Basketball is back! This week has been nothing short of therapeutic for me. Having different live sporting events on different TV sets at the same time is an experience I haven’t had in nearly 5 months. Watching the scrimmages in the NBA Bubble has me ready to run through a brick wall for the first real tip-off next Thursday. Being from Kansas City, I’ve never had a hometown NBA team to root for. I grew up as a Magic fan due to a family friend’s ties to the organization, but I’ve always just been a pure fan of the league more than anything else.
For that reason, I have decided to take a look at one reason why we should all be rooting for every team in The Bubble, and rank them based on how good of a reason it is. This list should be great if you haven’t been a huge NBA fan before, but are as sports deprived as the rest of us!
22. Houston Rockets- Russell Westbrook Beats COVID, Wins Title
I’ll be honest, I can’t stand the Rockets and that’s why they’re in last. It bothers me to watch them play and James Harden is the league’s most unlikeable superstar in my opinion. With that said, it would be quite a story if Russell Westbrook was the man to carry them all the way to a title after being the league’s first megastar to test positive with COVID-19.
21. Philadelphia 76ers- It’s The City of Brotherly Love
I really couldn’t think of any great reason for the Sixers other than it would probably mean Ben Simmons might make a 3 at some point during the playoff run. In these trying times, we could all use a little brotherly love, so let’s just run with that.
20. Sacramento Kings- It Would Remind People That They Made It To The Bubble
Seriously though, if I asked you to name every team that qualified for the restart, who would be the last team you thought of and why the Kings?
19. Indiana Pacers- Small Market, Small Arena
Something about the vibe of this whole thing just screams Pacers to me. If they rocked their Hickory jerseys and pretended this was all just a deleted scene from Hoosiers it would be impossible to not cheer for them.
18. Miami Heat- Jimmy Butler and Tyler Herro
The fact that Jimmy Butler got the NBA police called on him for dribbling too loudly in his hotel room is enough for me. Throw in his relationship with young stud Tyler Herro and the fun those two would have if they won and I’m sold.
17. Memphis Grizzlies- Ja Morant Carries The Grizzlies to a Title
If you’re new to the NBA, Ja Morant might be a player for you. The likely Rookie of the Year put on a show all season and will be one of the most entertaining players in the Bubble. If the Grizzlies somehow pulled this off, it would be because of Ja.
16. Brooklyn Nets- It Would Defy All Odds
Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and Spencer Dinwiddie are arguably the 3 best players on the Nets. Not one of them will play in Orlando. The Nets are expected to be one of the punching bags of the 8 game regular season, so to see them cut down the nets being led by Jamal Crawford would be awesome.
15. Phoenix Suns- The Aron Baynes Fan Account
If you’re active on NBA Twitter, you know what I’m talking about. If you’re not, look it up, then you’ll understand.
14. Portland Trailblazers- Dame Time x10
The Blazers are currently 8 games under 500 right now. If there is anybody that can will a team on a remarkable run in these circumstances, it’s Dame Lillard. Also his 35 footers in these “arenas” will look even cooler than they already did. Imagine him waving goodbye to Russell Westbrook again, but with nobody but the Rockets in the building.
13. Boston Celtics- Tacko Fall Wins A Ring
The world just needs this one right now.
12. Utah Jazz- The Original COVID-Beaters Take the Crown
We all remember how this whole thing started. Rudy Gobert will forever be entangled with the Coronavirus and the NBA. Donovan Mitchell’s test was one of the first big reports of a famous person testing positive. It only seems fitting that the Jazz win now.
11. Orlando Magic- The Hometown Team
They aren’t playing in their home arena, but the Magic are the de-facto hosts of this whole thing. It would be pretty interesting to see how the city would react if the Magic pulled this off.
10. Washington Wizards- Worst to First
If we’re going by record, the Wizards are the worst team in The Bubble. If we’re going by talent available, the Wizards are still the worst team in The Bubble. How can we not cheer for that?
9. Los Angeles Clippers- The Claw Goes Back to Back
The Clippers winning would mean back to back rings for Kawhi Leonard. That would push him to 3-1 all time in the Finals and I’d assume he would also win Finals MVP, giving him two of those. That’s a resume worthy of stirring up some serious debates about his ranking in NBA history.
8. Oklahoma City Thunder- What Rebuild?
This was supposed to be the year the Thunder tanked. Nobody expected them to be in the Playoffs, let alone a legit contender. Sam Presti already has Exec of the Year in the bag, but this would be a cherry on top.
7. Toronto Raptors- The Brilliance of Nick Nurse
7 and 6 on this list are more like 6A and 6B. It’s fair to say that the Raptors are a legitimate contender to come out of the East. Everyone said that there was no shot of a repeat after Kawhi left for LA, yet here they are. Pascal Siakam has been a big reason for that, but I wouldn’t look much further than head coach Nick Nurse. This man is basketball genius personified. If you’re a fan of the X’s and O’s, the Raptors are your team.
6. San Antonio Spurs- It Would Be Pop’s Masterpiece
Gregg Popovich is my favorite basketball coach of all time. Not only has he won 5 titles as a head coach, but he is admired around the league, and he’s unquestionably the funniest coach in the NBA. The Spurs currently sit near the bottom of standings, so if Pop pulls this one off, it would be his most insane work yet.
5. Milwaukee Bucks- Best(?) of the Best
The Bucks enter The Bubble with the league’s best record. Giannis Antetokounmpo will likely win his second straight MVP award. On paper, the Bucks should be the team to beat in Orlando. On top of the fact that they’re great, they’re actually likable too!
4. New Orleans Pelicans- Zion and The Baby Lakers
I’m not saying that the NBA fixed the schedules to get Zion into the Playoffs, but I’m also not not saying it. Can you blame them though? In a scenario where the Pelicans take home the title, it’s almost inevitable that they would upset the Lakers in a first round 1-8 matchup. Sign me up for Zion beating LeBron, as well as Brandon Ingram, Lonzo Ball and Josh Hart getting some revenge.
3. Denver Nuggets- Tall Ball
Everyone loves tall dudes doing guard things. In a few days, the Nuggets will unleash the most unique lineup combinations the NBA has ever seen. They ran out a group with no one shorter than 6’8 in one of the scrimmages, and their point guard was none other than 7-footer Nikola Jokic. Bonus points for the arrivals of Bol Bol and Michael Porter Jr. to future stardom.
2. Dallas Mavericks- Offense and Fun!
If I told you that the best offense in the NBA this year belonged to Dallas, how many of you would believe me? What if I took it even further and told you that historically speaking, they’re right up there with the Warriors teams of the past decade? The analytics support it, and it is a beauty to watch. Luka Doncic will be the most exciting player to watch in Orlando because he’s the most skilled player on the most offensively cohesive team. Also, nobody looks to be having more fun living in The Bubble than Dallas, which I respect.
1. Los Angeles Lakers- The King Wins in Honor of The Mamba
This Lakers are the easy choice for the most rootable team in Orlando and there is simple logic why. If you have JR Smith, Dion Waiters and JaVale McGee all on the same roster, and that STILL is not the biggest reason people should be rooting for you, you win this list. Nothing touches the emotional weight of LeBron winning a title after dealing with the loss of his longtime friend and Laker legend Kobe Bryant. It would be the best thing to happen in sports in 2020. I’m a Chiefs fan and even I can admit that. While LeBron and the Lakers may be polarizing, there’s really no reason not to pull for them just a little bit starting on Thursday.
