Mike Bresnahan’s take on the Lakers-Cavaliers game

Mike Bresnahan covers the Lakers for The Times and ties up loose ends on the day of his self-designated “Lakers game of the week.” The Lakers play today against Cleveland.

Ho, ho, humbug.

Hate to spit eggnog all over the Christmas cheer, but this season’s matchup between the Lakers and Cavaliers isn’t nearly as intriguing as Lakers-Boston a year ago. That was drama.

The Lakers were still fuming after being pelted by the Celtics in an NBA Finals topped off by a 39-point Game 6 blowout in which the winners danced on their bench to the delight of a crazed Boston crowd. I would have personally watched last year’s Christmas Day game even it had been held in a hailstorm on Outdoor Court B at Venice Beach.

This year, though, we have Shaq coming back to face the Lakers for the six-millionth time, and a LeBron vs. Kobe story line just doesn’t make sense to me. They’ve never faced each other in a playoff game. They don’t hate each other after their Olympic experience in 2008. Did I mention that Shaq and Kobe are now civil toward each other?

Unless this one goes into double overtime, I’ll be thinking ahead to the turkey dinner awaiting me a few hours after the game.

Q&A of the day

Q: It has been a tough year for me in the health department, but I wanted to send an e-mail to tell you how much I’ve enjoyed your writing about the Lakers. It has provided brief escapes from the serious neurological disorder that I am battling.

I had a major surgery on May 11 and I have a long road ahead, but my goal continues to be to become a successful author.

-- Pete Dal Bello Santa Barbara A: No sarcasm in the Q&A on this special day. Good luck in your recovery, Pete, and I’d be happy to proofread any of your writing efforts, any time.

Final thought

Record in weekly picks: 7-1.

I said Cleveland would win the Eastern Conference before the season began. Don’t I feel foolish. Lakers win today by a comfortable margin.

mike.bresnahan@latimes.com

twitter.com/Mike_Bresnahan