Who do you want to see win a Championship?...

[Darrin]

It's been a long time since I've had to answer this question. Last year we had 10 teams that if they won, I would've cheered for them. So many times in this decade I've chosen the Pistons.

But this year, I think I want Cleveland to win the NBA Finals. Ben Wallace gets another ring. This is probably Lebron James' MVP season, and they play so well at both ends that they would be worthy Champions.

Boston is a close second, but for the Cavaliers to knock down a defending Champion like this, in the Conference Finals, would be epic. LA is third as it is a story of Kobe's redemption and inner growth to be the leader of a fun basketball team.

Orlando and Denver are probably the dark horses. Detroit winning wouldn't be as fun with Allen Iverson. San Antonio doesn't appear to be playing that calibur of basketball and neither does Houston. I hate Phoenix still with no one else in the discussion.

[NuGGeTs-FaN]

Obviously id love for Chauncey to win another ring :smokin, especially after AI said the Pistons were his best chance at winning a ring, and now they are sucking with him :lol

I'd say the only 'realistic' darkhorse choice is the Magic......the cavs and celtics have a legit shot and so do the Lakers and Spurs

[Armando]

Phoenix

[tonylongoriafan]

san antonio spurs

[Cry Havoc]

I'd like to see LeBron get a ring and shut the haters up who say he'll never be as good as Kobe.

If it wasn't for Philly's fans, I'd like to see the 6ers get a ring. Dre Miller has been unappreciated for so long, it's sad.

I gotta like the Hawks, too. Atlanta as a city needs a team to get a championship, as they've been mired in mediocrity for a while now. I think I'm pulling for the Falcons this season if my two teams go out in the NFL.

[Rohirrim]

99 03 05 07 09

[SpursDynasty]

The Spurs have been the best NBA franchise post-Jordan, so why not another ring? We've got our Big Three and an improved Bonner as well as solid role players in Mason and Hill.

LeBron and Kobe have failed in all of their most recent NBA Finals...why hasn't anyone ever mentioned that? Kobe in 2004, LeBron in 2007, and Kobe in 2008. If these guys are so damn good why can't they lead their teams to a championship?

Orlando is laughable. Denver still needs another piece. Detroit isn't the same without Chauncey Billups.

[JoeTait75]

The Cavaliers, for Cleveland's first major sports championship since 1964. Take the Drive, the Fumble, the Shot, Red Right 88, Jose Mesa's ninth inning, Jim Chones's broken foot, Harper-for-Ferry, Warfield-for-Phipps, 10-Cent Beer Night, Art Modell, and throw it all in the dustbin of history. It'd be a beautiful, beautiful thing.

[xtremesteven33]

1. Spurs
2. Blazers
3. Rockets
4. Cleveland
5. Pistons

[DUNCANownsKOBE2]

Who I want:

1) Phoenix
2) San Antonio
3) Orlando
4) Cleveland
5) Miami (huge Dwayne Wade fan)
30) Lakers

Who I think:

1) Boston
2) San Antonio
3) Lakers
4) Cleveland
5) Orlando

dark horses:
Detroit
Phoenix

Only reason I say Phoenix is the 5% chance they gel extremely well and start playing like a team, in other words their ceiling as a team is higher than all other Western teams besides LA, unfortunately chances are slim to none they reach that ceiling.

[ploto]

Hedo and the Magic- of those who even have an outside chance

[Reck]

Magic

They have been trying to win a championship badly for years now. They get the mercy vote to win it all for once.

[JoeTait75]

... and if not the Cavaliers, I'd like to see Atlanta or Portland win it. Particularly Portland.

[manufor3]

not lakers or boston.

[pauls931]

Baring a miracle, Pho is out, so my choice would probably be Cleveland. I'm tired of this La vs Boston crap and wish death on anyone who chants 'Beat La', the 80's are fuckin' over!

[mystargtr34]

I'd like to see LeBron get a ring and shut the haters up who say he'll never be as good as Kobe.

If it wasn't for Philly's fans, I'd like to see the 6ers get a ring. Dre Miller has been unappreciated for so long, it's sad.

I gotta like the Hawks, too. Atlanta as a city needs a team to get a championship, as they've been mired in mediocrity for a while now. I think I'm pulling for the Falcons this season if my two teams go out in the NFL.

Who says he will never be as good as Kobe?

Its arguable he is already better.

[mystargtr34]

If not the Spurs, then i would like to see the Cavs win it.

If i had to choose a team from the West, it would be the Mavs, provided Jason Terry and Jerry Stackhouse were traded mid season, and Mark Cuban sold the team and lost all ties to the Franchise.

[Pistons < Spurs]

Denver
Orlando
Toronto
Utah

[endrity]

Anyone but LA and Boston too. Maybe Cleveland, but I feel they will do it sooner or later, I kinda want LeBron to wait a bit more, it will push him personally to even higher levels.

I know this is blasphemy as a Mavs fan, but if the Mavs don't win it (99.99% likely) then I will cheer for the Spurs. I love the Mavs to beat them, but I respect them as a team and as an organization. They are truly a model to follow. And yes, I want Duncan to have the 5th ring which Shaq will never have.

[Ghazi]

mavs

I wouldnt mind Cleveland or San Antonio though.

[dallaskd]

If not the Spurs, then i would like to see the Cavs win it.

If i had to choose a team from the West, it would be the Mavs, provided Jason Terry and Jerry Stackhouse were traded mid season, and Mark Cuban sold the team and lost all ties to the Franchise.

Stack will be gone. Terry is playing extremely well right now, so I can't see him being traded unless they get a great offer. Keep your hopes up.

[Allanon]

After dealing with a few years of Smush and Kwame as starters and only Kobe's individual achievements as a reason to watch the Lakers, I wouldn't mind seeing a few more rings.

If the Lakers can keep Kobe/Pau/Bynum/Lamar/Ariza together, the Lakers should be playing for a ring for the next 4-5 years.

After the Lakers, I really wouldn't mind if anybody else in the West won, just as long as it stays in the West. No Boston, No Cavs, No Magic.

After the West, it would also be cool to see the Hawks get one but there's almost 0 chance of that.

[Chieflion]

Excluding the Spurs,

West: Blazers
East: Hawks

I wish they would shut the hell up about how young teams would not be able to survive in the playoffs if this happens.

[Darrin]

Baring a miracle, Pho is out, so my choice would probably be Cleveland. I'm tired of this La vs Boston crap and wish death on anyone who chants 'Beat La', the 80's are...over!

The media didn't hype them--were the two Finalists last year. Their history goes beyond the 80s. NBA Entertainment didn't exist in the 1960s, but I still know about the '69 series and "happy days are here again." I just wanted to mention how many times the Celtics turned back the Lakers (until 1985), and that is the reason the Lakers can make the Finals, but haven't passed Beantown yet in total Championships.

I see it as a story of redemption (Kobe's team, losing Shaq, calling Kobe 'uncoachable') versus the story of greatness (Boston). This is where these talents should be because their games are so great (Kobe, Gasol, KG, Pierce, and Allen). Good guys do finish first.

That's the best argument I can make for a Lakers-Celtics Finals in 2009. I'd rather see Cleveland, but it's not a disappointment if they make it. Just try and ignore 'THE RIVALRY IS BACK!!' comments. The Finals last year weren't that great.

[Darrin]

Excluding the Spurs,

West: Blazers
East: Hawks

I wish they would shut the hell up about how young teams would not be able to survive in the playoffs if this happens.

Rudy! Rudy! Rudy!

[Darrin]

If the Lakers can keep Kobe/Pau/Bynum/Lamar/Ariza together, the Lakers should be playing for a ring for the next 4-5 years.

After the Lakers, I really wouldn't mind if anybody else in the West won, just as long as it stays in the West. No Boston, No Cavs, No Magic.

After the West, it would also be cool to see the Hawks get one but there's almost 0 chance of that.

I'd love to see the Hawks--a throwback to the '04 Pistons--win that ring. All the size and length, athleticism and defense. But they look like they are happy with being above .500. Give them 2 more years together.

As for the Lakers, I doubt the window is open that long. Kobe is starting to slow down; we've probably seen his best seasons. 2-3 years is probably the window of opportunity--the same for the Celtics.

[Darrin]

Denver
Orlando
Toronto
Utah

A Very unique list. Why do you want to see Toronto win one?

[Kobe™]

Lakers
Lakers
Lakers
Lakers
Lakers

[galvatron3000]

Spurs without question but if not them I'd love to see a young team like Portland win it all but they are just that, young and inexperienced. For the rest of the league I couldn't pull for anyone else, perhap ATL but that's not really feasible at the moment. Real men wear Black and Silver!!!!!!!!

[[email protected]]

It is hard to say.It to early to find out who going to win the big prize.:toast.

[sonic21]

I want Dirk to win a championship, maybe in 2011 with the spurs

[Kriz-Maxima]

This year and from the teams that i think have a realistic shot at winning i would prefer the Spurs, if not then the Lakers.

[Armando]

If Cleveland wins they will be just like the 06 Heat.

[DAF86]

Detoit because of Iverson

[phyzik]

If the Spurs cant win it...

1. As much as I hate CP3, I think it would be cool for that city to get a LOB.

2. Hawks, they should have beat the Celtics last year.

3. Cleaveland, Lebron will get one eventually, why not this year?

4. Fuck the Lakers but if they meet Celtics in the Finals again, I know who Im rooting for.

[Pistons < Spurs]

A Very unique list. Why do you want to see Toronto win one?

I'd like to see guys like Calderon and Bosh hoist up a trophy. Jermaine too. And I kinda feel bad for the City of Toronto ... especially if Bosh leaves in 2010! Let them have a little excitement.

[Kriz-Maxima]

I'd like to see guys like Calderon and Bosh hoist up a trophy. Jermaine too. And I kinda feel bad for the City of Toronto ... especially if Bosh leaves in 2010! Let them have a little excitement.

:toast

I kind of want them to suck to make sure Bosh leaves, true he probably wont come to Detroit, but I still want a shot at him. But Toronto is a team I don't think I'd mind see winning a championship, of the east teams I would probably prefer them.

[Bob Lanier]

1. Detroit
2. New York
3. Golden State
4. Chicago
5. Los Angeles
6. Los Angeles
7. Houston
8. Toronto
9. Portland
10. San Antonio
11. Milwaukee
12. Minnesota
13. Charlotte
14. Miami
15. Washington
16. Philadelphia
17. New Jersey
18. Atlanta
19. Cleveland
20. Indiana
21. Boston
22. Denver
23. Sacramento
24. New Orleans
25. Memphis
26. Orlando
27. Phoenix
28. Dallas
29. Utah
30. Oklahoma City

[Lakers_55]

Well, the Lakers will win more titles, the only question is when. I like our chances to pull down a few before Kobe hangs up his sneakers.