Friday, August 21st, 2009...8:35 am
My 2nd Favorite Team
My good friend Kevin Arnovitz asked me and several other TrueHoop Network writers to pen a brief ode to our second favorite team. In many respects, I do not have a second favorite team: My love for the Spurs runs deep. But, I will admit, when Kevin asked, one team did come readily to mind:
When I moved to Chicago a year and a half ago, the Bulls were in a bit of a crisis: Going into the 2007-08 season, many expected the Bulls to contend for the Eastern Conference Championship. Instead they found themselves at the bottom of the conference, and a frequent target of my derision. But as I tuned into WGN night after night, I grew to really care for the Bulls. Tyrus Thomas’ freakish athleticism and poor-decision making. Kirk Hinrich’s dogged defense. Coach Del Negro’s complete absence of coaching ability. Now all bring a slight smile to my face.
But my fanhood, which had been sprouting just beneath the surface, bloomed brightly during the opening round of this past season’s playoffs. That Bulls-Celtics series will forever be seared into my memory. As they pulled off one irreverent, improbable victory after another, my loyalty, however secondary it may be, was solidified.
Oddly enough, I like the Bulls despite having a mild antipathy for Michael Jordan.
So tell me, ladies and gents: Do you have a second favorite team? A team that you guiltily flip to on the Spurs’ off nights? Or are you a loyal basketball monogamist?
74 Comments
August 21st, 2009 at 8:47 am
I have to say, my second favorite team is probably the Portland Trailblazers, since I went to school in Seattle (UW, like Brandon Roy) and Clay Bennett stole the team there. Then I would say I root for the Knicks because I grew up in upstate New York, but it’s hard to like the Knicks right now. Though I did used to root for the Jazz during the Malone-Stockton era where they kept getting beat by Jordan and the Bulls.
August 21st, 2009 at 8:48 am
I would think that anyone that love basketball should have at least another team in their heart than the silver/black… mine are the Raptors.. I will have to admit that’s because of CB4, but also now and then, they can shoot the 3pts.. only if they could learn to play D
August 21st, 2009 at 8:49 am
Definitely a monogamist. I have always been against 2nd favorite teams, and when I do find myself kind of pulling for a team, the Spurs play them in the playoffs and I am forced to hate them again haha.
August 21st, 2009 at 8:49 am
So help me, I can’t help but be intrigued by the Thunder. I can’t stand Bennett and McClendon, and the ownership group, and am disgusted by how they went about their business, but I very much would like to see Sam Presti succeed and I’m from Austin and thus have a man-crush on Kevin Durant.
It can be a hard thing to reconcile sometimes, but I find myself drawn to watching them. Brooks is doing a good job at coach, Green/Westbrook/Harden should be good, and of course… Velvet Hoop. Look out NBA, there’s a Thunder-storm approaching!
August 21st, 2009 at 9:06 am
Like you Graydon, my 2nd favorite team is way down the list. But it’s the only other NBA squad that generates even mild interest from me.
As an SA native transplanted to LA, I obviously have nothing but antipathy for the Lakers. I only go to see them play the Spurs and cheer lustily for Tim and the boys, much to the generally silent dismay of the locals.
But there is another team here in the Southland, one so pathetic, with such a history of failure, poor management and bad luck, that one can’t help but feel sympathy for them, if never outright enthusiasm.
I speak, of course, of the Clippers, the Paper Clips, the team you resignedly watch when the Clipper Spirit dance squad takes a seat.
Whether squandering the talents of Terry Cummings, Danny Manning, Elton Brand and now, inevitably, Blake Griffin, they remain the sad little paste-eating child sitting in the corner, forever in the shadow of it’s golden-haired, triumphant (arrogant, self-satisfied) sibling. How can one not feel for an entire city’s ugly stepchild?
Their tickets are reasonably priced (comparatively), and yet they still play to 1/3 full arenas. They sign players who are destined to dissapoint (Baron Davis anyone?), they cultivate young players who will eventually move on to greener pastures (so long soon Eric Gordon and Al Thornton).
They have an owner who is, when not involved in “lady” scandals, seemingly congenitally addicted to losing. They replaced an inept GM with a man who was already doing a largely inept job as their coach. While the Lakers’ most famous fan is Jack Nicholson, the best the Clips can do is Billy Crystal, who appparently shows up so often mostly because he’s got nothing going on, film-wise.
And in recent history, apart from one valiant 7-game playoff conference semifinal, they view .500 as the pinnacle of the basketball dreamscape.
But they come to play every night, chock full of energy and turnovers. They let Chris Kaman keep his hair all long and sweaty, despite the fact that it frightens young children. They’re play-by-play guy, Ralph Lawler, is eminently professional, finding endless reservoirs of optimism for the team without ever sinking into pure homer-ism.
And they provide the Spurs with 3 to 4 guranteed wins every year, as well as the chance to rest their starters if the game is part of a back-to-back with the Lakers.
Oh my little Paper Clips. I can’t really say I like you. But I do pity you. And I suspect that for you, that’s just as good. You’ll take any attention you can get, won’t you?
August 21st, 2009 at 9:08 am
I, too, have high hopes for the Thunder, and would like to see Durant excel (hook’em!). But honestly, recently I’ve been pulling for the Rockets. After T-Mac got injured this past season, they actually looked like a team. And they play defense. Shane Battier and Yao are class acts, and I loved the way Aaron Brooks stepped up (occasionally) in the playoffs. Losing Artest to the Fakers definitely detracts from their entertainment ratings though. At least he’s still in the league (and on Kobe’s team nonetheless). Anyone wanna take bets on which teammate he punches first?
August 21st, 2009 at 9:14 am
As a lifelong Spurs who fan who has lived and traveled across the nation, I’ve found it fun to cheer for the “home” team where ever I may be at the time. Some stops have been harder then others - Bullets (yes, indeed), Celtics, and Warriors - while others have been much easier - Blazers (aka The Baby Spurs) and (gasp) even the Rockets. All in all I think it just stems from a simple love and appreciation of the game. In talking to fans all over I’ve gotten the general sense that folks appreciate what the Spurs have done and how they go about doing it (well, everywhere except Phoenix, ha). So maybe I should just start wearing an NBA logo shirt to games, because I suppose my second favorite team is the whole entire league. I love NBA basketball.
Of course, if the Spurs are coming town, you can screw the home team. Silver and black, baby. Silver and black.
August 21st, 2009 at 9:43 am
I lived 40 minutes north of Philadelphia my entire life so I always rooted for the Sixers when they weren’t playing the Spurs. I still root for them but now I live in D.C. and after watching the Wizards struggle with injuries, I’m going to root for them as well. Having Oberto on the team sweetens the deal.
August 21st, 2009 at 9:47 am
@NickyDubs Good call on the Rockets. I dabble with them occasionally but not enough to call them a favorite. More like a periodic interest.
I like watching Battier and thinking we’ll be able to trade for him this season or next (not likely), and I can’t help but see Scola and think of what might have been….
August 21st, 2009 at 9:48 am
I always find myself rooting for the Rockets because they’re from Texas and they haven’t posed a threat to us in these recent championship years. Like somebody else said, you end up hating every other team over the course of a hard fought playoff battle… so that knocks out most of the West.
August 21st, 2009 at 9:52 am
My 2nd Favorite Team? The Austin Toros.
August 21st, 2009 at 9:58 am
My second favorite team would be the Houston Rockets. When T-mac led the rockets to 18+ game win streak and when artest pisses off Kobe Bryant, that makes me happy. That is why the Rockets are my second favorite team. Any person lwho pisses off kobe is one of my favorite players including ginobili when he made that half court shot and Kobe threw his towel in this game after ginobili’s big shot at end of third quarter:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RqhTwaaBRI0
AND a Spurs D League-er Romel Beck Crosses Kobe and Kobe is pissed
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pj28VvPsjHk
Great Footage ya’ll
August 21st, 2009 at 10:05 am
I have to say my second favorite is the Washington Wizards. I’ve always been a fan of Arenas’ antics and his ridiculous shot selection. Outside of the Spurs, I’m really excited for this season to begin to see Hibachi back in full effect. The Wiz are going to make some noise this season, and I’m expecting them to make the playoffs with the additions of Mike Miller, Foye, and Oberto and a healthy Arenas and Haywood.
August 21st, 2009 at 10:10 am
Durant’s Thunder and to a slightly lesser degree Aldridge’s Blazers (which are more Roy’s Blazers). I liked the Thunder and Sonics a little more when PJ was their coach even though they are better off now. They have Spurs connections in their front offices too which is cool, but obviously it is for the UT connection that I like those teams.
I really liked the Bobcats last year with Larry Brown, DJ Augustin, and Emeka Okafor too. I’ve always liked Radmonovic as well and still think the Spurs were somewhat lucky he was injured that year in the playoffs. Emeka Okafor is a well-known David Robinson fanboy wearing his number. Boris Diaw has the Tony Parker connection as well being the best man in his wedding.
August 21st, 2009 at 10:36 am
And here is Agent Zero (Gilbert Arenas) crossing over Kobe twice in this video…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qgZ1LUWCAJM&NR=1
good stuff
August 21st, 2009 at 10:38 am
I am the exact opposite of you, I grew up idolizing Michael Jordan, and then for a few years after his real retirement (from the Bulls) I didn’t really have anybody to root for.
That all changed one night when I saw Tim Duncan outplay Shaq.
I don’t know who won the game, or if he really did outplay The Big Show Stealer, but I was converted.
Since the Bulls were relying on Eddy Curry at the time, I didn’t really feel like I was cheating. I felt like I had no other option but to root for the Spurs. This was in 2002. I’ve been with them for 3 championships and countless first round exits by the Bulls.
When I saw that we picked up RJ and shaved off some of our graybeards this summer, I got just as excited as I did when the Bulls got Rodman.
More excited than when the Bulls got Ben Wallace.
If I ever live in Texas, I will live in San Antonio.
And I will have season tickets.
August 21st, 2009 at 10:52 am
I do not have a second favorite team but I like watching a good basketball game. I always root for one team to win. Usually its the underdog or if one of the starting five played at UT. I also root for any team that is playing the Lakers or a Western Conference team.
August 21st, 2009 at 10:54 am
The Toronto Raptors entered the league right around the time that I was feeling that adolescent need to be different from everyone else, so they were my 2nd favorite team for a while. Plus, Toronto is just a really cool city. And, let’s face it, it takes a man secure in his masculinity to wear purple, let alone a purple jersey.
I gleamed with pride when the Raptors managed to hand the Bulls one of only 10 losses during the 95-96 season. Conversely, I was infuriated the day they traded Damon Stoudamire (which in hindsight was not really a bad thing).
These days, I enjoy watching Portland (and to a lesser extend, OKC). Steve Blake has always been under-appreciated, in my opinion. And Brandon Roy is fun to watch as he humbly goes about being one of the best swingmen in the league (he’s like Tim Duncan in that regard).
August 21st, 2009 at 10:55 am
i would say as a team when the spurs go down i tend to root for the rockets, or even the jazz because theyre never really jerks when they win or lose, and i respect that. The mavs were liked by many before they turned into the whinning cuban monster you see today. i cant sand them. i often cheer for the blazers, but i think its because of fernandez<-reminds me of ginobili when he was radical and out of control
August 21st, 2009 at 11:07 am
Great Thread.
Growing up humbly, there is no second team: the Spurs are simply family. Give all that LA glam, Bulls bandwagoning or Boston history to someone else, I’d rather have my faded Spurs photos cut from the San Antonio Light.
That said, the Rockets pulling together back to back championships toward the end of Olajuwon’s career was something memorable. Countless elimination games, home court disadvantage throughout the playoffs, and one timeless sentiment. “Never underestimate the heart of a champion.”
August 21st, 2009 at 11:19 am
Like most of you, my “second favorite team” is really far down the list, but a team I admire, say, is the Detroit Pistons. I love the grittiness and toughness of the team, usually. And, we all have to admit, beating them in seven games has to be our greatest championship accomplishment. The only team in our four championship years that, arguably, was as good as we were. I admire them a lot.
August 21st, 2009 at 11:36 am
OKC Thunder baby. Kevin Durant is one of the more magical basketball players to watch. Russell Westbrook is awesome, and James Harden is going to be big.
If they had gotten Chandler, I’d have ‘em pegged as a 6 seed in the playoffs. Great team.
August 21st, 2009 at 11:36 am
2nd favorite? i’ll root for whomever the lakers are playing.
August 21st, 2009 at 11:42 am
I would have to say that it is fun to root for the upstart zombie sonics… err Thunder. With Presti in the office and Durant on the floor as well as a flurry young talent, they’re fun to watch.
August 21st, 2009 at 11:49 am
I’m with abhi that my second favorite team is whoever the Lakers are playing next.
August 21st, 2009 at 12:36 pm
Trailblazers for me…they act like a team, play like a team, coached well and generally not a lot of fuss about them…they are kind of like the Spurs and that’s why I like them.
August 21st, 2009 at 12:40 pm
At the moment, I don’t have a second favorite team per see. It used to be the Kings from the early 2000s, since I thought they ran the most aesthetically pleasing offense in the league (the princeton), and had the perfect players to execute it, particularly the big men.
Going forward, I could foresee potentially latching on to the Trial Blazers or possibly even the Thunder, since both seem to be building their teams, for the most part, the “Spurs way”. I could never passionately go for another team, though.
August 21st, 2009 at 1:03 pm
I’m just glad nobody answered “the Dallas Mavericks”.
August 21st, 2009 at 2:25 pm
I found it interesting on the Truehoop post while the other writers were giving reasons while they chose their second favourite “team”, 3 writers said Chris Paul’s team. I’m with them. Chris Paul. My God. Wow. It doesn’t hurt that he is another Wake Forest product. Also being a NBA fan in New Zealand I don’t have a local team and last season the only NZ player in the NBA (Sean Marks) was playing for the Hornets. It can be conflicting though like in last years conference semis when the Spurs played the Hornets
August 21st, 2009 at 2:30 pm
ATL Hawks. Joe Johnson’s the man.
August 21st, 2009 at 2:44 pm
The Spurs are my favorite team only because two of my favorite players are on that team: Ginobili and Duncan. That said, I really don’t have a second favorite team - just other teams that has my favorite players on it. However, I admit I nearly always root against the home team - the Lakers - except when they play Boston. I just hate those guys.
August 21st, 2009 at 3:11 pm
I grew up having Chicago Bulls as my favorite team and that was during the Jordan era….
But right now, I have to say that my only favorite baskeball team is the Spurs. I started rooting for them when they drafted a guy named ‘Tim Duncan’… its like a privilege being a Spurs fan, high character guys, classy organization and always have the drive and motivation to win it all year in and year out…
August 21st, 2009 at 3:21 pm
I got a 2nd and a 3rd NBA team and a non NBA team. In fact, I think I am a basketball b***h…
2nd team is Toronto (anyone guess why?). They are (sometimes) fun to watch and, obviously, I root for Bargs (hoping he will finally get his act together).
3rd team is Charlotte, basically because they keep up piling all those wins… ehm… because I absolutely love to watch Gerald Wallace play and I enjoyed so much that Felton/Williams Final Four.
Outside the NBA, I am a fan of my local team, Vanoli Soresina, the first pro team of a certain american player named Keith Langford…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FhRXiLBbLuc
August 21st, 2009 at 5:39 pm
#1: Spurs
#2: The team playing against the Lakers.
August 21st, 2009 at 5:53 pm
It’s not exactly accurate to say 2nd “favorite”, but I am partial to the Pistons. I’ve liked them since the “bad boys” but they’ve never captured my heart like the Spurs over the past 20 years. I appreciate the team style they’ve played this decade, but I like all Detroit teams a little because that is my Mom’s hometown.
August 21st, 2009 at 6:23 pm
i’m surprised no one else has mentioned them, but i’ve started to appreciate the nuggets lately. i know they can’t compete with the spurs so they’re no threat in reality or in my mind for #1 team, but they’re a fun team to watch, and the fact that they beat dallas and almost the lakers last year certainly doesn’t hurt.
August 21st, 2009 at 6:38 pm
second fave is hard to choose between the Bobcats and the Nuggets. I like the Nuggets cause I love Melo and was a big fan as a kid (I’m 14). But the Bobcats are that underdog team I want to see in the playoffs so badly.
So yeah I’d go Bobcats
August 21st, 2009 at 7:33 pm
I’m just more of a person who enjoys watching the game of basketball and the way different teams carry their gameplans and I love watching the contenders go up against each other.
I am a true Spurs fan. the closest I got to having a 2nd favorite team was the 2007-08 Boston Celtics, just because it was good to see three superstars hungry for a title on the same team and to see how hard they worked the entire season to get that ring was pretty awesome
Plus they beat the Lakers
August 21st, 2009 at 7:33 pm
Simon, I will admit that I enjoyed the nuggets last year and previous years as well. They have a lot of hard working, likable, and flawed players.
August 21st, 2009 at 8:06 pm
I’m happy that the 07-08 Celtics beat the Lakers… But I find it hard liking them because of KG, he really went overboard at times and during the series against the Hawks, it believe he should have served atleast 1 game suspension… And after they won the title? KG got even worse (personality wise)… I just hate seeing guys like that…
August 21st, 2009 at 8:33 pm
My second team is the Blazers. Which puts me in somewhat of a conundrum now that they’re trying to break into the elite group of teams again - what happens if we meet the Blazers in the playoffs? As a San Antonio native, the Spurs will always be first in my mind… but I guess I really couldn’t lose in that situation. I also want to like the Thunder, but hate their ownership group.
August 21st, 2009 at 9:14 pm
The Lakers.
Bahaha. Just kidding fellas. But my 2nd favorite team would be the Utah Jazz. I’ve always admired Deron Williams. Great, great point guard. And then Carlos Boozer has always been a big favorite player of mine. Now, if he leaves, then I’m not exactly sure if the Jazz will remain in the 2 spot. We’ll see.
August 21st, 2009 at 10:41 pm
In football, I love and grew up with the Cowboys, and somehow I have developed an affection for the Tennessee Titans as my second team.
In basketball, however, I respect a lot of teams and may enjoy watching them play but I don’t honestly have a #2 team. The Spurs are my bread and butter. They are the only team where when they lose in the playoffs my wife knows to stay away from me that night (I am NOT proud of this fact).
August 21st, 2009 at 11:15 pm
My little bit of fluff on the side is the kings. Oddly in an incredibly egalitarian manner I came upon them firstly through the writings of one T Ziller esquire. I made sactownroyalty a regular read because of him then fell head over heals in love with Kevin Martins character and game.
I think he is one of the most efficient players I have ever seen score the ball and would love to see him get some more recognition. Plus it’s great to go for the under dog and they have that franchise pretty solidly sewn up
August 22nd, 2009 at 12:19 am
The Kevin Durants thank you very much!!!!
August 22nd, 2009 at 6:41 am
I think I might be a monogamist as well. Sure at certain points in the season or in the playoffs, I might root for a team for a little bit, but it’s never the same one and it’s mostly based on either who’re they playing or who is currently on that team.
Living in DC now, I’ve tried to get more interested in the Wizards but it’s just not happening at all.
However if we’re talking about teams we hate, my list is very very long. I dislike strongly most teams lol
August 22nd, 2009 at 9:26 am
I must confess to rooting for both the Rockets and the Mavericks. It’s not just that they are from Texas, but also that each team has a history and personality that sets it apart. I can see why it’s easy to hate the Mavs (and some of their fans seem really fixated on the Spurs), but I think Cuban is good for the game. When they go head-to-head, I tend to root for the team that needs the win the most — or I just sit back and let nature take its course.
August 22nd, 2009 at 9:33 am
Detroit Basketball.
August 22nd, 2009 at 10:11 am
I don’t a fixed 2nd favorite in any sport, but I often find myself rooting for other teams for a variety of reasons. Mostly I start liking a team because I think they are better than what most people think or because I like a certain player or the way they play. Other times is to go against the team some friend is rooting for
I rooted for the Jordan Bulls when they were still the underdogs to the Pistons and kept rooting for them during all of the Jordan years because I normally hated the teams they were against (Pistons, Knicks, UTAH!).
August 22nd, 2009 at 10:37 am
No other team comes even close to our organization,
but,
much respect to Jerry Sloan.
August 22nd, 2009 at 11:31 am
The Houston Rockets is my 2nd favourite team. They have such perseverance against hardship (the constant injuries that their star players can’t seem to avoid) and they play a brand of good team basketball. Plus, they have Luis Scola!
August 22nd, 2009 at 11:38 am
The Spurs are IT. Yet, certain teams have captured my interest through the years as second favorites. They are as follows:
Rockets of mid 90’s- liked Olajuwon,Drexler, and clutch shooting of Horry,Elie,K. Smith
Warriors- the ones that beat the Punk Mavericks a couple of years ago with Baron Davis,J. Richardson,S. Jackson etc. and Run TMC version with Mullin,Richmond, and T. Hardaway
Sixers- late 70’s and early 80’s with Dr. J and company.
Bulls- with Jordan, but my like of Jordan has waned over time.
I hate Mavericks, Whorenets,Lakers,Celtics and Nuggets. I have always hated those teams with exception of nelso,Nash,Finley, Nowitski Mavericks which I liked before punks like Stackhorse, Terry, J. Howard, and Coach Avery.
August 22nd, 2009 at 11:58 am
My 2nd favorite team is whoever beats the Fakers.
I’ve been watching the top 20 NBA games of 2008-09 on NBATV the past couple days. The Tony Parker 53 pt game vs. Timberwolves, the Mason winning 3 pt play vs. Lakers, the Mason winning 3 pt shot vs. the Suns.
One thing has become clear, we need to resign Bruce Bowen. He is way more valuable for a run for a championship than Marcus Williams or Malik Hairston. He annoyed the daylights out of Nash, he frustrated the life out of Mike Miller, and he drove Kobe Bryant to whine to the refs.
Bruce Bowen for a 3 or 4 minute defensive stint will be needed come a playoff run for a championship. I don’t see Jefferson being able to impact the game on the defensive end.
August 22nd, 2009 at 12:38 pm
The spurs have more than enough offensive and defensive weapons that in most games we will be ahead and defensive stints will not be needed. Even if Kobe does make that last three pointer in the fourth quarter i am sure ginobili, jefferson, or even roger mason will be able to make the last point to win the game
GO SPURS GO!
August 22nd, 2009 at 12:48 pm
Used to be Reggie Miller’s Pacers and their epic battles with the Knicks, Magic (when Shaq was in Orlando) and that great seven game series against Jordan. Plus I liked Reggie. Now? Not really. My Spurs love is monogamous and no other team has inspired as much as a wink. Should one arise it would have to be in the Eastern Conference.
August 22nd, 2009 at 2:13 pm
I was a fan of the Pacers while Reggie Miller was on the team. What he did for his 18 years there was truly remarkable, but not even close to what Timmy is doing for the Spurs in his tenure here
August 22nd, 2009 at 2:33 pm
I have been a Spurs fan since they entered the NBA, and while I have second favorite teams in other sports, I do not in the NBA. In fact, the team I dislike the most in the NBA is the Bulls. I live just outside of Chicago and dislike all of the city’s sports teams. I have been to San Antonio once and everything is better there than it is here; the sports fans, the weather, the politics, people in general…The Spurs are the classiest organization in professional sports.
August 22nd, 2009 at 3:56 pm
I grew up in Houston until I was 8, and the year after we moved to the Hill Country, the Rockets won the first of their back-to-back championships. After they fell apart, I quickly became a Spurs fan (pre-Duncan), but since then, I’ve had a soft spot for the Rockets…except when playing the Spurs, of course.
August 23rd, 2009 at 1:09 am
At least one thing is clear, there is real rivalry between recent championship teams, with the Lakers beeing the most love/hated of all.
From a glance to the others TrueHoop network blogs, I can’t put a clear view of who loves who and who hates who (not every blogs gets 60-or-so comments).
That’s sad because it would have been very interesting to draw a 2009 map of sentiments of the NBA.
August 23rd, 2009 at 6:59 am
The Spurs will always be #1 to me, but I am from Maine, live about 6 hours from Boston, and conversely, well. . . I hate the Celtics!
I don’t have a second team, just players I love to watch.
Jason Kidd… When he was in NJ he was an absolute monster at the PG. I loved watching him kill Boston in the playoffs. One time NJ had already won the game (At Boston), but with a couple seconds left, Kidd threw up a 3 and banked it and the crowd went f’ing crazy, chanting wife beater and stuff. It was awesome.
Also I love Captain Kirk! Rose will become a far better player I think, but Kirk could still teach that kid a lot if Chicago keeps him around. I love watching youtube vids of Kirk in high school games dunking. Yeah not very impressive dunks, but still, a 6′3ish white boy dunking? Ha I love it.
August 23rd, 2009 at 7:13 am
spurs first and always.
I can’t like the jazz because of stockton and malone beating us out of the playoffs all those years. can’t like the lakers for similar reasons. same with the suns and dallas. I like the nuggets because they play tough and the blazers because they are like our little brother.
August 23rd, 2009 at 8:59 am
2nd favorite team? Probably the Chicago Bulls, as well. I’m a Chicago native. I didn’t know there were anymore Spurs fans in this state!
August 23rd, 2009 at 10:55 am
This last year I found myself rooting for the Magic after the Spurs got beat. It was simple process of elimination: I hate the Lakers, Mavs, and Rockets (the last, on principle considering the little state rivalry thing we have going); though I used to like the Celtics, they got a little too proud this last year, so I started disliking them; I can’t root for Carmelo Anthony (who I think is something of a thug), so the Nuggets were out; I don’t really have anything against LeBron, but I feel like as soon as he figures out how to win, that’ll be it for the next decade or so, and I’d like to see the Spurs window stay open a little longer; and the Hawks are just not good enough to be interestng. That left the Magic, the team with a lovable superstar that reminds me a lot of our own two hall-of-fame big men in Dwight Howard.
August 23rd, 2009 at 3:26 pm
Ever since I witnessed Gibert Arenas drain 2 game winning buzzer-beaters, one particularly against the Jazz with Deron Williams all but in his jock trying to defend Gil, ans before the shot even goes in, Gilbert Arenas is already headed back to his bench with this scorn across his brow as if to say, “Hell YES that’s going in!” it made me love the attitude of the life-long underdog. I hate the chest pounding, throat slicing, “in your face!” show-you-up-manship that the majority of the NBA players taunt, (which is why I love Timmy’s modest approach to gamesmanship) but there was something different about Gilbert Arenas’ scorn and “how do you like me now?!” look on his face that was different than the rest of the idiots that I already mentioned. So as anyone can tell, My 2nd fave is the Wizards. I’ve also always liked Antwon Jamison and his game. I’d cheer Spurs all the way if they ever met in the Finals, but I wouldn’t be too disappointed if the Wizards won that series either. There’s no conceivable way they would with the Spurs current roster, but it’s cool to think about.
August 23rd, 2009 at 5:56 pm
My second favorite team is whoever is playing LA. So I guess I don’t really have a second favorite team. I much prefer to root against a team unless the Spurs are involved.
August 23rd, 2009 at 6:18 pm
Gotta say that my second favorite team lately has been the Celtics. I’m a big KG fan (is he better than Duncan at this point?) and the way they humiliated LA in 2008 allowed me to experience one of the greatest pleasures of life: having cocky LA fan after cocky LA fan (I work in a sports bar) eat their own sh** for a change.
August 23rd, 2009 at 7:00 pm
KG is most definitely not better than Duncan. Timmy might be getting old and hurting some, but so is KG. He missed a big chunk of time at the end of this season / all of the playoffs. Who knows how well he’s going to be come next season.
Duncan, when it counts, always seems to come up big. Even though we lost to Dallas he still rocked in the last game. What does KG do at the end of a tight game? Nothing, Pierce takes over.
KG is quite the player and its unfortunate that Minnesota had such crappy management and wasted his best years, but don’t fool yourself, he’s still not on Duncan’s level.
August 23rd, 2009 at 7:29 pm
John, as I was reading your post, it looked exactly like something I would have written. I had the exact same thought process and ended up rooting for the Magic after the Spurs were eliminated.
August 23rd, 2009 at 7:31 pm
KG, will never be at the Duncan level… during his early years in Minnesota who was also surrounded by talent (Sprewell, Hudson? if i remembered correctly… and Wally during his prime) but still couldn’t get it done…. Because he always chokes when it counts most…
He won a ring in ‘08, but only because he is with Pierce, Allen, and Rondo not to mention that it seems like the league really pulled for a Laker-Boston at the time…
KG will never be Duncan, the best Power Forward of All Time…
August 23rd, 2009 at 7:39 pm
* he was also surrounded…
August 23rd, 2009 at 9:13 pm
My second favorite team is whoever is playing against the Lakers.
August 23rd, 2009 at 11:58 pm
I just think it’s interesting that nobody (me included) seems to have really good reasons for liking their second favorite team. Given all the things we tend to like about the Spurs - great guys, team ball, emphasis on D, diverse international representation, Pop’s guidance & humor, Big 3’s crazy skill level, role players, great front office & culture, etc. - just aren’t found anywhere else. Maybe some other teams have a couple or so of those things, but not more.
That being said, I tend to go with a trendy, up and coming Eastern Conference team to have someone to follow but without conflict until the championship. Way long ago it was the Knicks (until they signed Sprewell), then the Raptors, for a while (when the East really stunk) nobody, now it’s the Sixers. The thing is: none of them are even close to as interesting/fun as the Spurs. No one else in pro sports for that matter (Steelers in the conversation, maybe?).
August 24th, 2009 at 9:25 am
My number 2 would be whoever is playing the Mavs, even if it’s the Lakers. I’ve lived with various Mavs loving roommates over the past decade or so and will root for whoever the other team is.
August 25th, 2009 at 9:46 am
Right now -
1. Spurs - I wasn’t more than a very casual fan until last winter when I started reading this blog. Now I find myself with strong opinions about the Toros and an inexplicable affection for Pops Mensah-Bonsu. Congratulations, 48MoH: You won me over.
2. Jazz - I’m from Utah originally and Jerry Sloan + John Stockton + Deron Williams + …. has always made this an easy team to root for. If not for the inevitable nature of Michael Jordan’s greatness, a loophole in the rules that makes it okay to push Bryon Russell, and the general existence of Greg “00″ Ostertag, my childhood may have been complete. And how can you not stop a guy with the flu?!
3. T-Wolves (which means Boston now because my KG loyalties will outweigh my Minnesota loyalties until he retires.)
4. The Thund-ah! - This team makes me happy.
Robby - I think it is unfair to say that KG was “surrounded by talent” if you are going to cite the single good year he got from Sprewell and Sam Cassell, Troy Hudson, and one-time all-star Wally Szczerbiak “in his prime”. The reality is that the Wolves have been poorly managed for decades and KG is the only reason they have had any success.
Winning percentages pre-KG:
.268, .354, .183, .232, .244, .256
Starting with his rookie year:
.317, .488, .549, .500, .610, .573, .610, .622, .707, .537, .402, .390
Aside from the 2003/04 season with Sprewell and Cassell [4-2 WCF loss to the Shaq/Kobe Lakers, just like the Spurs had done a round earlier (and Cassell was injured for most of the series)], the only time we’ve seen him healthy and playing with other good players (admittedly, they are some very good players), he has been the heart and soul of a dominant Celtics team. I’m not going to argue that Garnett is better than Duncan. Given the ring disparity and Duncan’s unimpeachable career, that’s a tough case to make. But let’s give KG his due as one of the best players of his generation, yeah?
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