Anybody have a "side piece"?

[Skybox]

I'm an ORL fan and I can't kick it. I will happily watch their rebuild and look for progress where I can see some hope. BUT, I'm really quite weary of the losing, the hoping to lose, the missteps, the need for patience...the godawful basketball. I'd kind of like to have another team to follow - on the side. A team that plays meaningful games and has a real expectation of winning and contending NOW.

I've thought a lot about this and I figure if it's a Western Conference team, it might be okay. I won't root against things that are in ORL's best interest. I love the MIA style of play and the mentality and stability of the FO - they believe they are contenders every year, so they are...But, I can't bring myself to support them or even not hate them as arch-enemies of ORL (if ORL were relevant enough to be anyone's nemesis)...I'm leaning towards GSW. They have superstar power in likable guy in Steph and Klay, they play the right way and have role players who contribute. Good vets like Iggy and Otto. They have drama and BBIQ in Draymond. They have exciting young guys as well, who might pop at any time, and those prospects (along with Wiggins) carry the loaded threat of a massive trade at any moment. But, they are not a juggernaut, they are not the favorites, and they are not the bandwagon choice (LAL), so they don't make me feel cheap...anyone else having these mid-life crisis questions about team monogamy?

[The Real Dalic]

I've been following and paying attention to the Bulls and Hornets this year. Love both of those teams.

[MagicFan101]

I lived in Dallas most of the last 5 years. My most recent employer was downtown and had a luxury box I could use most games for the Mavs or Stars games.

So I started going to a lot of Mavs games and naturally following them.

But I moved to Austin a year ago and found that without having the games to go to I really don’t care about the Mavs.

I truly am a loyal Magic fan …. I guess I hate myself and want to suffer?

[tiderulz]

Im an Alabama fan who suffered thru Mike Price, Dennis Franchione leaving in the middle of the night, Mike Riley (former player) not even taking a meeting, Rich Rodriguez backing out after agreeing to be the HC, Mike Shula, Mike Dubose, booster going rogue and getting us in trouble. They have always been my team. When we finally turned it around, it has made it all worthwhile. I look at disdain on the bandwagon jumpers who wouldnt admit to being a Bama fan during the lean years

[Bergmaniac]

OKC was my "side piece" for most of the post-Dwight years, mostly because of Westbrook, but he is gone and they are tanking shamelessly now so I abandoned them, LOL.

If I find time to watch the West more this year, I'd probably pick Denver for my West team because of Jokic, he's by far the most entertaining player in the league now for me.

[pepe1991]

When Magic basketball in unwatchable, i just pick up best matchup of a night to watch some high quality bb.
Bulls are fun this year, on West Jazz & Kings this year look like very interesting teams to follow.

Also, there is something fun and amusing with following trainwracks. Lakers look like prime candidate for disaster of a year.

[Skybox]

When Magic basketball in unwatchable, i just pick up best matchup of a night to watch some high quality bb.
Bulls are fun this year, on West Jazz & Kings this year look like very interesting teams to follow.

Also, there is something fun and amusing with following trainwracks. Lakers look like prime candidate for disaster of a year.

That's an interesting alternative plan too...to root against a team full-time, while waiting for your team to get interesting

Lakers would probably be the overwhelming "favorite" for that role...adding Dwight sealed it.

[RookieStar]

The Raptors has always been my 2nd team due to...well being Canadian LOL

However, lately I don't know if its the Raps posters that turned me off or maybe it was the players being douche like Lowry and etc.
My starter fandom was really the Alvin-VC-JYD-Oakley-Davis lineup. Then we had the Bargs-Bosh combo ( another LOL ). Wow Im masochist. Being fans of teams that could lose your hair.

However, NCAA season is coming up and my all-time team of Duke is about to start Coach K's farewell/retirement tour.

[magic22s]

I've been following and paying attention to the Bulls since Vooch trade!

[GelbeWand09]

I always liked the Blazers since the 90's. Great Fans & Atmosphere + they kinda always had a good team. But in general i watch like pepe the most interesting matchups + trying to catch the good rookies. Knicks because of Clyde & Breen.
Cant watch the Pelicans, no matter which star they have. The Atmosphere is always horrible + the Arena is ugly as hell.

[89Magicfan]

Nah. Born in Orlando and I just can’t. I could watch guys like MJ and Iverson back in the day but I could not and still won’t watch any other team. I just back away from it if anything.

[Message Boar]

I usually end up having a western conference team that's good and i kind of follow/root for at some point when we are bad, yes. Usually end up gravitating towards one of Portland, Dallas and Memphis.

[swarlesbarkley]

Denver and Dallas. Kinda Atlanta.

Lived in Colorado for a few years and went to a bunch of Nuggets games. Cool fans, small market team.

I just really like watching Luka. I also have a lot of his rookie cards that I pulled in 2018-19 so he and Dallas doing well means I have the option of selling some cards for ridiculous money (which I do periodically).

Trae is the same as Luka - like watching him play, have lots of rookies.

[RickB-Orlando]

I grew up a Knicks fan and do tend to follow what they have going on, but I'm a hardcore Magic fan since I moved to Orlando, in 1988, just about in time for the Expansion draft. I figure if I could root for Sidney Green, Reggie Theus and Terry Catledge, I can easily root for an exciting young Magic squad.

[penny_nz]

When Magic basketball in unwatchable, i just pick up best matchup of a night to watch some high quality bb.
Bulls are fun this year, on West Jazz & Kings this year look like very interesting teams to follow.

Also, there is something fun and amusing with following trainwracks. Lakers look like prime candidate for disaster of a year.

Yeah this is what I do, just watch the highlight games. I've tried having a second team in the NBA (I have plenty of other sports I follow, all losers there too lol) and just didn't work, I just love the Magic. Tune in to every game I can, but definitely agree as the novelty of the new season starts to wear off I'm sure it'll be more of a grind.

I have several players I follow / really like. Jokic for example, so if he's on TV I'll normally watch and be kind of invested.

[thelead]

I like following the rookies' progress when the magic aren't playing.

[ivDT]

Yea, the Orlando Magic.

[ORLMagicGirl15]

Women’s USA Gymnastics is the only other sport team I follow.

[BadMofoPimp]

My main teams are Magic and Pistons and both suck ass. But, I dig the Heat from my time living in South Florida and I really like the team they have this year with Bam, Butler, Lowry, Hero and company. Gotta respect how well they get no name players to contribute on that team. They compete every night even when Bam, Butler or Lowry sit out a game, they just still win without missing a beat.

[CPBalla2003 n da 863]

Bulls for the time being since Vooch got traded there. I like to watch Ja Morant and the Grizzlies, they are super fun to watch. Keeping an eye on the T'Wolves with their core is nice.