2012 NBA Playoff bandwagon rankings
April 3, 2012 11:41 AM Subscribe
Well, at least the T-Wolves did much, much better this year. I wasn't expecting miracles.
posted by Mental Wimp at 12:16 PM on April 3, 2012
posted by Mental Wimp at 12:16 PM on April 3, 2012
Go Thunder!
posted by Navelgazer at 12:36 PM on April 3, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by Navelgazer at 12:36 PM on April 3, 2012 [2 favorites]
Oklahoma is only number seven? That seems low. Durant is not just admired, he's liked. Basketball fans are going to flock to support OK because no one would mind seeing him get a ring.
posted by One Hand Slowclapping at 12:36 PM on April 3, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by One Hand Slowclapping at 12:36 PM on April 3, 2012 [2 favorites]
Wow, this is really cool. I totally missed this last year.
I can't help but imagine that the Celtics would have been a lot lower than #4 prior to Sunday's win over the Heat. Granted, the Heat looked like garbage, and Boston beating them in the Garden isn't exactly a surprise, but goddamn, they finally looked like a team ready to compete. Hottest team since the All-Star Break, Allen ready to return and after Pietrus' freak-show concussion, surely they can't have any more awful injuries headed their way.
Right?
posted by SpiffyRob at 12:39 PM on April 3, 2012
I can't help but imagine that the Celtics would have been a lot lower than #4 prior to Sunday's win over the Heat. Granted, the Heat looked like garbage, and Boston beating them in the Garden isn't exactly a surprise, but goddamn, they finally looked like a team ready to compete. Hottest team since the All-Star Break, Allen ready to return and after Pietrus' freak-show concussion, surely they can't have any more awful injuries headed their way.
Right?
posted by SpiffyRob at 12:39 PM on April 3, 2012
When I read the title I totally assumed it was a Bill Simmon's/Grantland piece.
posted by oddman at 12:42 PM on April 3, 2012
posted by oddman at 12:42 PM on April 3, 2012
Does it count as a bandwagon if I live near the team but don't really care about basketball but will watch them in the playoffs and have consistently been that way since I moved here?
posted by HostBryan at 1:03 PM on April 3, 2012
posted by HostBryan at 1:03 PM on April 3, 2012
"As always, this list does not include the Lakers or Heat, simply because I either can’t or straight-up refuse to think rationally about Kobe Bryant or LeBron James they overload the inputs on my bandwagonometer."
posted by Nahum Tate at 1:29 PM on April 3, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by Nahum Tate at 1:29 PM on April 3, 2012 [1 favorite]
I agree with One Hand Slowclapping -- the Thunder are seriously under ranked here. How could you not root for a guy who'd go play flag football with random guys from twitter?
posted by ThatSomething at 1:38 PM on April 3, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by ThatSomething at 1:38 PM on April 3, 2012 [1 favorite]
Go Bulls! Although this season is beginning to read like a Beckett play 'Waiting for DRose'. Of course, I welcome you all aboard upon his arrival.
posted by obscurator at 1:43 PM on April 3, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by obscurator at 1:43 PM on April 3, 2012 [1 favorite]
OKC are too much of a favorite to be highly ranked as a bandwagon team, the best bandwagons are those teams that might just have a chance if things go right for them
posted by Cloud King at 1:46 PM on April 3, 2012
posted by Cloud King at 1:46 PM on April 3, 2012
I love The Basketball Jones and I second obscurator: all are welcome upon the Bulls bandwagon! I don't mind fair-weather or bandwagon fans...it's just more people to cheer on the Bulls with!!
posted by sc114 at 1:51 PM on April 3, 2012
posted by sc114 at 1:51 PM on April 3, 2012
HostBryan: I think that's more of a "fairweather" attitude.
posted by clorox at 2:08 PM on April 3, 2012
posted by clorox at 2:08 PM on April 3, 2012
Knicks are seeded 8th it's 50-50 they are even going to be in the playoffs.
This guy is way off base.
posted by bukvich at 2:26 PM on April 3, 2012
This guy is way off base.
posted by bukvich at 2:26 PM on April 3, 2012
Knicks are seeded 8th it's 50-50 they are even going to be in the playoffs.
But that's the whole point. If the Knicks get into the playoffs, the bandwagoning will be so intense as to blot out the sun.
Which will probably make my Raptors snagging away Jeremy Lin more difficult, but oh well.
posted by mightygodking at 2:30 PM on April 3, 2012 [2 favorites]
But that's the whole point. If the Knicks get into the playoffs, the bandwagoning will be so intense as to blot out the sun.
Which will probably make my Raptors snagging away Jeremy Lin more difficult, but oh well.
posted by mightygodking at 2:30 PM on April 3, 2012 [2 favorites]
I love the improbable success of The Basketball Jones.
Seriously, the best basketball podcast/show/blog comes out of CANADA?!
Also, GO KNICKS!!
posted by Phreesh at 2:51 PM on April 3, 2012
Seriously, the best basketball podcast/show/blog comes out of CANADA?!
Also, GO KNICKS!!
posted by Phreesh at 2:51 PM on April 3, 2012
My Ill-infomed and notably biased prognostication -- either the Spurs will beat Chicago in 6 games, or Miami in 7.
I don't have a read on Chicago vs. Miami yet, & I'm just putting this here so I can come back in June to see how wrong I was, but the Spurs have serious depth. Their bench has outscored the opponent's bench, pretty consistently, and have beaten some starting lineups as well. Kawhi Leonard is my pick for rookie of the year, if they do indeed take the thing. It's all contingent on health, but if Parker, Ginobli & Duncan all go into the playoffs at 100%, they'll do it.
posted by Devils Rancher at 3:19 PM on April 3, 2012 [1 favorite]
I don't have a read on Chicago vs. Miami yet, & I'm just putting this here so I can come back in June to see how wrong I was, but the Spurs have serious depth. Their bench has outscored the opponent's bench, pretty consistently, and have beaten some starting lineups as well. Kawhi Leonard is my pick for rookie of the year, if they do indeed take the thing. It's all contingent on health, but if Parker, Ginobli & Duncan all go into the playoffs at 100%, they'll do it.
posted by Devils Rancher at 3:19 PM on April 3, 2012 [1 favorite]
I also like the Spurs chances. Rooting for Anybody but the Miami Heat.
posted by bukvich at 3:48 PM on April 3, 2012
posted by bukvich at 3:48 PM on April 3, 2012
I think the Clippers are ranked way too high, unless CP3's playoff determination can outweigh Blake's perpetual complaining. I'll be cheering for the Spurs for the exact reasons laid out - they've had the same core 3 players for forever, and have moved the players around them to consistently create a great team for the last 10 years. I don't remember where I heard this quote about General Manager RC Buford, but it went something along the lines of "get three stars, and surround them with players who would go through a wall to win".
Also, mad props to The Basketball Jones for consistently putting out great hoops material, day after day. No highlight reels, no top-ten plays, just quality basketball analysis without the ESPN hype train.
posted by antonymous at 5:45 PM on April 3, 2012
Also, mad props to The Basketball Jones for consistently putting out great hoops material, day after day. No highlight reels, no top-ten plays, just quality basketball analysis without the ESPN hype train.
posted by antonymous at 5:45 PM on April 3, 2012
F*** the NBA this season. It was a good year for college ball though, and right now the Baylor women with 6 foot 8 Brittney Griner are winning over Notre Dame.
posted by caddis at 6:40 PM on April 3, 2012
posted by caddis at 6:40 PM on April 3, 2012
As a Pistons fan, I had come to loathe the Spurs. Manu's flopping, Horry's puke-worthy threes, Tim Duncan's eerie consistency were all infuriating during the oh-so-close 2005 run. But since then, I love that they've kept the band (Parker, Duncan, Manu) together, and I kind of want to see them win a ring as elder statesmen. It's a shame that McDyess never got a ring; he wanted to win so badly.
I like Dallas for similar reasons; yes, they've already won, but it would be cool to see J-Kidd and Dirk repeat and legitimize them as a memorable team. I like me some Nowitzki.
My list:
1. Memphis (ok, they're fun as hell, and I still can't rank San Antonio #1. Stubborn pride.)
2. San Antonio
3. Dallas
4. OKC (Durant is too good and too damn likable for me to not want them to win.)
5. Chicago (Need someone from the East, and they have Rip.)
6. Boston (Again, one more title for KG, Pierce, and Ray.)
7. LA Clippers (Chauncey! I'd root for them over Boston in the finals.)
Below that, the teams either bore me or I want nothing to do with them winning (looking at you Miami.) That said, I still have a begrudging respect for Kobe killing himself day in and day out.
posted by Turkey Glue at 8:14 PM on April 3, 2012
I like Dallas for similar reasons; yes, they've already won, but it would be cool to see J-Kidd and Dirk repeat and legitimize them as a memorable team. I like me some Nowitzki.
My list:
1. Memphis (ok, they're fun as hell, and I still can't rank San Antonio #1. Stubborn pride.)
2. San Antonio
3. Dallas
4. OKC (Durant is too good and too damn likable for me to not want them to win.)
5. Chicago (Need someone from the East, and they have Rip.)
6. Boston (Again, one more title for KG, Pierce, and Ray.)
7. LA Clippers (Chauncey! I'd root for them over Boston in the finals.)
Below that, the teams either bore me or I want nothing to do with them winning (looking at you Miami.) That said, I still have a begrudging respect for Kobe killing himself day in and day out.
posted by Turkey Glue at 8:14 PM on April 3, 2012
no one would mind seeing him get a ring.
Durant is great, but there are some who still hate the Thunder for leaving Seattle.
posted by drezdn at 5:58 AM on April 4, 2012 [1 favorite]
Durant is great, but there are some who still hate the Thunder for leaving Seattle.
posted by drezdn at 5:58 AM on April 4, 2012 [1 favorite]
I kind of like Philly, and wonder if the author is overly harsh on them, being a beaten down Sixers fan himself. At the very least I think they could land a few good haymakers on the Heat in the first round.
posted by teekat at 8:20 AM on April 4, 2012
posted by teekat at 8:20 AM on April 4, 2012
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posted by COBRA! at 12:08 PM on April 3, 2012 [4 favorites]