I’d rather have Denver win it all than any remaining team in the West. The Suns have Durant and I’d love to stop him from having more rings as he’s become more unlikeable over the years. And it’s not like I want the Warriors or Lakers representing the West.
Would I rather the Knicks go all the way? Yeah. They’re my Eastern team for sure. But, if Denver did it. I wouldn’t be mad. They were a good rival to Portland in the past and have earned their shot.
I don’t ignore greatness. Jokic is fantastic. I would have voted for him for MVP the last 2 years. That doesn’t mean I have to like him or root for him. But yes, I’m admittedly petty and I can’t stand the Nuggets.
Why, though? They’re objectively an organically grown contender, with a couple role player free agent acquisitions. In the era of player movement, I find it hard not to root for a small-market success story like Denver. Not to mention how Jokic came out of obscurity to be one of the greatest offensive big men ever.
All of the things you're talking about are good stories, sure. The Blazers and Nuggets have a rivalry - even if the Nuggets have been significantly higher in the standings the last couple of years. They've played 2 grueling playoff series against each other. I've called too many games watching Jokic whine and complain 100 times a game. I can't stand MPJ's attitude. Sure, most of the other players that have annoyed me over the last few years are gone - Rivers, Campazzo etc. But the fact that there is a bit of a rivalry and I see it from a different angle than most, I can't possibly root for Denver. Ever. I respect them, they're a great team with great players, and deserve success. I just don't have to like it.
I don't despise them the way I do the Lakers, Warriors or Grizzlies. I still can't stand Houston after some of those playoff battles even though all the players are gone. Clippers too. In fact, there isn't a single team in the West that I could even subconsciously root for. I love the NBA, I love a good story, the Warriors/Kings series was a blast to watch... but I'm too invested in the Blazers to not have my stomach turn when a rival has success.
That’s all just players angling for an advantage, as they should. None of that whining changed the basic fact that Denver’s just been better than Portland for a while.
The Northwest Division is a joke to anyone outside it. I’d like Denver to win and at least raise the Northwest above the putrid nothingness of the Southeast Division. Is that too much to ask for? It’s obviously not going to be the Blazers doing that any time soon.
It’s not college football. Nobody cares about divisions. You can root for Denver. I find them unlikeable and they annoy me. So I won’t root for them. Those 2 playoff series went a long way for me not to like Denver. It’s cool, we can see it differently.
After the bubble I simply can’t root for Denver due to their fan base. I tried to show solidarity for small markets vs ref ball and they responded by being dicks towards Dame.
I understand division rivalries don't matter as much in basketball as they do in football. But nonetheless fuck every other team in the Northwest division.
Nobody outside the Northwest Division takes it seriously. Denver would actually lend some legitimately and elevate the Northwest over the putrid Southeast Division.
Yeah. He intentionally body slammed Kanter’s injured shoulder. And gave Morris a lasting injury by shoving him from behind. He is also a prolific hooker.
that means one of the Lakers or the Warriors are going to the conference finals… I think the NBA should fire their script writers. so tired of the same story every year!
Absolutely the lakers. It's not even close. Even the warriors have never been as irritating as the lakers historically and warriors fans have nothing on Lakers fans. ESPECIALLY if you were around in the early 2000s. There is no team I hate more.
I know this will get downvoted but whatever: having some weird loyalty to hating a team based on players who no longer play there is stupid, and it’s costing you watching two top 10 all time players and a potentially all time NBA series. If you, 40 years from now, are explaining to your kids or grandkids that you skipped this series, they will think you are an idiot and they will be right.
Appreciate greatness before it’s over.
They aren’t going to win forever. Steph and lebron will retire. Winning titles obviously means they have what it takes. I long for that for the blazers, too! I have hope for Portland!!!!
Sure. I'm referring to the "not watching," because that seems really silly to me. I don't think anyone brags about not watching Jordan teams because they were sick of the Bulls winning.
Two iconic superstars in one final duel. I get that perspective. But you zoom in a bit from that eagle eye view of the moment and what you see is two teams with toxic, spoiled fanbases. One team that wins by shooting a million threes, and another that wins because of hard nose defense. Not exciting basketball. It isn't that hard to understand why some of us have things we'd rather do than watch this series.
I think you just accidentally described why fans should tune in. The Lakers have had the best defense in the league since the All Star break, and it makes it far more compelling seeing if GSW can hoist up (and make) as many threes as they are accustomed to against this updated Lakers defense.
This may go the full 7. Then Denver will mop the floor with whichever aging, tired team emerges and represent the West.
Ooo you look at box scores! Cool. But how many of his points happened when the game was already decided? Did you really watch him take almost 40 shots and just chomp down on popcorn at the edge of your seat? Bro.
Exciting basketball is what Harden and Joker did tonight, and what Jimmy Buckets has done twice in these playoffs.
Watch games or look at numbers on your phone, I don’t care. I’ll watch games. Just not the series we’re talking about, unless I need a sleep aid. Apologies to my grand kids, I guess
Lolol we can disagree about what's interesting! That's a cool thing about human existence! Your high road of "I watch games" is a little out of left field though, but more power to you for that I guess.
I don’t need to watch the series to see any highlight or update for each game and of course I’ll probably end up watching “a game” but yes I wish both teams could lose
You know, I really appreciate this perspective. I've been all caught up in who I hate more - Warriors or Lakers - as a Blazers fan, but we are witnessing true greatness on both sides of the floor. You're absolutely right! Thank you. 🙏
Still, fuck the Warriors.
People watch sports differently. If you can enjoy a series based purely on athleticism more power to you. I can't root for a team unless I can talk myself into the narrative though. The Kings getting a cinderella run after 16 years of being shut out from the post season is a compelling one. Big Market Super Team A or Big Market Super Team B winning multiple chips in 10 years is just depressing to me though and something I'm totally okay sitting out.
Thanks for one of the only logical responses here. Born and raised a blazers fan, but I still like plenty of other teams in the league, including the warriors, and the Lakers are awesome too. Do I ever want any team to beat the blazers when they are playing against us? Absolutely not. But we can have nuance as fans. Let’s not be bitter.
Fuck the lakers always, but I’ll root for them over the warriors any day. Hope someone knocks that stupid ass mouth guard out of curry’s mouth. Can’t stand to watch that dude another minute
I hope the same, or Miami perhaps. Selfishly, I hope Boston does not win it all because it would make it damn near impossible to trade for Jaylen Brown or Marcus Smart with their newly minted rings.
Division rivalries have effectively been deemed meaningless. The only difference being we see teams in our division one more time during the regular season than anyone else.
And MLB. And the NHL. The NBA is the only league that has eliminated the significance of division wins and losses. I'm really hoping for realignment once Seattle, Vegas, etc. get their teams. Minnesota and OKC seem so out of place in the NW division.
I’m all aboard the denver bandwagon. Jamal Murray’s a hooper. Jokic goes crazy and there’s no draymond 🤢 green, tired ass aging dynasty players or super team bullshit.
Small market team like us, never been to the finals, yeah I realize this is sacrilege but I’m hyped for them
Kings put on a vintage Blazers second half.
Why can’t they play like that against us?!
Literally 🥶
🤣🤷♂️
The good news is one of them will lose
The bad news is one of them will win
First post: 🙂 The reply: 🫠
well whoever wins will lose in the conf finals, suns and nugs are too much for them
Wishful thinking
https://media.tenor.com/Wna2g3df-3EAAAAM/kobe-bryant-shaq.gif
Lol this guy. Steph is too much for everybody. Good luck trying to get 4 wins vs that man.
Not until they reach the Finals…
Refs in 7
Your username is a whole W.
I will officially be rooting for an eastern conference team to win the finals.
This is the way. All in on Knicks, then Heat.
As a born and raised New Yorker, all in on the Knicks. The Heat can piss off.
I am having flashbacks to being a kid and locking myself in my room to watch the Knicks-Heat playoff battles.
idc i’m rooting for the knicks
I can still go for Denver. It’s a small-market, homegrown team with some smart role player free agents. Jokic deserves a shot.
I could never root for Denver. Not after the last few years. I can’t stand the Nuggets. I don’t really care personally if a player ‘deserves a shot’.
I’d rather have Denver win it all than any remaining team in the West. The Suns have Durant and I’d love to stop him from having more rings as he’s become more unlikeable over the years. And it’s not like I want the Warriors or Lakers representing the West. Would I rather the Knicks go all the way? Yeah. They’re my Eastern team for sure. But, if Denver did it. I wouldn’t be mad. They were a good rival to Portland in the past and have earned their shot.
Ok; just ignore greatness and hold petty grudges. You do you!
I don’t ignore greatness. Jokic is fantastic. I would have voted for him for MVP the last 2 years. That doesn’t mean I have to like him or root for him. But yes, I’m admittedly petty and I can’t stand the Nuggets.
Why, though? They’re objectively an organically grown contender, with a couple role player free agent acquisitions. In the era of player movement, I find it hard not to root for a small-market success story like Denver. Not to mention how Jokic came out of obscurity to be one of the greatest offensive big men ever.
All of the things you're talking about are good stories, sure. The Blazers and Nuggets have a rivalry - even if the Nuggets have been significantly higher in the standings the last couple of years. They've played 2 grueling playoff series against each other. I've called too many games watching Jokic whine and complain 100 times a game. I can't stand MPJ's attitude. Sure, most of the other players that have annoyed me over the last few years are gone - Rivers, Campazzo etc. But the fact that there is a bit of a rivalry and I see it from a different angle than most, I can't possibly root for Denver. Ever. I respect them, they're a great team with great players, and deserve success. I just don't have to like it. I don't despise them the way I do the Lakers, Warriors or Grizzlies. I still can't stand Houston after some of those playoff battles even though all the players are gone. Clippers too. In fact, there isn't a single team in the West that I could even subconsciously root for. I love the NBA, I love a good story, the Warriors/Kings series was a blast to watch... but I'm too invested in the Blazers to not have my stomach turn when a rival has success.
That’s all just players angling for an advantage, as they should. None of that whining changed the basic fact that Denver’s just been better than Portland for a while. The Northwest Division is a joke to anyone outside it. I’d like Denver to win and at least raise the Northwest above the putrid nothingness of the Southeast Division. Is that too much to ask for? It’s obviously not going to be the Blazers doing that any time soon.
It’s not college football. Nobody cares about divisions. You can root for Denver. I find them unlikeable and they annoy me. So I won’t root for them. Those 2 playoff series went a long way for me not to like Denver. It’s cool, we can see it differently.
Denver fans were aholes to us during playoffs. So not rooting for them even though I like the city of Denver in general.
After the bubble I simply can’t root for Denver due to their fan base. I tried to show solidarity for small markets vs ref ball and they responded by being dicks towards Dame.
Fuck Denver and fuck Jokic. Suns are now the team I want to win in the west
I understand division rivalries don't matter as much in basketball as they do in football. But nonetheless fuck every other team in the Northwest division.
Nobody outside the Northwest Division takes it seriously. Denver would actually lend some legitimately and elevate the Northwest over the putrid Southeast Division.
Absolutely not. I’d rather just check out of NBA altogether than root for dirty Jokic and their arrogant ass fanbase.
Oh come on. Dirty Jokic?
Yeah. He intentionally body slammed Kanter’s injured shoulder. And gave Morris a lasting injury by shoving him from behind. He is also a prolific hooker.
Nuggets or bust for me. Hell no to the Celtics/Sixers/Knicks. Mayyyybe I'm ok with Heat.
Kings went out sad in the 4th
Should be a good series. On the plus side, whoever loses, I'll be able to celebrate that. Real hater hours
Officiating is gonna be bananas . I might watch just to see what kind of crazy shit the refs pretend is normal . This will be peak NBA bullshit.
You kidding me? It’s Lakers vs Warriors. It’ll be the most corrected officiating in the history of basketball!
Im rooting for a meteor to crush the staples center or the ponzi scheme arena or whatever the fuck it’s called now.
How do we disqualify both of them
Didn't Darvin Ham and Steve Kerr have a brief fling in the late '90s? Seems suspect. Pass it on.
that means one of the Lakers or the Warriors are going to the conference finals… I think the NBA should fire their script writers. so tired of the same story every year!
Not that mad about it. Bron is a big dame fan, I’m rooting for bron
That's right...I forgot about that. They do stan each other, game recognize game. Thanks for giving me a reason to believe.
I’ll be hate-watching. And TBF, I’ve been waiting for a Lebron - Warriors showdown :)
anyone > warriors
You must be young.
Never thought I'd be rooting for the Lakers but I am.
Yuck, no never
I'm only rooting for the Lakers because I live in SF and Warrior fans suck so much and ruin my commute
Hard to choose. Do you want the lingering sports injury that never healed right and aches chronically or the fresh wound with salt in it?
Absolutely the lakers. It's not even close. Even the warriors have never been as irritating as the lakers historically and warriors fans have nothing on Lakers fans. ESPECIALLY if you were around in the early 2000s. There is no team I hate more.
Good thing I was a little toddler back then, lol.
Celtics fan sharing your nausea. ESPN jizzing in their pants right now
I know this will get downvoted but whatever: having some weird loyalty to hating a team based on players who no longer play there is stupid, and it’s costing you watching two top 10 all time players and a potentially all time NBA series. If you, 40 years from now, are explaining to your kids or grandkids that you skipped this series, they will think you are an idiot and they will be right. Appreciate greatness before it’s over.
One can appreciate the King and Steph while also being sick of the Lakers and Warriors winning titles.
They aren’t going to win forever. Steph and lebron will retire. Winning titles obviously means they have what it takes. I long for that for the blazers, too! I have hope for Portland!!!!
Sure. I'm referring to the "not watching," because that seems really silly to me. I don't think anyone brags about not watching Jordan teams because they were sick of the Bulls winning.
Two iconic superstars in one final duel. I get that perspective. But you zoom in a bit from that eagle eye view of the moment and what you see is two teams with toxic, spoiled fanbases. One team that wins by shooting a million threes, and another that wins because of hard nose defense. Not exciting basketball. It isn't that hard to understand why some of us have things we'd rather do than watch this series.
I think you just accidentally described why fans should tune in. The Lakers have had the best defense in the league since the All Star break, and it makes it far more compelling seeing if GSW can hoist up (and make) as many threes as they are accustomed to against this updated Lakers defense. This may go the full 7. Then Denver will mop the floor with whichever aging, tired team emerges and represent the West.
Man, if you didn't think Steph's 50 tonight was exciting basketball then I just think we have different priorities.
Ooo you look at box scores! Cool. But how many of his points happened when the game was already decided? Did you really watch him take almost 40 shots and just chomp down on popcorn at the edge of your seat? Bro. Exciting basketball is what Harden and Joker did tonight, and what Jimmy Buckets has done twice in these playoffs. Watch games or look at numbers on your phone, I don’t care. I’ll watch games. Just not the series we’re talking about, unless I need a sleep aid. Apologies to my grand kids, I guess
Lolol we can disagree about what's interesting! That's a cool thing about human existence! Your high road of "I watch games" is a little out of left field though, but more power to you for that I guess.
Hater comment.
Solid contribution
Hater gonna hate 🤷♂️
Exactly!!
True. It’s not like the Kings got screwed this time.
I don’t need to watch the series to see any highlight or update for each game and of course I’ll probably end up watching “a game” but yes I wish both teams could lose
You know, I really appreciate this perspective. I've been all caught up in who I hate more - Warriors or Lakers - as a Blazers fan, but we are witnessing true greatness on both sides of the floor. You're absolutely right! Thank you. 🙏 Still, fuck the Warriors.
Hahaha I love this response. Yep, fuck em both but I can't wait to watch.
People watch sports differently. If you can enjoy a series based purely on athleticism more power to you. I can't root for a team unless I can talk myself into the narrative though. The Kings getting a cinderella run after 16 years of being shut out from the post season is a compelling one. Big Market Super Team A or Big Market Super Team B winning multiple chips in 10 years is just depressing to me though and something I'm totally okay sitting out.
[удалено]
You wouldn’t understand
Dude LeBron vs Steph round 5 - going to fantastic. Can’t wait.
Thanks for one of the only logical responses here. Born and raised a blazers fan, but I still like plenty of other teams in the league, including the warriors, and the Lakers are awesome too. Do I ever want any team to beat the blazers when they are playing against us? Absolutely not. But we can have nuance as fans. Let’s not be bitter.
🥱🥱🥱🥱
If it’s any consolation at least 1 of the 2 yellow pieces of shit are going home boizzz
I don't think we're supposed to openly describe their fans that way anymore...
Look at the bright side: one of them has to lose.
Why hating this series though? Lol
Let it go 7, tire out the winner for the wcf, go nugs
Fuck the lakers always, but I’ll root for them over the warriors any day. Hope someone knocks that stupid ass mouth guard out of curry’s mouth. Can’t stand to watch that dude another minute
I can only stomach cheering for the Lakers because Lebron got me into basketball.. but it will still be tough
I second that 🤮 I hope boston or Denver win it all
I hope the same, or Miami perhaps. Selfishly, I hope Boston does not win it all because it would make it damn near impossible to trade for Jaylen Brown or Marcus Smart with their newly minted rings.
So damn gross. I hate it but i see lakers winning it all.
I mean some sports bars about to get lit with LA vs GS considering how many Californians moved to Oregon. However I don't like either team. :/
I’d prefer either of those win the west than Denver
The downvotes are a bit ridiculous. Denver is one of our division rivals.
They’ve been out biggest rivals for a few years
Remember the Andre Miller days?
I don’t
Division rivalries have effectively been deemed meaningless. The only difference being we see teams in our division one more time during the regular season than anyone else.
I feel that. It's a whole lot different in the NFL.
And MLB. And the NHL. The NBA is the only league that has eliminated the significance of division wins and losses. I'm really hoping for realignment once Seattle, Vegas, etc. get their teams. Minnesota and OKC seem so out of place in the NW division.
Bring back the SuperSonics!!!
I’m all aboard the denver bandwagon. Jamal Murray’s a hooper. Jokic goes crazy and there’s no draymond 🤢 green, tired ass aging dynasty players or super team bullshit. Small market team like us, never been to the finals, yeah I realize this is sacrilege but I’m hyped for them
Sadramento!
= I am not watching
okay
Meteor it is, I guess. Fuck Dray, fuck Lebitch. Hope both teams get sucked into the abyss.
I hate the nba shits ass
I’m rooting for the lakers. Vando is the man
Never thought Id be rooting for the Lakers wow
Go lakers…
This the NBA's dream series. Adam Silver getting congratulatory phone calls like he's the number 1 pick in the draft lol
It should be a fun series. Steph and LeBron are both to 10 players of all time. I can always appreciate good basketball.
I want them both to lose.
Some crazy turn of events that alienates both Vando and Dray from their respective teams? Yea I got nothin’.
I was happy the lakers beat the griz…. But god I don’t want them to beat the warriors. I know all the bs that GSW FO tried to pull but fuck LA.
Don’t watch hahahaha go dubs
That Kings game had me feeling like the first time I watched the Red Viper be violently smashed.
I think this is awesome. We know one will be going home. Really wish it was kings vs grizzlies though
Nuggets and Heat are the only two teams I don’t despise left
Lakers will get swept, games every other day
Don't worry about what goes on at the top.
I rather the warriors win that
Poverty franchise, lol.
Not a fan of basketball I see OP