The National Basketball Association

[maverick94]

Yup hope Indy takes it friggen hate the heat. Not fussed who ever wins out of spurs Indy or OKC. Would prefer the thunder of course. This thunder team has crazy potential Adams,ibaka,durant,westbrook, Jackson is a crazy good line up oldest is 25 as well with a solid 6th man and solid role players could be looking at a dynasty IMO

Just imagine if they'd kept James Harden... that would be some team, wow.

 

[SerenityNigh]

There were a grand total of 10 Miami fans before Shaq went there and won the title with Wade. It grew to about 150 after that and have exploded since LeBron decided to take his talents to South Beach. I too dislike LeBron, Miami and the fans.

I have been following KD's career since he first burst out on the scene at UT. Couldn't believe when the Blazers picked Oden ahead of him in the draft. Already one of my favorite all time players. OKC need to keep the core together. KD's MVP speech was pretty special; it sounded like these guys are together for the long haul.

I don't see Westbrook staying, but I could see KD staying long term. They may not have all the pieces now, but they could build a nice run for the long term. If only the could grab a title now or then...

 

[RaleighBlue]

Failed once already, although I suppose you could say the same about the New Orleans Jazz. I'm not sold on Jordan as an owner, and I don't think the people in Charlotte are interested in pro ball.

But no doubt, that's a better name than Bobcats. Too bad the Pelicans didn't sell the rights to that name when they released it. Or at least trade them for a draft pick.

Fixed.

The leagues are dumb. Triangle would support a pro team. Any pro team. Guaranteed. The Hurricanes get good support FFS.

Charlotte is one of those proper southern cities like Atlanta - they have one sport - in this case NASCAR.

Make it the Durham Hornets and see it explode.

 

[Garrick]

Here you are, lads in Ol' Blighty.

Bucks and Knicks will play in London next year. January 15th, 2015.

As a Milwaukeean, I apologize in advance for the team we're exporting to Europe.

http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/sports/261081811.html

 

[SerenityNigh]

Fixed.

The leagues are dumb. Triangle would support a pro team. Any pro team. Guaranteed. The Hurricanes get good support FFS.

Charlotte is one of those proper southern cities like Atlanta - they have one sport - in this case NASCAR.

Make it the Durham Hornets and see it explode.

Seems reasonable to me. Do you think it could survive in Durham or would it need to be in Raleigh, or at least outside the Durham/Chapel Hill area? Would the Duke/UNC rivalry cloud a team in either of these towns? What about PNC Arena, or whatever it's called where the 'Canes play. Could that hold a team? (Or does NC State already play in this arena?)

 

[Rook]

Fixed.

The leagues are dumb. Triangle would support a pro team. Any pro team. Guaranteed. The Hurricanes get good support FFS.

Charlotte is one of those proper southern cities like Atlanta - they have one sport - in this case NASCAR.

Make it the Durham Hornets and see it explode.

NASCAR pales in popularity to college football in the south.

 

[RaleighBlue]

NASCAR pales in popularity to college football in the south.

Not in Charlotte.

In Charlotte it's NASCAR. Just like here it's college basketball. In most of the South I agree with you, but not in NC. We have crap college football teams that play in the ACC.

 

[RaleighBlue]

Seems reasonable to me. Do you think it could survive in Durham or would it need to be in Raleigh, or at least outside the Durham/Chapel Hill area? Would the Duke/UNC rivalry cloud a team in either of these towns? What about PNC Arena, or whatever it's called where the 'Canes play. Could that hold a team? (Or does NC State already play in this arena?)

PNC may work.

Durham/Chapel Hill has the basketball base though with the UNC/Duke fans, not sure where I would base it if I were running the team. I'd deffo just leave the UNC Duke NC State rivalry alone though. Those people are craazy...probably have to play in green or something to not upset anyone.

 

[SerenityNigh]

PNC may work.

Durham/Chapel Hill has the basketball base though with the UNC/Duke fans, not sure where I would base it if I were running the team. I'd deffo just leave the UNC Duke NC State rivalry alone though. Those people are craazy...probably have to play in green or something to not upset anyone.

How big a part does NC State play? I know they're big time, but they don't get much press around these parts. (Probably like A&M football where you are prior to them jointing the SEC). Does an NC State presence cloud the issue, or are they a relative neutral compared to the Crazies and whatever you have at UNC?

 

[RaleighBlue]

How big a part does NC State play? I know they're big time, but they don't get much press around these parts. (Probably like A&M football where you are prior to them jointing the SEC). Does an NC State presence cloud the issue, or are they a relative neutral compared to the Crazies and whatever you have at UNC?

State is big in Raleigh. It's the dominant team on that side. UNC/Duke is more of a Durham/Chapel Hill thing. They're equal in size, all things considered.

NC State crowd hate both Duke and UNC (and ECU, just because). But I really don't think any of it would affect a pro team too much - there are so many people that are unaffiliated with any of the schools it may be fine. Just like I'm sure all the USC/UCLA people support the Lakers.

Mainly I just think pro leagues are silly to run teams in a city that has never proven devoted to any sport other than NASCAR while ignoring a developing metroplex two and a half hours away with only a hockey team to compete with.

 

[SerenityNigh]

Mainly I just think pro leagues are silly to run teams in a city that has never proven devoted to any sport other than NASCAR while ignoring a developing metroplex two and a half hours away with only a hockey team to compete with.

I had a long, boring response to this ready to post, but I'll save you the effort (TL/DR) and summarize with this: too many leaders are risk averse and (ironically) choose failure over enterprising solutions. Charlotte and Atlanta are good examples of this. Here is another.

 

[AdamEFC]

There were a grand total of 10 Miami fans before Shaq went there and won the title with Wade. It grew to about 150 after that and have exploded since LeBron decided to take his talents to South Beach. I too dislike LeBron, Miami and the fans.

I have been following KD's career since he first burst out on the scene at UT. Couldn't believe when the Blazers picked Oden ahead of him in the draft. Already one of my favorite all time players. OKC need to keep the core together. KD's MVP speech was pretty special; it sounded like these guys are together for the long haul.

It made sense that the Blazers picked Oden over Durant at the time though.

 

[evertoniandy]

Let's go Heat!

 

[ilikecheese]

It made sense that the Blazers picked Oden over Durant at the time though.

As a Seattle fan, I was ecstatic Portland got the 1st pick...I knew Durant would be a top notch scorer at the very least. He's got such a pure stroke...same as he had in college. I didn't think he'd be this good in the NBA. Thought he'd be a better version of Rashard Lewis (who was quite good in his prime). Oden on the other hand looked like a 42 year old, injury prone, 'not the finished product', 19 year old when he was drafted.

And then the Sonics became the Thunder and I cared far less about the NBA...even if it were the same roster basically.

 

[maverick94]

Don't care who wins between Spurs and OKC now (rather OKC), just as long as they beat the heat. Proper bandwagon team.