Give me an NBA team to follow daily

[Warner2BruceTD]

Every year I decide i'm going to get back into the NBA hardcore, and every year that lasts about two or three days before I lose interest in watching the same half dozen teams on ESPN & TNT. So I end up watching random 4th quarters late at night and not really paying much attention until the playoffs start.

I've decided the only way to really get back into the NBA, is to follow a team day to day like I do in the other sports. So what i'd like to do this year, is find a team to watch daily to keep me involved. I'm not going to pretend to be a fan of this team, but I will follow them day to day and watch every game like I do with my favorite teams. I will read the local papers and follow the fan blogs. I'll be all in.

I don't want it to be the Nets or Suns. Years ago I was kind of a Nets fan, but that faded as my interest in the league faded. Before that, my favorite player as a kid was Dan Majerle, so I was a Suns fan. I have no passion for either franchise, so I don't bother pretending to be a fan of either anymore.

I don't want it to be a terrible 20 win team that will become a chore to watch.

I don't want it to be a TNT/ESPN team like Miami, Spurs, Chicago, Lakers, Clippers, Thunder, Boston, Mavs, etc.

Forget the Knicks, I can't stand that franchise.

I'm looking for a mid market, under the radar team that figures to be in the playoff mix. I will buy the NBA package if I have to. This thread will then become an official team thread for the team.

Post suggestions and make a case. Ex Hoyas on the roster are a plus.

[TheImmortalGoud]

Minnesota Timberwolves or Golden State Warriors. I'll make a case later on.

[Golden Taters]

Warriors, at least that's who I'm following since we don't have a team anymore.

Very competitive starting 5:

PG: Steph Curry
SG: Klay Thompson
SF: Harrison Barnes
PF: David Lee
C: Andrew Bogut

Curry is a great scorer and a really fun player to watch. Klay Thompson stepped in for Monta once he was traded, and even made the All-Rookie 1st team, while starting under 30 games. He can also really SHOOT, leading the rookies with a 41% 3 percentage. Barnes is an athletic wing that should help score and David Lee should really blossom now that Bogut is back. As for Andrew Bogut, great defensive center who blocks everything, and who doesn't love a great block?

Plus, their uniforms are beautiful.









Should be a very competitive team if they stay healthy. They can shoot the lights out on you, and rely on Bogut to come up big defensively.

[Rudi]

Cavs. see Kyrie Irving thread.

[Warner2BruceTD]

Warriors & T'Wolves are in play.

Cavs are out. Fuck Cleveland.

I'm going to pick one of these teams to run with in 2K13, too. Won't be the same team.

[Len B]

Denver is my choice.


Reason #1: Great new uniforms



Reason #2: No superstar on the team
They have team written all over them. AI is their best player, but is not a ball hog and is a defensive stopper. They have one of the most exciting young point guards in basketball (Lawson), more young talent with Faried, a foreign shooter similar to Drazen Petrovic (RIP) with Danilo, etc.

Loved watching these guys in the playoffs vs. the Lakers.

Reason #3: Mountain Time
Mountain time is my favorite time for sporting events, as nothing is better than a 9:00-11:30 game. Go out and do your thing, come home and relax to a good game. Perfect night cap.

Reason #4: Longevity

http://hoopshype.com/salaries/denver.htm

A lot of their players are locked up for at least two years. This will give you time to follow the team and start to get attached to the players. The team should stay pretty stagnant for a 2-3 year run.

[Kuzzy Powers]

Warriors games are either really disastrous or really awesome. They are my favourite team to watch late at night. That team is never out of a game and no lead they have is ever safe. Rollercaster games. Id recommend them if you enjoy drama in your life.

[DoubleDeuce]

You can't go wrong with picking a team in the Northwest Division (except the Jazz, and you already stated no Thunder).

Blazers, T-Wolves, and Nuggets are all solid choices.

[Warner2BruceTD]

Denver is my choice.


Reason #1: Great new uniforms



Reason #2: No superstar on the team
They have team written all over them. AI is their best player, but is not a ball hog and is a defensive stopper. They have one of the most exciting young point guards in basketball (Lawson), more young talent with Faried, a foreign shooter similar to Drazen Petrovic (RIP) with Danilo, etc.

Loved watching these guys in the playoffs vs. the Lakers.

Reason #3: Mountain Time
Mountain time is my favorite time for sporting events, as nothing is better than a 9:00-11:30 game. Go out and do your thing, come home and relax to a good game. Perfect night cap.

Reason #4: Longevity

http://hoopshype.com/salaries/denver.htm

A lot of their players are locked up for at least two years. This will give you time to follow the team and start to get attached to the players. The team should stay pretty stagnant for a 2-3 year run.

Very compelling argument. Nuggets are in the mix.

Good call on the "new" (old) uniforms.

Also like the Mountain Time deal, I was leaning towards mountain or pacific anyway because that way the GF is in bed and it eliminates conflicts after a full 6 months of blowing her off for Reds games.

As a kid, I enjoyed those Doug Moe run and gun Nuggets teams that scored a billion points and played no defense. Alex English, Fat Lever, etc.

[krulmichael]

Even has a Pistons fan I'd have to say the Pacers are a very intriguing team as to what you're looking for.

[Juggernaut]

I'll second the Warriors, Pacers, Nuggets calls. Nuggets definitely the "best" out of those 3. They have a great young cast locked up, and they play quick fast basketball.

Out of the ones not mentioned, I'd say the 76ers should be interesting. Personally, I love how their team is constructed, and you can still get some "drama" with Bynum. Holiday, Turner, Young, Hawes, Bynum, Dorrell Wright, Nick Young. They have good players at every position, and depending how the chemistry goes, can be a force in the Atlantic.

As far as Hoyas go, you can go the Pacers route for Hibbert or the Pistons for Greg Monroe. Both are intriguing young big men, so it'll be interesting to see how they progress. Both teams will be interesting to follow, but the Pacers are the better team this year. The Pistons will have Brandon Knight and Rodney Stuckey to add excitement, but the Pacers have Paul George and George Hill, who are arguably the better duo.

[Warner2BruceTD]

Warriors
Nuggets
T'Wolves
Pacers
Pistons

This is my order atm.

Do any of these teams have great local broadcast teams? I'm an announcer geek and can't tolerate bad announcing.

[Obst]

Warriors
Nuggets
T'Wolves
Pacers
Pistons

This is my order atm.

Do any of these teams have great local broadcast teams? I'm an announcer geek and can't tolerate bad announcing.

Warriors have Bob Fitzgerald who is great.

[EmpireWF]

Minnesota is probably your best bet.

Whether they can stay healthy and compete for a playoff spot, who knows. But they're one of the more fun teams to watch….plus, they're easy to root for.

Brandon Roy is coming out of retirement and giving it a try on his bad knees. Andrei Kirilenko and Luke Ridnour are the elder statesmen.

CHASE BUDINGER.

RICKY RUBO. (though he likely won't play until January coming off the ACL injury)

KEVIN LOVE.

J.J. BAREA.

and Derrick Williams.
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Not mentioned yet and they're around your area I guess….the Rockets.

For this season, best case scenario is they compete for an 8 seed. They're a young team with a couple solid vets (Kevin Martin and Carlos Delfino). Coming off a great draft (Jeremy Lamb, Terrence Jones and Royce White) plus they were able to bring over last year's acquisition from Lithuania, 22-year old 7-footer Donatas Motiejunas (after his debut this summer, he told the press, " If you're scared of wolves, don't go into the woods" lol).

Patrick Patterson and Chandler Parsons are fixtures while they gave big free agent deals to JEREMY LIN and Omer Asik.

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If you want a team who really should be competing for a top 5 seed…..MEMPHIS.

The core is still there (Gay, Randolph, Gasol) with Conley, Allen as major contributors that upset Dallas awhile back.

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Philly is a solid squad, good enough for a mid-low seed in the east. Doug Collins coaches them up like crazy and they do have Andrew Bynum now as a legit bad ass center along with Spencer Hawes. They've got a good group of guards (alliteration mfer) between Evan Turner, Dorrell Wright, Nick Young, Jrue Holiday, too.

[Cornelius]

Oakland Warriors, ftw. Come on out and we'll go to a game.