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Post by Maniak on Feb 16, 2024 16:37:37 GMT
When I was young and first getting into the NBA I found it fun to pick the teams and players I like. Many years later this is not something I actively think about very often. I am going to go through 29 teams (excluding the Suns) and give my personal opinion on the team. I will also include a post about any specific player on that team that I like for one reason or another.
This is not meant to be any sort of high level analysis, just something I thought of to pass the time. Essentially each post is "I like this guy" or "I like/don't like this team"
Will go through teams as they are sorted on ESPN - by division in alphabetical order, starting with the Eastern conference.
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Post by Maniak on Feb 16, 2024 16:42:03 GMT
Boston CelticsI do not like the Celtics because they are a sports team in Boston. I liked the 2008 team at the time because that coincided with me getting more into the NBA and I thought their story was interesting. I wouldn't say that I hate the Celtics but I will probably never actively root for them for any reason. It generally makes me happy when they lose.
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Post by Maniak on Feb 16, 2024 16:46:40 GMT
Boston Celtics Players
I wouldn't consider myself a fan of any player on the Celtics.
As basketball players I like Jrue Holiday and Derrick White (although White has become extremely overrated which sours my opinion).
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Post by Maniak on Feb 16, 2024 16:50:32 GMT
Brooklyn NetsI've historically been indifferent on the Nets however in recent years have watched them a lot. Currently they have some players that I really like, and I watched many of the KD & Kyrie games as those are two of my favorite NBA players to watch play basketball. The Nets have one of the best (and deepest) commentary crews in the NBA which makes their games more enjoyable to watch.
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Post by Maniak on Feb 16, 2024 16:57:25 GMT
Brooklyn Nets Players
I like a lot of the players on the Nets.
Mikal Bridges and Cam Johnson are former Suns that I was a big fan of. Mikal has been a great borderline all star for the team and a breath of fresh air as a personality compared to Kyrie, KD, and Harden. Cam has struggled since being traded but I'll always be a fan.
Nic Claxton is one of my favorite bigs in the NBA and it's been fun to watch him grow as a player on this team over the years.
Dennis Smith Jr has become one of the best perimeter defenders in the NBA over the past few years and is fun to watch. Much respect for a player that was a bust but kept at it and found a role.
Lonnie Walker is an inconsistent player but I've always kinda liked him. Kind of wish he kept his hair from those early San Antonio years.
The other day I was watching a Nets game and Trendon Watford was sitting at the end of the bench talking to a chubby little white kid that had seats beside him. It was endearing.
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Post by Maniak on Feb 16, 2024 17:01:39 GMT
New York KnicksI think the NBA is better when the Knicks are good. Games at the Garden always feel a little more special, notably when Western teams make their one visit a year. Obviously they have been a bit of a dumpster fire of bad decision making over the years and I will always be disappointed with how they built around Amare and Melo, two of my favorite players. Right now they have a team worth watching and their front office has made good move after move. I'm really intrigued to see how this team performs over the coming years
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Post by Maniak on Feb 16, 2024 17:07:18 GMT
New York Knicks Players
Liked OG as a Raptor and liked the Knicks trading for him. Looking forward to seeing him in the playoffs with this team.
Jalen Brunson is an elite guard for his size and I will always have respect for his game after he took part in murdering the Phoenix Suns while on the Mavs a few years ago
Donte DiVincenzo is a guard I've always liked to watch and think he's someone that will find a way to fit in with whatever team he is on.
Taj Gibson is a great journeyman and kinda one of the last "traditional power forwards" in the league. I will never come close to liking him as much as Thibs, though.
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Post by Maniak on Feb 16, 2024 17:18:31 GMT
Philadelphia 76ersLike Boston, Philly is a team that I do not like and probably will never cheer for in any capacity Their commentators suck and have always sucked, their fans are sometimes amusing but generally dumb, and their front office has made a laundry list of bad decisions. Primarily thanks to Embiid, they’ve been one of the least fun teams to watch in the nba for many years.
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Post by Maniak on Feb 16, 2024 17:25:06 GMT
Philadelphia 76ers Players
This current 76ers roster does have some players I like, which is unusual as there’s never really anyone on this team I like
Kelly Oubre Jr was great on the Suns and I think got the short end of the stick in GS. He’s fun to watch offensively (but can be frustrating).
Tyrese Maxey is now an all star and you can’t really root against him. He’s always smiling, doesn’t complain much, and I respect any smaller guard that takes the leap to an all star level.
Even though he’s a dirty player and French, I have always liked Nicolas Batum and became a fan when he was in Portland. Smart player, moves the ball, makes good decisions.
On numerous occasions I said that I never want to see Cam Payne play another minute in a Suns jersey. Now that he isn’t in a Suns jersey, I appreciate his personality and even kinda miss the fun vibes he helped bring.
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Post by Maniak on Feb 16, 2024 17:29:13 GMT
Toronto RaptorsThe Suns are my #1 team, then there’s a gap, then the Raptors are my #2 team, and the gap is so large I don’t really know who my #3 team is. I think you kind of have to be a Raps fan as a Canadian and the excitement that their championship team brought to the country can never be forgotten. I generally phase in and out of following the team closely because their front office is pretty dumb and they’ve put some horrible teams on the floor over the past years. They just finished pulling the trigger on Pascal and OG trades years too late and I look forward to rolling my eyes at whatever dumb shit Masai does this off-season in pursuit of a play in spot
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Post by Maniak on Feb 16, 2024 17:32:45 GMT
Toronto Raptors Players
RJ Barrett is a player I will always root for even though I don’t like his game. Fun to have Canadians on Canadas team.
Been a Chris Boucher fan, love his energy when he finds minutes.
Olynyk trade was a bad trade but again always have to root for Canadians on the Raptors. Dirty player, great connecting passer, makes good plays, any team would want him.
Quickley I liked on the Knicks and while I don’t think he’ll take a leap from where he is, he has a play style and energy the Raptors haven’t had for years. Makes their games more compelling for me to watch.
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Post by tsk on Feb 16, 2024 18:03:17 GMT
subscribing to this thread
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Post by Maniak on Feb 16, 2024 18:18:04 GMT
On to the Central Division Chicago BullsMy opinion of the Bulls is similar to my opinion of the Knicks - the NBA is better when the Bulls are good. While they've had little to enjoy post-Jordan, the Bulls still have one of the best and largest fanbases in the NBA. However unlike the Knicks, the Bulls haven't overcome a revolving door of morons running the team. Thanks to MJ, the Bulls have some of the best uniforms and branding in all of sports. I have a generally neutral view of this team and hopefully one day they'll be relevant again. The Bulls/Celtics playoff series of the late 2000s/early 2010s will always be top of mind for good basketball.
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Post by Maniak on Feb 16, 2024 18:23:21 GMT
Chicago Bulls Players
Shoutout Lonzo Ball. Would love to see him play in the league again. A point guard's point guard. Injuries suck but at least he's making tens of millions of dollars still.
Bulls have some former Suns that will always have my heart in Jevon Carter and Torrey Craig.
While I wasn't a fan of the DeMar era in Toronto, I've always been a fan of his game and remember how much excitement he brought in his early years.
Coby White figuring things out in year 5 (I almost wrote year 3, time flies) and becoming a borderline all star has made this team actually watchable this year. A player I look forward to watching over the coming years.
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Post by Maniak on Feb 16, 2024 18:35:43 GMT
Cleveland CavaliersAs a LeBron fan I have also been a Cavs fan on and off over the years. I like this team, good branding, solid commentary. Current iteration of the team I'm not the highest on after watching the majority of their games last regular season then being totally let down in the post season, but still full of players that I like watching. They're young with room to grow and develop.
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Post by Maniak on Feb 16, 2024 18:54:42 GMT
Cleveland Cavaliers Players
I became a Jarrett Allen fan while he was with the Nets. More of a traditional big with some post moves in his bag, good player to watch.
Darius Garland is an exciting young guard that I think gets underlooked in general NBA conversations. Great offensive game and I think (hope) he'll be an elite player for many years.
Caris LeVert is the sort of combo guard I typically like watching. Has a lot of game and some nights will just be the best (or one of the best) offensive players on the court.
Dean Wade becoming a rotation level big brings me joy as, at the very least, he will retire as the greatest Cleveland Cavalier with the initials D. Wade.
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Post by Maniak on Feb 16, 2024 19:18:21 GMT
Detroit PistonsPistons are an iconic franchise with some of the best branding in sports. I'll always like this team as I have fond memories of watching their mid 2000s teams play high level basketball on both sides of the court. Chauncey and Rip were both players that I took a lot from as a young basketball player. And the connection Devin Booker has to the team/city is fun. Another poorly managed Eastern conference team, it's been hard to enjoy watching this team for so many years now. They have one of the more old school commentary teams in the league, deserves a mention.
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Post by Maniak on Feb 16, 2024 19:27:02 GMT
Detroit Pistons Players
Cade Cunningham is an interesting young player that has been put in a shitty situation. Hope the team hangs with him and puts some better complimentary pieces around him, I think he has all star potential but unsure if he'll get there.
Jalen Duren is more of an old school big, fun to watch. Has a ton of potential and a player I look forward to seeing develop.
Marcus Sasser played really well against the Suns early in the season and is a player I have my eye on. Don't think he has much potential as a defender but could carve out a role in the league as a scorer.
Isaiah Stewart is a necessary evil in the NBA. He's not out there injuring players on the court making dangerous plays but he will punch someone. I don't think the fit of Duren/Stewart is fantastic, but I like him as an individual.
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Post by Maniak on Feb 16, 2024 19:35:18 GMT
Indiana PacersI am pretty indifferent about the Pacers. I've liked some of their individual players over the years and some of their playoff matchups (notably Heat/Pacers) but it's very rare for me to watch a regular season Pacers game. Their current team is a huge change of pace from the Pacers basketball I'm used to watching, one of the best offenses in the NBA. Carlisle is a great coach that probably doesn't get enough credit. From a general NBA perspective, I think it's exciting and a good thing that one of the best teams to watch in the league is in Indiana. They may have a smaller fanbase but they show up to games and the Fieldhouse gets loud - fun.
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Post by Maniak on Feb 16, 2024 19:41:12 GMT
Indiana Pacers Players
Shoutout to the Canadians - Andrew Nembhard and Bennedict Mathurin
Pascal Siakam is one of my favorite Raptors ever and I like the fit in Indy.
I've liked Obi Toppin since his rookie year. Probably will only ever be a rotational bench guy but he has thrown down multiple between the legs dunks in transition which earns my fandom
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Post by Maniak on Feb 16, 2024 19:49:56 GMT
This thread is generally meant to be positive, however there are some teams that I cannot refrain from bashing. Milwaukee BucksMilwaukee becoming my least favorite eastern conference team is not something I would have anticipated years ago. I have much respect for their title team that demolished the Suns and if I want to watch some random youtube highlights "Michael Redd" will always be one of the first names that comes to mind but that's more or less the extent of positive things I have. I do also respect that they committed to spending some serious money to put that team together - big decision for a small market team that paid off. Glad that they are now coached by Doc, that's the level of coach this team deserves. Any Bucks fan (bandwagoner) that has become a fan of the team due to it's current iteration is objectively a bad person. I wish them nothing but the worst and actively root for their downfall.
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Post by Maniak on Feb 16, 2024 19:58:53 GMT
Milwaukee Bucks Players
My view on Patrick Beverley completely changed after he took that camera to show the ref; one of the greatest moments in sports I've ever seen. Just hilarious. I like his passion, competitiveness, and energy - although those things can also be his detriment.
Jae Crowder is a former Suns player that I view the same as Cam Payne - I can enjoy him now that he's not playing for the Suns. Will always appreciate him for the few times he showed up and hit big threes in big moments.
Brook Lopez is someone I have a lot of respect for as he completely transformed his game by adding the three point shot. Also an absolute menace as a defender in the paint that teams need to adjust for. For him to still be a high level starter at age 35 is not something I would have predicted, especially with how the NBA game shifted through his career (thus credit for adding the 3)
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Post by Maniak on Feb 16, 2024 20:17:05 GMT
Closing out the Eastern Conference with the Southeast Division Atlanta HawksI would say that I'm generally indifferent on the Hawks, but they are a team I would rather see do well than do badly. Some awful branding over the years (better now though), disappointing teams, and a lackluster crowd. Trae Young helped fix a lot of that, but there's still a "bleh" or "meh" feel from those many years.
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Post by Maniak on Feb 16, 2024 20:41:50 GMT
Atlanta Hawks Players
Bogdan Bogdanovic is a fun player to watch. Incredible shot and release but can also put it on the floor and makes the right pass. Watching him with Trae over the years has been great.
Patty Mills is still in the NBA and deserves a mention. Did not know he was on the Hawks (or still in the league) until their last game against the Suns where he came in for 10 minutes for some reason. Small guard with a great shot and good vision that made countless winning plays with the Spurs.
I'm a Trae Young guy. At this point in his career I think it'd be hard to ask for anything more than what he has done with what has been put around him. Somehow will never be fully appreciated as a passer.
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Post by Maniak on Feb 16, 2024 20:45:46 GMT
Charlotte HornetsI like the Hornets and have for many years despite how bad they are. Just terrible front office and coaches. Amazing uniforms, logo, court, etc. Crowd pretty much always shows up and gets loud, much respect for that fanbase. Not a team I will ever hold out hope for being successful but will always cheer for them.
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Post by Maniak on Feb 16, 2024 20:57:33 GMT
Charlotte Hornets Players
LaMelo Ball is a lot of fun to watch but has been hampered by awful teammates and his own injuries. He also seems like a complete dumbass given the videos of him almost crashing on his way out of the arena countless times. I worry that he'll never have the right team, coach, etc around him to maximize his ability as a player. Highly skilled point guard
Ish Smith is a tremendous NBA journeyman that got a well earned ring in Denver. Always liked watching him on whatever team he is on, explosive guard that found a way to be a rotation piece for years and years.
Shoutout to the big fellas, Nick Richards and Mark Williams. Both traditional bigs that can rim run, neither has a tremendous post game.
Brandon Miller is a player that I have my eyes on and look forward to watching grow. Has the skillset to at minimum be a rotation guy for many years or be peak Paul George.
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Post by Maniak on Feb 16, 2024 21:06:59 GMT
Miami HeatI don't really like the Heat. I rooted for them when they had LeBron but remember feeling wrong for that at the time. "Heat Culture" is incredibly lame and their crowd can be awful (empty, quiet). Even though I'm not much of a fan, I like them more than a handful of other eastern teams. I've always liked their commentary team (Dwyane Wade highlights are elevated because of their play by play guy) and the lady that wears the dresses courtside. Have to respect their current era for finding ways to capitalize on eastern teams shitting the bed, leading to multiple Finals appearances. Pat Riley is a basketball icon. Spo is one of the greatest coaches in NBA history.
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Post by Maniak on Feb 16, 2024 21:27:06 GMT
Miami Heat Players
I've always liked Kevin Love throughout his career. Grew his game a lot from when he was a rookie, found ways to contribute as a defender on the biggest stage, etc.
I liked Terry Rozier on the Hornets and he's a lot of fun to watch when he starts hitting shots. A real microwave scorer. Think he fits in well in Miami and look forward to watching him there.
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Post by tsk on Feb 16, 2024 21:28:27 GMT
Detroit PistonsThey have one of the more old school commentary teams in the league, deserves a mention. George Blaha is one of the best in the biz
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Post by Maniak on Feb 16, 2024 21:33:04 GMT
Orlando MagicI'm pretty indifferent towards the Magic. Have not been a team worth tuning into for many of the years I've watched the NBA. I liked watching the Dwight teams that shot a bunch of threes. This current team is the most enjoyable since that Dwight era. Excited for their future and enjoy tuning in to their games. edit: I should have been more consistent with giving a branding and commentary opinion for each team. Will add for the Magic: they have a great logo, great 90s vibe. Commentary team is solid, think it's been the same couple guys for quite awhile. I think they have seen enough bad basketball from the Magic and good opponents that they do a better than average job of being subjective and giving credit where it's due.
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