After warm eggnog had been brewed and shredded wrapping paper blanketed living rooms across the land, the Boston Celtics and New York Knicks kicked off 2016’s NBA Christmas Day slate last December. Having split back-to-back games on the Dec. 22 and 23 at the Indiana Pacers and home for the Oklahoma City Thunder, Boston somehow regrouped for a noon E.T. tip at Madison Square Garden on Dec. 25. “I hate getting up early,” Marcus Smart said. “It’s an adjustment,” said Jaylen Brown. “It was almost like three games in three and a half days,” Brad Stevens calculated.
Stevens spared his entire team a full day off in Manhattan on Dec.