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.
Obviously id love for Chauncey to win another ring, especially after AI said the Pistons were his best chance at winning a ring, and now they are sucking with him
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
Phoenix
san antonio spurs
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.
99 03 05 07 09
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.
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.
1. Spurs
2. Blazers
3. Rockets
4. Cleveland
5. Pistons
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.
Hedo and the Magic- of those who even have an outside chance
Magic
They have been trying to win a championship badly for years now. They get the mercy vote to win it all for once.
... and if not the Cavaliers, I'd like to see Atlanta or Portland win it. Particularly Portland.
not lakers or boston.
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 in' over!
Who says he will never be as good as Kobe?
Its arguable he is already better.
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.
Denver
Orlando
Toronto
Utah
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.
mavs
I wouldnt mind Cleveland or San Antonio though.
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.
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.
Last edited by Allanon; 12-27-2008 at 03:41 AM.
Excluding the Spurs,
West: Blazers
East: Hawks
I wish they would shut the up about how young teams would not be able to survive in the playoffs if this happens.
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.
Rudy! Rudy! Rudy!
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