Who I Want to Win

Some people only watch one particular team. If that team isn't playing, the rest of the basketball world makes no difference to them. I consider that to be an emotional attachment without context. I'm interested in the records of at least half the league, either hoping they win or hoping they don't. Mostly, though, the team that I'm pulling for is directly related to who they are playing. I'd like to put my preferences in a list form, as best as I can. If you're at the top of the list, I want you to win. If you're at the bottom, I hope you lose. So if team 8 plays team 12, I'm hoping team 8 wins. If team 12 plays team 17, I'm hoping team 12 wins.

Here's what I'm feeling right now, before the first game happens. This is subject to change during the course of the season.

1. Spurs
2. Trailblazers
3. Heat
4. Wizards
5. Cavaliers
6. Celtics
7. Knicks
8. Suns
9. 76ers
10. Rockets
11. Thunder
12. Grizzlies
13. Bucks
14. Timberwolves
15. Raptors
16. Magic
17. Hawks
18. Bobcats
19. Hornets
20. Bulls
21. Nets
22. Warriors
23. Clippers
24. Pacers
25. Lakers
26. Nuggets
27. Kings
28. Pistons
29. Mavericks
30. Jazz

These are not predictions! Not power rankings! I know the Jazz could stomp most of the teams listed above them, so could the Mavs and Pistons and Lakers. This is just how the season would shake out if I had my choice. I'm a little iffy on that 1-2 combo. I really like the way the Blazers are going to come out this year.

If it all turned out the way I wanted, either the Spurs or the Blazers would face the Suns in the Western Conference Finals, with the Suns losing in 7. The east would have Miami and D.C. face off for 6 games (it's almost funny to type that). The winner of the west would win the finals in 4 games.

However, if I were going to make predictions now, before the first game even tips off, this is my guess:

The Eastern Conference will find the Pistons facing the Cavaliers. Although the Cavs will make a dominant push through the play-offs, the Pistons will recognize that their championship window is closing and dig down deep to overcome Cleveland in six games.

In the West, youth causes serious upsets. Despite the notion that they're too inexperienced to go deep into the postseason, the Trailblazers (passing the Spurs in a surprising 4 games) enter the Conference Finals against the also young Hornets (dispatching the Lakers in six games). Hornets win in five and proceed to the Finals, where Detroit closes a five-year gap in championship celebrations.

In June, we can probably all look back at this and have a good laugh.