM THE
CHRISTMAS DAY GAMES.
MATT BONNER'S CHRISTMAS SHOES
GAVE HIM SPECIAL POWERS.
I HOPE YOU CAUGHT THIS.
A VERY RARE MATT BONNER
FASTBREAK.
HE DUMPED IT.
>> IS THIS THE YEAR THAT HE GETS
TWO DUNKS IN ONE SEASON?
>> WAS IT THE SHOES?
HE HAD ON THE SPECIAL CRAZY
CHRISTMAS KICKS WITH THE PLAID.
HIS UNBELIEVABLE.
THERE IS A CLOSER LOOK THERE.
>> THOSE SHOES WERE GREAT.
>> IN THE AGREE -- UGLY
CHRISTMAS SWEATERS, IT LOOKS
LIKE A PRESENCE.
>> ISN'T THAT MADE OF WRAPPING
PAPER?
>> THE NICE MICHAEL JACKSON
LOOK.
AND FINALLY, SHAQUILLE O'NEAL
LOST THE BATTLE ONCE AGAIN WITH
A CHRISTMAS TREE.
>> THE STRONG BASE TO THIS
CHRISTMAS TREE, IT REALLY IS
JUST BARELY.
>> HE'S DIVING INTO A CHRISTMAS
TREE.
A COUPLE YEARS AGO, YOU MIGHT
REMEMBER THAT THEY GOT HIM TO
WALK OVER.
THEY DROPPED A TREE ON HIM.
LOTS MORE STILL TO COME, THE
WORST OF THE WEEK HONORS.
AND THE TOP 10 PLAYS FROM THE
PAST SEVEN DAYS.
YOU ARE WATCHING "THE STARTERS."
>> WELCOME BACK TO THE STARTERS.
WE HAND OUT THE DISHONOR TO
SOMEONE THAT HAS DONE WRONG IN
THE EYES OF THE STARTERS.
IT IS TIME FOR THE WORST OF THE
WEEK.
THIS WEEK'S WORST IS RUSSELL
WESTBROOK.
FIRST, THE HAVE TO LET HIM BE
RUSS.
THE GOOD IS GAME CHANGING.
HE IS THAT INCREDIBLE.
HE CANNOT TAKE HIMSELF OUT OF
GAMES BECAUSE OF IT.
COMING OFF A LOSS, THE THUNDER
WERE UP DOUBLE DIGITS LATE ON
THE BLAZERS.
1:35 LEFT.
HE FELLS DAMIAN LILLARD, BUT HE
WANTS TO GIVE PORTLAND ONE MORE
POINT.
COMPLAINS, A SEVEN-POINT GAME.
WE ARE HEADED TO OT.
WE CALL THAT THE TURNING POINT.
RUSS FIRES AN AIR BALL AT A
THREE POINT ATTEMPT, HE WAS
FURIOUS.
IN FULL EFFECT, THE BLAZERS GET
OVER THE TIMELINE.
WESTBROOK HAMMERS LAMARCUS FOR
NO REASON.
HE WENT TO THE BENCH, HE KNEW
IT.
THE GAME WAS NOT OVER.
HALF THE LEAD OKC GAVE AWAY.
RUSSELL WESTBROOK, THE WORST OF
THE WEEK.
THIS TEAM HAS CHAMPIONSHIP
ASPIRATIONS.
THEY CAN JUST FIGURE THEY WILL
WIN FOR PLAYOFF SERIES.
MOVE UP INTO THE 1, 2, 3, 4
SPOT.
LOVE RUSS SO MUCH, YOU JUST
CAN'T MAKE THOSE MISTAKES.
>> TOP 10 PLAYS FROM THE PAST
SEVEN DAYS.
BLAKE GRIFFIN WITH A LITTLE
HUSTLE.
GETS BACK INTO IT.
AND THIS LOOKS PRETTY CLEAN.
HE'S GOT HIS LEFT HAND.
ALL BALL FOR SURE.
>> TERRENCE ROSS MAKES IT LOOK
SO EASY.
>> THAT IS NINE?
>> WE HAVE A GREAT TOP 10
COMING.
WATCH THE HANDS.
>> I THINK WE ARE GOING TO SEE
THIS ON THE STARTERS SEASON
REVIEW TOP 10 ASSISTS.
GINOBILI, WITH EYES IN THE BACK
OF HIS HEAD.
DROPPING IT TO DANNY GREEN.
IT'S A TOUGH SHOT.
>> MARC GASOL AT NUMBER SEVEN.
AN ASSIST?
NO.
A DUNK.
THEN HE HAD THE ARMON JIMMY
BUTLER'S FACE.
BUT HE THREW DOWN IN A VERY
TIGHT GAME.
>> DAMIAN LILLARD GOT HUBIE
BROWN EXCITED.
WITH THIS TWO-HANDED CLUTCH
THERE, IN TRAFFIC, AGAINST THE
SPURS.
HE WAS DOMINANT IN THIS GAME.
>> HERE ON THE TOP, LOOK AT THAT
ON ANDRE DRUMMOND.
>> CODY ZELLER ON THE TOP 10
PLAYS OF THE WEEK.
IT HAS TO BE THE THIRD OR FOURTH
TIME.
>> MAY BE THE BEST IN THE
LEAGUE.
>> JOHN WALL'S SPIN MOVE ON
CHRISTMAS.
SORRY, JASON SMITH.
THIS IS ROUGH.
THE BUS DRIVER, NUMBER ONE, I'M
SURE.
>> WITH THE BIG JAM.
NICE TRY.
ONLY GETTING DUNKED ON A LOT
THERE.
>> THAT IS DIRTY.
ONE MORE LOOK.
>> VINCE CARTER IS BACK.
DUNKING ON FRENCHMAN RUDY GOAL
BEAR.
-- RUDY GOBERT T.
IT'S NOT THE OLYMPICS, BUT RUDY
WILL STILL HAVE TO GO FOR IT.
>> HOW DID HE NOT REV THE
MOTORCYCLE?
AGREE, DISAGREE, LET US KNOW.
WE WILL TAKE ANOTHER BREAK.
THE FIRST ALL-STAR GAME BALLOTS
ARE IN.
IT WHO DOESN'T DESERVE THE
BIGGEST SNUBS?
WE WILL DEBATE THAT NEXT.
YOU ARE WATCHING "THE STARTERS."
>> WELCOME BACK TO THE STARTERS.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS.
THE FIRST RETURNS IN NYC.
LEBRON JAMES IS STILL THE
LEADING EDITOR.
THE TWO GUARDS, JOHN WALL AND
DWYANE WADE, IN THE WEST.
KOBE BRYANT, BLAKE GRIFFIN, MARC
GASOL JOINING ANTHONY DAVIS.
NOT BAD, BY THE FANS.
IT'S A TOUGH QUESTION.
WHO LEAST DESERVES THE STARTING
SPOT?
>> I THINK DWYANE WADE.
THE WORRY IS THAT HE WILL GET ON
AND CHRIS BOSH WILL GET ON AS
WELL.
THEN YOU HAVE TO GUYS TAKING
SOME SPOTS.
IT'S LIKE A PAUL MILLSAP OR A
JEFF TEAGUE.
THEN YOU HAVE MELO.
THAT ONE IS DEFINITELY -- AND IT
IS FINE HAVING THEM THERE BUT IT
IS A BIT OF A STRUGGLE.
ASK HOW CAN YOU SAY KOBE IS MORE
DESERVING THAN CARMELO ECHO HE'S
HAVING AN OK YEAR.
-- THAN CARMELO?
HE'S HAVING AN OK YEAR.
>> NOBODY REALLY CARES WHO'S
STARTING.
>> I THINK IT WILL BE TAKING A
SPOT FROM A GUY THAT IS
DESERVING.
AGAIN, WADE AND BOSH ARE GOING
TO GET THERE.
THE TEAM IS 500.
>> IT WILL BE TAKING THE SPOT OF
AN ATLANTA HOCKETT IS WELL
DESERVING.
>> JIMMY BUTLER WITH THE BULLS,
KYLE LOWRY WITH THE RAPTORS.
I'M AS HAPPY TO SEE JOHN RIGHT
NOW GETTING THE CREDIT THAT HE
DESERVES.
HE IS 5-16, BUT YOU DON'T REALLY
CARE.
>> IT'S ABOUT IT THE BEST
PLAYERS ARE.
HIM, JAMES HARDEN, THEY ARE
HAVING A PRETTY SOLID SEASON.
>> IT IS ONE GUARD THAT SHOULD
BE STARTING OVER KOBE BRYANT.
IT HAS TO BE A BEARDED ONE.
>> THIS IS WHEN JAMES HARDEN
STOOD UP AND SHOW THAT HE COULD
LEAD HIS TEAM.
AND HE SHOULD BE STARTING.
>> OBVIOUSLY, YOU'RE FINE WITH
KOBE BEING THERE.
>> WHAT ARE SOME OF THE BIGGEST
SNUBS?
GETTING NO LOVE FROM THE
ABSOLUTE FANS?
>> ATLANTA AND PORTLAND,
SPECIFICALLY.
JEFF TEAGUE NOT GETTING ENOUGH
LOVE.
HE'S HAVING A VERY GOOD YEAR.
A TEAM THAT IS VERY GOOD.
ONE OF THE TOP THREE TEAMS IN
THE EASTERN CONFERENCE.
HOW CAN THEY NOT HAVE AN
ALL-STAR? 
YOU NEED ONE OF THEM THERE.
>> HE'S NOT IN THE TOP 10 OF
VOTING.
YOU WILL HAVE A SPURS GUY
STICKING OUT FOR THE MOST VOTES,
BUT IT'S WEIRD THAT HE'S NOT
EVEN IN THE TOP 10 AND MILLSAP
IS 13.
>> JEFF TEAGUE NOT IN THE TOP
10.
MIKE CONLEY IN THE WEST.
THE TOP 20 GUARDS IN THIS
LEAGUE, ABSOLUTELY.
>> THEY WILL NOT GET ANYONE
VOTED IN.
MILLSAP, TEAGUE, THEY ARE
CERTAINLY IN THE CONVERSATION.
>> I THINK THE COACHES WILL
WRITE WHAT THE FANS DON'T GET
RIGHT.
IT WILL BE TOUGH TO DECIDE WHO.
BEFORE WE GET TO THE CHRISTMAS
DAY GAMES, WE HAD THE WHEN SHE
-- WEDGIE.
>> THESE ARE GORGEOUS.
A VERY UNIQUE WEDGIE.
PLUMLEE BLOCKS IT.
>> WHO GETS IT?
>> GOOD QUESTION.
THIS IS NOT A STAT THAT WE KEEP.
DON'T FEEL BAD.
BUT THAT IS JUST A BEAUTIFUL
WEDGE.
TWO DAYS WITHOUT A WEDGE.
>> UNFORTUNATELY, DID NOT GET A
CHRISTMAS WEDGIE.
LET'S UNLEASH THE UNICORN AND
GET TO THE STARTERS FANTASY
MINUTE.
LOOKING AT THE FANTASY LINES
FROM THAT CHRISTMAS DAY, THE
THREE NOMINEES.
JOHN WALL AND RUSSELL WESTBROOK
-- WE WILL START WITH
RUSSELL WESTBROOK.
24 POINTS AGAINST THE NEXT.
11 ASSISTS, ANOTHER 2010 GAME
FOR THIS GUY.
SIX BOARDS AND A STEAL.
25 POINTS AGAINST LEBRON AND THE
CAVS.
HE ALSO HIT A THREE.
EIGHT REBOUNDS.
EIGHT ASSISTS.
ONLY TWO TURNOVERS.
A REALLY GOOD GAME FROM MALL AND
THE REASON WHY THEY PICKED UP
THE W.
THE HIGHEST HONOR ONE CAN GET
THOSE TWO RUSSELL WESTBROOK.
WE TALKED ABOUT IT.
34 POINTS ON 14 OF 28 SHOOTING.
11 ASSISTS, FIVE STEALS, FOR
TURNOVERS.
CONGRATS TO RUSS.
ONE MORE BREAK.
WHEN WE RETURN, TUESDAY NIGHT'S
TO COMPARE OFF RESULTS -- PICK
'EM PAY OFF RESULTS.
DON'T GO ANYWHERE.
>> LOOKING AT TUESDAY NIGHT'S
RESULTS IN THE CONTEST BETWEEN
TAS AND I.
I'M TWO GAMES UP.
DOWN TO OUR FINAL NIGHT FOR
PICKING GAMES SO TAS NEEDS TO
WIN THE TWO GAMES WE DISAGREE
ON.
I WILL TAKE THE KINGS, YOU HAVE
THE SUNS.
WE AGREE ON THE PISTONS, SPURS,
AND MASS.
THE LOSER WILL HAVE TO DO
SOMETHING WEIRD SLASH
EMBARRASSING.
IT RIGHT NOW, WE ARE PLAYING FOR
-- THE LOSER WILL HAVE TO EAT AN
ENTIRE FRUITCAKE.
ON THE SHOW.
DURING THE SHOW.
>> THAT IS THE BEST LOOKING
FRUITCAKE I'VE EVER SEEN.
>> I HOPE I WIN.
I WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO GET
THROUGH THAT.
LET'S GET TO THE CHRISTMAS
EDITION.
>> IT'S NOT MATT BONNER'S DUNK.
LOOKING THE BEAUTIFUL ONE HERE.
THEY KEEP THE BALL MOVING AND
FIND THE OPENING GUY FOR A VERY
HIGH PERCENTAGE.
HE HAD A FANTASTIC GAME
YESTERDAY.
>> LOOK AT THE BALL.
>> BEAUTIFUL FINISH.
THAT'S WHAT I CALL A VERY SOLID
CHRISTMAS DAY PLAY.
>> ON A HIGH KNOW, WE WILL BE
BACK ON MONDAY WITH A SPECIAL
SEASON REVIEW SHOW.
WE WILL BE GIVING OUT AWARDS FOR
BEST TEAM PLAY OR DUNK.
AND WE WILL COUNT ON THE TOP 10
ASSISTS.
WE'LL REVISIT A FEW OF OUR
FAVORITE MOMENTS FROM THE NEXT
COUPLE OF MONTHS.
IT WILL REPEAT ALL WEEK LONG.
>> THANK'S FOR JOINING US,
FOLKS.
IT REMEMBER, ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME
OPPORTUNITIES DON'T HAPPEN EVERY
DAY.
>> EMBRACE THE NEW YEAR, PEOPLE.
