Do you believe that your team could ever win an NBA championship? Title teams STAY OUT.

[trojanfan12]

In my opinion there’s a big difference between rooting for a team that plays in the city/state you were born and grew up in and just randomly picking some team in another state to root for.

I disagree.

Sure, I can see where rooting for the team from your city/state means something. But that doesn't mean they are any more passionate than someone who lives in another state choosing that team.

My entire family, except for me, are Suns fans. My aunts were season ticket holders and when I was a kid, they used to take me to Suns games on a regular basis. In fact, I had never been to a Lakers game in their home venue (the Forum back then) until high school.

But, the very first Suns game that I ever went to was vs. the Lakers. I literally became a Lakers fan when I watched them come out for warm ups. I have no idea why...I just know that I was 8 and when they came out onto the floor, I decided that they were my team and haven't looked back since.

That didn't sit too well with the rest of the family, still doesn't...but oh well. lol

 

[Nosferatu]

I disagree.

Sure, I can see where rooting for the team from your city/state means something. But that doesn't mean they are any more passionate than someone who lives in another state choosing that team.

My entire family, except for me, are Suns fans. My aunts were season ticket holders and when I was a kid, they used to take me to Suns games on a regular basis. In fact, I had never been to a Lakers game in their home venue (the Forum back then) until high school.

But, the very first Suns game that I ever went to was vs. the Lakers. I literally became a Lakers fan when I watched them come out for warm ups. I have no idea why...I just know that I was 8 and when they came out onto the floor, I decided that they were my team and haven't looked back since.

That didn't sit too well with the rest of the family, still doesn't...but oh well. lol

Of course you disagree and that's fine I can respect that.

 

[broncosmitty]

I fuckin hate LeBron... he's unpowered these assholes for another generation of graveytraining.

 

[tlance]

That of course counts but IMO it's still not the same, when you root for the teams that represent where you are from you get so much more from it. EX... I'll use my Vikings, if you are a fan of the team and from Minnesota, you get to experience it all, local media, other fans, sports radio, for me I grew up in a huge family, dad had 6 brothers and 1 sister and I had like 25 cousins and almost every Sunday we were all together to watch the game, I don't remember life before being a Vikings fan, it's just a part of you because they are Minnesota, by far the most loved team in the state (I am more a Twins fan and feel they should be, they gave us titles) Now if you are a Vikings fan in North Carolina or Oregon you can love the Vikings but it's not nearly the same as growing up in it.

Just my opinion...

I get what you are saying, but at the same time I don't agree.

For example, I have a friend who is a huge Minnesota sports fan. His dad was born and raised there, and my friend was born there too. But he moved away while he was a toddler and spent most of his formative years elsewhere.

Still, his dad maintained the Minnesota sports culture and my friend has never rooted for anybody else. While he may not have the same access as you did growing up in Minnesota, I guarantee his passion for the Vikings is every bit as strong as yours, and it is in no way random.

 

[trojanfan12]

How did a thread about teams that have never won a championship turn into a discussion about the freaking Los Angelas Lakers?

Because in the NBA...it's all about the Lakers. lol

 

[True Lakers Fan]

I'm very prideful of Ft. Wayne's success.


And aware the Lakers true dominance was in Minnesota.

Some how I doubt that

 

[Nosferatu]

I get what you are saying, but at the same time I don't agree.

For example, I have a friend who is a huge Minnesota sports fan. His dad was born and raised there, and my friend was born there too. But he moved away while he was a toddler and spent most of his formative years elsewhere.

Still, his dad maintained the Minnesota sports culture and my friend has never rooted for anybody else. While he may not have the same access as you did growing up in Minnesota, I guarantee his passion for the Vikings is every bit as strong as yours, and it is in no way random.

He was born there, the tie that binds us, quite different than simply picking the Vikings as your team if you are born and raised in Virginia.

 

[True Lakers Fan]

Because in the NBA...it's all about the Lakers. lol

Actually because that was the direction he was headed. I've seen that argument before, so instead of letting him sucker people into admitting that was what he was getting to, I went straight to the point

Either way

Lakers - 16 championships
Minnesota - 0 championships

Twenty years from now

Minnesota - will still be 0 championships

 

[broncosmitty]

Some how I doubt that

Color me shocked.

Mikan > Shaq. And it's really not close.

 

[True Lakers Fan]

Color me shocked.

Mikan > Shaq. And it's really not close.

Is Shaq even a top 20 player?

Definitely not in the top ten for me.

If Shaq had taken his game seriously and allowed it to decline - he wouldn't have ever been better then Mikan, but he would have moved up the list

 

[trojanfan12]

Actually because that was the direction he was headed. I've seen that argument before, so instead of letting him sucker people into admitting that was what he was getting to, I went straight to the point

No it wasn't. It was about whether or not smaller/less desirable (I'm talking climate, night life, etc.) teams have a real chance at winning titles.

He mentioned market, "name brand franchises", the smaller markets ability to pay the contract demands of top players...he said nothing about where titles were won...that was you.

 

[broncosmitty]

Is Shaq even a top 20 player?

Definitely not in the top ten for me.

If Shaq had taken his game seriously and allowed it to decline - he wouldn't have ever been better then Mikan, but he would have moved up the list

Not in mine. But when Stern retired my opinion lost its official status.

 

[broncosmitty]

No it wasn't. It was about whether or not smaller/less desirable (I'm talking climate, night life, etc.) teams have a real chance at winning titles.

He mentioned market, "name brand franchises", the smaller markets ability to pay the contract demands of top players...he said nothing about where titles were won...that was you.

Sacremento and Memphis seem like the least likely to ever win a title imo.


OKC, Indiana and Milwaukee right behind.

Not impossible but it would take the perfect storm.

 

[trojanfan12]

To the point of the thread...

I think that teams like the Warriors, Cavs, Spurs and Thunder (even though they haven't won one yet), have shown that smaller market teams can get titles. But they do ave more obstacles to overcome.

They need some lottery luck, to make some savvy trades, they need to be smarter with cap space since they don't necessarily have the extra money to cover mistakes and they may have to overpay a couple of guys to get to where they are competitive enough to be attractive to FA's.

The "brand name" teams will always have advantages, but we've seen those advantages lessened over the past few years by smaller market teams getting the basketball right.

In the end though, regardless of whether a team is in a big market or small one...competent ownership/front office management is the best way to build a contender.

We have seen the Knicks, Nets, Clippers and the Lakers when Short Buss was running things, be among the worst teams in the league and unable to land to FA's because of incompetent management.

Meanwhile, we've also seen smaller market teams rise and become contenders because of competent management. Heck, the Kawhi situation not withstanding, the Spurs have been showing for 20+ years what a small market is capable of when competently managed.

 

[msgkings322]

Are they - I suppose I still favor the Dodgers more than the Angels, but I really like Sciosa - H

Well as far as I am concerned - I am a Lakers fan first and Lakers fan only, so any team that is not the Lakers - fuck them and let them rot in hell. I understand that some of these fans that are dumber then horses - Don't like the Lakers count on championships - but the players really won the championship any way. The continuity belongs to the name of the organization in which people have come and left, but represented the team you support.

Can you even read? I highlighted that you don't love the RAMS and yet you have them under your avi. Not the Dodgers, not the Angels, the Rams you say you don't like. They are right there.

 

[tlance]

To the point of the thread...

I think that teams like the Warriors, Cavs, Spurs and Thunder (even though they haven't won one yet), have shown that smaller market teams can get titles. But they do ave more obstacles to overcome.

They need some lottery luck, to make some savvy trades, they need to be smarter with cap space since they don't necessarily have the extra money to cover mistakes and they may have to overpay a couple of guys to get to where they are competitive enough to be attractive to FA's.

The "brand name" teams will always have advantages, but we've seen those advantages lessened over the past few years by smaller market teams getting the basketball right.

In the end though, regardless of whether a team is in a big market or small one...competent ownership/front office management is the best way to build a contender.

We have seen the Knicks, Nets, Clippers and the Lakers when Short Buss was running things, be among the worst teams in the league and unable to land to FA's because of incompetent management.

Meanwhile, we've also seen smaller market teams rise and become contenders because of competent management. Heck, the Kawhi situation not withstanding, the Spurs have been showing for 20+ years what a small market is capable of when competently managed.

It is interesting though, because while those places you mentioned among the successful small markets have certainly run their teams well, each of those markets (aside from Cleveland) have mild winter climates which defintely appeals to players.

Odds are far more slim for a cold weather small market team because they are even less likely to land FAs. Cleveland is the exception, and there is a 0% chance LeBron would have returned had it not been his home town.

Now, the Spurs and Warriors have shone it is possible to win with players largely acquired via draft if you add a couple third tier FA role players, but man the odds are stacked against you ever getting there if your team is from one of those cold weather small markets.

Better hope you land that generational talent in the draft AND are able to put quality pieces around him. Really hard to do that. Even harder today than ever before, IMO, because there will usually be at least 1 superteam in your way.

 

[cmc_rebar]

Atlanta Hawks win a championship...nope, nada, nyet, no way, never

 

[msgkings322]

Getting this thread back on track:

Could my Wizards someday win a title?

In theory it is possible. They play in a market that while definitely not a top destination, it isn't terrible. If they were able to display some semblance of organizational competence and assemble a high quality core, it is possible they could also attract a big FA.

Do I see a championship coming in my lifetime?

No. Probably not. Because the Wizards haven't been competently managed since the 70s.

Again, are you allowed to post in this thread? Your team won a title in 1978

 

[msgkings322]

lol fuck that--- the Ravens won a super bowl after they moved from Clevleand but that whole organization can die of gonorrhea and rot in hell.

Two actually. It seems leaving Cleveland is a good way to win titles. Just ask LeBron.

 

[msgkings322]

Sacremento and Memphis seem like the least likely to ever win a title imo.


OKC, Indiana and Milwaukee right behind.

Not impossible but it would take the perfect storm.

Milwaukee already won a title.