Watchability Rankings

[Findog]

http://www.sbnation.com/2009/12/14/1199710/the-nba-watchability-scale-helping-you-find-the-right-team-to-watch-this-holiday-season

[Ghazi]

OKC wasn't that fun to watch yesterday. First time I had watched a whole OKC game this year.

Young and energetic, but sloppy and not very good offensively.

[Findog]

Here's the Rankings:

I'D RATHER WATCH GOLF

30. Chicago Bulls

ROUGHLY EQUIVALENT TO A TRIP TO THE DENTIST

29. New Jersey Nets
28. Charlotte Bobcats
27. Minnesota Timberwolves
26. Detroit Pistons

IT'S CRIMINAL THAT THIS TEAM ISN'T MORE FUN TO WATCH

25. Cleveland Cavaliers

OCCASIONALLY INTERESTING

24. Indiana Pacers
23. New York Knicks
22. Philadelphia 76ers

MAYBE WORTH IT FOR ONE PLAYER

21. Portland Trailblazers
20. New Orleans Hornets
19. Miami Heat

I DON'T KNOW, SO I'LL JUST PUT THEM HERE

18. San Antonio Spurs

ON THE CUSP, IF THEY WEREN'T SO DYSFUNCTIONAL

17. Memphis Grizzlies
16. Los Angeles Clippers

AVERAGE, BUT IN DIFFERENT WAYS

15. Utah Jazz
14. Atlanta Hawks

TWO ENTERTAINING MESSES

13. Washington Wizards
12. Golden State Warriors

GUILTY PLEASURES

11. Milwaukee Bucks
10. Sacramento Kings

YOU WANT OFFENSE? YOU GOT OFFENSE!

9. Toronto Raptors

ONE FATAL FLAW AWAY FROM GOING ON AUTOMATIC TIVO

8. Dallas Mavericks
7. Orlando Magic
6. Denver Nuggets
5. Boston Celtics

WORTH BUYING LEAGUE PASS ON THEIR OWN

4. Oklahoma City Thunder
3. Houston Rockets

THE JUGGERNAUTS

2. Los Angeles Lakers
1. Phoenix Suns

[Findog]

OKC wasn't that fun to watch yesterday. First time I had watched a whole OKC game this year.

Young and energetic, but sloppy and not very good offensively.

Really? I thought it was obvious that they are a well-coached team. They play unselfish offensively and share the ball, even though Durant is such a go-to guy. Their spacing and ball movement is good too.

[Many PackYao]

Wow! The Rockets rank high on the watchability scale for this, yet we can't get even get a game on national tv. :bang

[Venti Quattro]

Wow! The Rockets rank high on the watchability scale for this, yet we can't get even get a game on national tv. :bang

A lot of people are baffled with how the Rockets are still winning with much injuries to their stars, thus making them very, very watchable and interesting.

But they have no marquee stars (t-mac is already not that guy) and because of that they get no national TV games. Marquee matchups are key clinchers in national TV games.

[monosylab1k]

:lol this is the most perfect description of Mo Williams I've ever seen -


Mo Williams. He's just nauseating. I can't explain it. His ugly floaters bother me. His fake confidence bugs me. His "playmaking" bugs me. His headband bugs me. He's like that guy in a pickup game that shows up with short shorts and a headband and claims he can do everything, but really only shoots threes.

[monosylab1k]

and amen to this -


(Also, Rick Carlisle, can you please stop playing J.J. Barea? We want more Rodrigue Beaubois, aka Roddy Buckets.

Roddy Buckets=the most electrifying player in basketball that nobody knows about. NBA fans, we need to start a movement to get Roddy Buckets more playing time. I'll call it the "Play Roddy" movement until you guys think of a better alliteration).

[Findog]

Wow! The Rockets rank high on the watchability scale for this, yet we can't get even get a game on national tv. :bang

They should rank high. Good ball movement, guys playing extremely hard and together and being competitive makes for entertaining basketball.

[JoeTait75]

If you like unselfish team basketball, the Rockets are a good team to watch. They play hard, they share the ball, they're solid defensively, and they don't try and do what they're not capable of doing. Good character team. I just wish they weren't so damn tough on the Cavaliers.

[Culburn369]

8. Watching the Houston Rockets (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/clubhouse?team=hou) defy the basketball gods. When you lose your 7-foot-6 perennial All-Star center (Yao Ming (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?playerId=1722)) for the season due to injury, play without your best offensive player (Tracy McGrady (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?playerId=532)) for the first 23 games, [[[[[[[[[and watch your best all-around player (Artest) head to L.A. looking for a ring]]]]]]]]], you are not supposed to keep your head above water. Yet that is exactly what the blue-collar Rockets have been able to do at 14-10. They defend on every play and treat every possession like the game depends on it. Give Rick Adelman a lot of credit. The guy can flat-out coach.

[Red Hawk #21]

Haha

"If you like watching a lot of missed three-pointers, then Peja Stojakovic, James Posey, Morris Peterson and Devin Brown are for you"

[21_Blessings]

Watching Phoenix play literally zero defense every other possession is not entertaining basketball.

[monosylab1k]

Watching Phoenix play literally zero defense every other possession is not entertaining basketball.

:tu and in the 10-15 minutes Steve Nash isn't playing, Phoenix is painfully difficult to watch.

I'll take watching the Lakers over them any day.

[Many PackYao]

They should rank high. Good ball movement, guys playing extremely hard and together and being competitive makes for entertaining basketball.
They play hard against everybody except the mavs. I'm still kind of pissed at them for losing at home by 30-something points.

[The Gemini Method]

Gotta love the pick n' roll exploits of the Nets...lol

[KSeal]

That's a pretty awesome article, thanks for posting. Clips are going to be pretty fun once Griffin comes back, whenever that is.

[redzero]

Haha

"If you like watching a lot of missed three-pointers, then Peja Stojakovic, James Posey, Morris Peterson and Devin Brown are for you"

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31AKuqDjJdL._SL500_AA280_.jpg

[Findog]

http://www.sportslogos.net/images/logos/6/228/full/aa65jz06hggyuale7xmkeefka.gif

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[Findog]

http://www.sportslogos.net/images/logos/6/226/full/legngwiheii4eld1u0agakxhc.gif

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[Thunder Dan]

lol @ the Rockets at #3......that's why they stick their Playoff Games on a channel nobody gets if they even air them at all.

[urunobili]

wow that's a lil too much hate on the Cavs IMO

[Fpoonsie]

Srsly? Golden State is "entertaining"?

Now, granted, I only watched the 2nd half of last night's game and don't watch them UNLESS they're playin another team I care about, but they looked anything BUT entertaining last night, and due to the Spurs recent play, I doubt that had anything to do w/ the Spurs "stifling D".

[badfish22]

and amen to this -

Every media member agrees. Its bullshit that hes getting DNP-CD
JJ has gone into full "imma star" mode though.



Haha
"If you like watching a lot of missed three-pointers, then Peja Stojakovic, James Posey, Morris Peterson and Devin Brown are for you"

:lol

[duhoh]

the Wiz are a little too high.

it's hard to watch them sometimes. it's easier to turn off the tv

[JoeTait75]

wow that's a lil too much hate on the Cavs IMO

Well, the Cavaliers are built explicitly on the model of the Spurs. So it stands to reason they're going to get the same "boring" label the Spurs have been tagged with for so long.

[Findog]

Well, the Cavaliers are built explicitly on the model of the Spurs. So it stands to reason they're going to get the same "boring" label the Spurs have been tagged with for so long.

With the kind of player than Lebron is, they should've been built on the model of the Showtime Lakers. Those teams were up-tempo and still played defense.

And another thing: I understand that when you're dealing the salary cap, you can't just up and trade your trash for a bunch of All Stars to surround LeBron with. But why have they stuck with a mediocre coach like Mike Brown instead of going out and throwing millions at a Popovich, Jackson, Larry Brown-type coach?

[da_suns_fan]

Fun article, but I doubt anyone would rather watch the Kings over the Cavs.

Seriously, lets use the Lakers as an example. Would you rather watch the Kings play the Lakers or the Cavs play the Lakers?

[JoeTait75]

And another thing: I understand that when you're dealing the salary cap, you can't just up and trade your trash for a bunch of All Stars to surround LeBron with. But why have they stuck with a mediocre coach like Mike Brown instead of going out and throwing millions at a Popovich, Jackson, Larry Brown-type coach?

Well, they did go after Larry Brown in the summer of 2005 after he left Detroit, but for whatever reason it didn't happen.

As for Mike Brown... at what point should he have been fired? I mean, Stan Van coached circles around him in the ECF but it's still tough to fire a guy whose team just won 66 games. It's also tough to get one of those marquee coaches to come to Cleveland even with LeBron. This is never going to be a destination for big-name free agents or big-name coaches. That's just the way it is.

I think MB is in the same position Avery was his last year in Dallas. One more slip-up and he's gone. I don't think MB survives another year that ends short of the Finals.

[Venti Quattro]

Fun article, but I doubt anyone would rather watch the Kings over the Cavs.

Seriously, lets use the Lakers as an example. Would you rather watch the Kings play the Lakers or the Cavs play the Lakers?
Kings vs Lakers b/c it's a sure win :lol

[jacobdrj]

Fun article, but I doubt anyone would rather watch the Kings over the Cavs.

Seriously, lets use the Lakers as an example. Would you rather watch the Kings play the Lakers or the Cavs play the Lakers?

Honestly, the Kings...

The Cavs are solid, but between the Brown being unable to manage a game, and LeBron seeming like he isn't quite giving it his all. I'd have to say the Kings seem like a far more interesting game to watch.

The Pistons/Rockets are playing crazy hard/scrappy/intense. I love watching these guys play.

Bulls are worse to watch than they were last season. Even sloppier.

Celtics are a blast to watch. I love watching PP, and now with Sheed, it is even more fun. Problem is that Doc holds them back, and it pisses me off. Rondo is even fun to watch. He was definitely not one of the problems in that Celtics Bulls series last season that was so darn awful to watch.

The Heat are also always a blast to watch. Wade just makes me smile. Although, he did piss me off with those plays he took off in that Laker game.

The Lakers are so intriguing. Will Artest coexist with Phil and Kobe long enough to win a title? How do Bynum and Pau work best together. Fisher is still knocking down those crazy open 3's, and that bench is scrappier than any other contenders'. Credit to Phil.

Spurs have Manu, but until he gets 100%, it is kind of hard to watch them. I have never been a fan of TP's game, as far as watching.

Clippers - Meh.

OKC - I haven't seen any of them yet, so I'll reserve judgement.

Washington - They are trying hard, but with all their injuries, it is kind of tough to watch, at least when Gilbert tries to take over a game. I have much more fun watching Mike Miller, Antone Jameson, Caron Butler and Earl Boykins.

Bobcats - Hey, S-Jax blew some life into that dead squad. Bravo.

Knicks are like watching paint dry.

Suns - Run and gun just doesn't do it for me. Sacremento, back in 2002 was more than just run and gun, they were fun. This team, they just don't convince me, and it gets boring after the 1st quarter or so.

GSW - " "

Utah - Between Jerry and Booz, this team makes me want to pull my hair out. I want them to win so bad, but not more than I want these 2 clowns fired.

Memphis/T-Wolves - Haven't seen em.

Pacers - I enjoy their style: Defense and 3's. But it is hard to watch them when Granger isn't there to make it work.

Magic - Sometimes they (Reddick, Carter, Dwight) amaze me. Sometimes I want to kill Mario/Nelson. I am also frustrated with Gortat.

Nets - They seem to play hard too. Lots of youngins.

Phili - Speghts: Need I say more?

Atlanta - These guys are fun to watch, when they are having fun.

Bucks - Jennings is fun, but Bogut slows them down worse than Z slows down the Cavs. Not fun, and they don't play enough defense to make it interesting.

[SpursRulez4eVeR]

a list by one person = 0 credibility

[baseline bum]

If I had to pick a top 5, they'd be

1) LA
2) Dallas
3) Atlanta
4) Boston
5) Seattle

[23LeBronJames23]

If I had to pick a top 5, they'd be

1) LA
2) Dallas
3) Atlanta
4) Boston
5) Seattle

:lmao seattle?

[baseline bum]

:lmao seattle?

Yeah, Durant and Westbrook are awesome.

[KidCongo]

wow that's a lil too much hate on the Cavs IMO

He's a Wizards fan also.

[GuerillaBlack]

A lot of people are baffled with how the Rockets are still winning with much injuries to their stars, thus making them very, very watchable and interesting.

But they have no marquee stars (t-mac is already not that guy) and because of that they get no national TV games. Marquee matchups are key clinchers in national TV games.

Yes, this is why a team like the Kings has national TV games this year, right?

[Chieflion]

Yes, this is why a team like the Kings has national TV games this year, right?
Tyreke Evans is going to be a marquee player, just watch.

[ezau]

8. Watching the Houston Rockets (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/clubhouse?team=hou) defy the basketball gods. When you lose your 7-foot-6 perennial All-Star center (Yao Ming (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?playerId=1722)) for the season due to injury, play without your best offensive player (Tracy McGrady (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?playerId=532)) for the first 23 games, [[[[[[[[[and watch your best all-around player (Artest) head to L.A. looking for a ring]]]]]]]]], you are not supposed to keep your head above water. Yet that is exactly what the blue-collar Rockets have been able to do at 14-10. They defend on every play and treat every possession like the game depends on it. Give Rick Adelman a lot of credit. The guy can flat-out coach.

Adelman is one of the most underrated coaches in the NBA.

[Texas Chili Dog]

Another person who thinks Beaubois needs more playing time. Damnit RC, make it happen. And that Kidd to Beaubois alley-oop is a thing of beauty.

[Reeko_Htown]

lol @ the Rockets at #3......that's why they stick their Playoff Games on a channel nobody gets if they even air them at all.

We were on TNT and ABC last year...you want me to remind your of your last 2 beat downs here in Houston.

The Rockets OWN YOU HERE!! plus---:lobt2::lobt2::king

[djohn2oo8]

lol @ the Rockets at #3......that's why they stick their Playoff Games on a channel nobody gets if they even air them at all.

And still beat the shit out of the Cavs, WITHOUT YAO!