Crash and company are the real deal. I’m sad they traded Okafor though. But their coach is a genius too. Their GM is kind of lame but they are trending upward just because of their coach.

I waver on this a lot, but I have a lot of family in Sac that roots for the Kings, and I hope they have a decent team to root for soon.

The Blazers

3. Blazers

4. ….there is no 4

Grew up there. Attended hundreds of Hawks games between 1978 and 1997, when I moved to Portland. I went to every Atlanta game of the famous ’88 playoff series, then writhed in agony in front of the TV during the Bird-Nique duel in Game 7.

The funny thing was that the Blazers were my second-favorite team, though I’d never been to Portland. I just liked the Drexler-Porter-Duck-Buck-Cliffy team and was severely bummed when they failed to beat the hated Bad Boys in ’90.

The first year I lived in Portland, I went to the Blazers-Hawks game and rooted for the Hawks. (The Hawks won.) The next year, the shortened lockout season, I don’t believe they played each other, but I started to take a liking to the Blazers, esp. when they got to the playoffs and took out the Jazz. By then I was a big enough fan to be fairly devastated by the Memorial Day Miracle shot.

The crucial event that caused me to forever flip my loyalties was when the Hawks, already suffering under the disastrous reign of GM Pete Babcock, made the terrible decision to trade my favorite Atlanta player, the talented and classy Steve Smith, to the Blazers in exchange for my least favorite Portland player, the taleted but combustible J.R. Rider. From that moment on, I was still a big Hawks fan, when the Blazers played the Hawks, I rooted for Portland.

The other night, I was genuinely chagrined by the Blazers’ loss to Atlanta. But, if they’re going to lose to anyone at the RG, Atlanta’s the team I want to beat them.

Because I respect their team and they do things the right way.

Although the Sheed signing made me think a little.

Only for this year though… Because they are no threat to the Blazers but play entertaining basketball. Gallinari has been fascinating to watch.

Bucks are interesting because of Brandon Jennings. Dude can play.

I have a bunch of family in Phoenix and the first basketball game I went to was a Suns game back when Barkley played for them. I loved their 7 seconds or less offense when it was at it’s best a few years ago and hated it when they got Shaq. I’m so glad to see they’re back to running and I’m happy Frye went there and is doing well.

is my second favorite.

After living just outside of Milwaukee for a year and having a soft spot for the underdog, the Bucks warmed my snowy frozen heart. Or was that my porch….

3) Kings. For the same reasons. Except I didn’t near in Sacramento. And they don’t get a lot of snow.

Grew up in the Philly area. I moved to Oregon in ‘96 and am pretty well indoctrinated as a Blazers fan these days, but when it’s Blazers-Sixers I’m on the fence. Got to see Coach Cheeks crash & burn with both my teams! :(

Bulls in the East

Small Bodies – Big Hearts!!!!!!!!

I followed sheed there and they had Billups Tayshaun Big ben and Rip, an awesome team to watch on d and offense. Damn if sheed wouldve got out on Horry that would have been 2 ships for the pistons. That my children is why you shouldnt smoke weed before a playoff game.

I’ve lived in the NY/NJ area for about the same length of time as Portland. Was a Knicks fan when I got here (the Ewing/Oakley/Jackson team). The Nets have had ups and downs, but the Petrovic era was good and the Kidd era was amazing.

I expect to root for the Clippers a little bit this year. If anybody deserves to win some games, it’s them.

Oh… you meant NBA team. Whoever is playing the L*kers.

I like the old geezers and am a big Duncan fan.

Also, points to Manu for pimp slapping the bat.

home town pride guys

Somehow you forgot about them. Nice poll, dude.

This L*kers crap is lame. Kobe is a stud and every Blazer fan knows it. I want the Blazers to beat them bad, but I acknowledge that they are the champs. When Portland beats them, it makes it that much sweeter. Come on now, admit it.

I’m a little biased, I usually root for them when they don’t play they aren’t playing the Blazers! Hopefully I can go to the game next week against them; I’m only about an hour from Charlotte.

Rockets — loved the Hakeem teams and after all they were good to my man Clyde.
Spurs — Duncan is the man and Manu Ginobili is from Argentina, which is a cool place. Also they trained KP to be a good GM.
Suns — Steve Nash is cool and they are fun to watch.
Nets — I live in New Jersey now, and I kinda feel bad for them.
Clippers — I like Baron Davis, plus they deserve to win games. I hope their owner sells the team. He sucks.
Warriors — lived in the Bay Area for awhile, and their upset of Dallas was unbelievable.