Absolute Irrelevancy
It'll be a close call between watching any of these teams play each other or setting yourself on fire.

Phoenix
Charlotte
Orlando
Detroit
Milwaukee
Boston
Sacramento
Toronto

Irrelevant

These teams are going nowhere, but they have some guys you wouldn't mind watching.

New Orleans
Washington
Utah
Dallas
Philly
Portland
Atlanta

Irrelevant +

These teams are also going nowhere, but they are either on the rise or employ enough big names to deceive you into thinking they're relevant. They only way any of these teams make it to the Finals is through an injury to some better team.

NYK
Minnesota
LAL
Golden State
Brooklyn
Indiana
Denver
Houston
Memphis

Contenders

These are the only teams that have any chance of going to the Finals.

LAC
Miami
Chicago
SA
OKC

_________________
Successful calls:

Kyrie Irving will never win anything as a team's alpha: check
T.rubisky is a bust: check
Ben Simmons is a liability: check
The Fields Cult is dumb: double check

2013 CSFMB ROY

Houston might be able to make some noise. I think Brooklyn will be a collossal failure.

_________________

Finally we can start talking some Sacramento Kings buckets around here. I think this is the year Jimmer Fredette makes the leap.

_________________

I expect to appreciate a lot of greatness.

_________________

I don't think the Clips are legit contenders. I think Memphis would beat them in a series again.

_________________
Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
To rock my soul

I'm not necessarily disagreeing that Washington will be irrelevant, but they'll make the playoffs this year.

_________________
Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
To rock my soul

Detroit shouldn't be in that last group. Josh Smith will carry them out of absolute irrelevancy and into irrelevancy.

_________________
Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
To rock my soul

I am with KS I think the Pacers could win a title. And I am kind of excited about this Pistons team. I mean I have a reflexive dislike of the Pistons that still lingers from the Bad Boys era, but I think after their city went bankrupt I feel like we can call that grudge even and move on to an era of Andre Drummond lob dunks

_________________

The only Andre Drummond lob dunks will come from Josh Smith and Brandon Jennings air-ball threes.

_________________

I don't really think they'll be a legit title contender, but I think Brooklyn is easily gonna win that division.

_________________
Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
To rock my soul

That sounds even more fun to me somehow

_________________

When I say failure, I mean first round loss, I do think they will make the playoffs.

_________________

Nobody else is going to get any shots with these two guys hoisting up bad shots all night.

A fun bet will be who will finish with a worse 3point %.

_________________

_________________
Kid Cairo's Boers & Bernstein YouTube Channel

Kid Cairo: 2013 March Madness Tournament Winner!

"Cowabunga? Cowa fucking piece of dog shit! This game is diarrhea coming out of my dick!"

I knew I was missing one, KS. Thanks for catching it. I'd categorize Cleveland as a fun team that should be "on the rise" if coached well.



Irrelevant is probably a harsh word, but that's how I view all non-contending teams when it comes to determining favorites, whether they're in the playoffs or not. I wouldn't be surprised if Washington made the playoffs, but obviously they're not going past the second round. Every team in the East outside of Chicago, Indy, and Miami is basically fighting for the right to be eliminated in the second round.



I don't think Indiana has "enough." They better add another dynamic player to pair with Paul before they start to taper off. Even though they went seven against Miami in the ECF, I don't even think they go that deep had Rose been healthy. Golden State is way too young and inexperienced. In any case, I don't think either team has either the talent or the experience to knock off the Spurs or OKC. Teams like OKC and LAC have the optimal mix of talent and experience, while SA is a bit older than you'd like.



That's one of Bernstein's all-time dumbest opinions. Of course he probably doesn't think it's an opinion. Whatever.



If Rivers fails to improve LAC's system, then yes, I can see Memphis beating them again. If Rivers works out, I think LAC should beat Memphis based on talent alone.

_________________
Successful calls:

Kyrie Irving will never win anything as a team's alpha: check
T.rubisky is a bust: check
Ben Simmons is a liability: check
The Fields Cult is dumb: double check

2013 CSFMB ROY

It's not really his, nor is it dumb.

_________________

Has Keeping Score finished the Pacific Division preview yet?

_________________

My bad...I thought he said something about appreciating greatness vis a vis LeBron and the like is the point of being a fan. Haven't listened closely this summer so I'm probably wrong about that, and that's what I thought you were bringing up.

_________________
Successful calls:

Kyrie Irving will never win anything as a team's alpha: check
T.rubisky is a bust: check
Ben Simmons is a liability: check
The Fields Cult is dumb: double check

2013 CSFMB ROY

Oh, no, Dan has certainly talked about the NBA being about Appreciating Greatness, but I'd hardly call it proprietary. ESPN has pushed the same sentiment, but far more often and far worse. Freddie DeBoer wrote a good piece about it a few months ago, which we discussed here: https://medium.com/sports-page/aa4afd698a2b

The truth is that the NBA isn't about liking your team through thick and thin and loathing all who dare to step before them, because now more than ever, that's probably not going to be a fulfilling use of your time.

_________________

this is the nba season

HIOR#H*8hriH093IFHFHEIOF2IO3RHI2HR32893RUIRH3UIHR2H38RH28H33Uh*@h*(#y893y78y78yhur289hd8293h78yhd8H89qh*(#h*hrq*h#RUH389RFH2389RH238RH87H&*#y#*&qr*u*(ry389RY389RYH893y8y89y83y8y8YH338yh*(y#*(hr*(hr*HR89H8h*(H3R8H389RH2389RH092RH209T8H47TH748RG263RG26GR7123GRU1H3R13JR9J109FJ09FU90340891FH389G187RG123768RG12378EG782TG37843Y589U593091809u8y392y341r37178663t13713y718378e8y888*&*@&*@$&$&*(#&#&*(789738*&*(#&*(Q&$#*(Y@#*(Y&*(#YR*HUWHRJKWRQUIWR&*#YE$&*@#YEUIWHRQWHRUIRY#&Y@&%^gr^@ge^!@geg@*ue(!)j)!jdij(4UR#*$y&tr^#geh*@#(u(@e1Hr(*gr^fweyg1UIHwE089WYE781*(eYW8EH1WIOH1E9EH273E]] Lebron wins another ring.

_________________
the world will always the world. your entire existence is defined by your response.

The problem with the Clippers was VDN according to you! You hate Dwight Howard...and when the playoffs start you'll say the Bulls can beat the Heat in the playoffs...Won't post here until the seasons starts ...Playoffs

_________________
I'm going to bounce from the spot for awhile but I will be back at some point to argue with you about this hoops stuff again. Playoffs have been great this season. See ya up the road.

I'm out.

I've never said Vinny was the only problem. I've repeatedly said Blake and Deandre are just as much a a problem.

You are correct that I will be predicting a Bulls Finals appearance. They have a better team than Miami right now.

_________________
Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
To rock my soul

I really did value your basketball knowledge. After the finals last year, I can't take anything you say terribly seriously, including that Bulls Finals thought.

_________________
Ба́бушка гада́ла, да на́двое сказа́ла—то ли до́ждик, то ли снег, то ли бу́дет, то ли нет.

The team I picked to win it all came closer than any other also-ran in NBA history, and because Ray Allen made that 3, I'm a dumbass. You're funny.

_________________
Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
To rock my soul

Stop being so rational. THE BULLS ARE IN NBA HELL CUZ LEBRON!!! ARRGGHHHH!!!!!

_________________
Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
To rock my soul

Westbrook to miss the first 4 to 6 weeks:

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/97544 ... ee-surgery

_________________
2018
#ExtendLafleur
10 More Wins

Power ratings out ....Bulls 10th.....lets have your top teams

_________________
I'm going to bounce from the spot for awhile but I will be back at some point to argue with you about this hoops stuff again. Playoffs have been great this season. See ya up the road.

I'm out.

Heat
Thunder
Bulls
Spurs
Grizzlies
Clippers
Nets
Pacers
Rockets
Bucks

_________________

Why you son of a .....

_________________
2018
#ExtendLafleur
10 More Wins

Hey I'll be rooting for them.

_________________