The "Fine, I’ll Give Them Credit" Thread

TheHartBreakKid · Post #1 » by **TheHartBreakKid** » Tue Nov 4, 2025 12:43 pm

Name something positive about a rival team, fanbase, city, or player that you usually root against:

I'll start

- When it happened, I was so disappointed regarding what KD did by joining the Warriors as a basketball fan. Now, I can kind of understand why he made that move and see that he was trying to control his own legacy, even if I still don’t really agree with it. I also appreciate what he’s done for Team USA, and I can step back and recognize that he’s genuinely passionate about the game- I saw a video of him in a wedding "dancing" in my IG feed, but he was mainly just dribbling an imaginary basketball. The dude lives basketball.

- I dislike a lot about the Celtics, and I know the feeling is mutual between Celtics fans and us Lakers fans. That said, many Celtics fans showed genuine love for Kobe during his retirement tour. When Kobe passed, I remember a lot of them saying positive things and showing real appreciation for what he meant to the game. More importantly, I don’t recall many Celtics fans rubbing it in or trolling Lakers fans when we were down. That could have been an easy time to do so, and I give credit to the Celtics fanbase for showing respect.

-As a Lakers fan, the Nuggets destroyed us in the playoffs two years in a row. Despite that, I can’t help but root for Jokic sometimes and genuinely appreciate his unique skill set.

jasonxxx102 · Post #2 » by **jasonxxx102** » Tue Nov 4, 2025 1:05 pm

I don't root against anyone in basketball. My favorite/hometown team is the Cavs but I don't have strong feelings against any of the "rivals". I just love the sport.

In football I will hate the Steelers forever and never give them credit for anything

xinxin · Post #3 » by **xinxin** » Tue Nov 4, 2025 1:26 pm

I hate the celtics but you have to respect their organization and fans.. they know what winning is all about. & i get that celtic pride.

I hate the spurs but you have to admire what their front office has done the last 20 years. w/ Pop, Duncan. just the consistency & finding the gems that no one seems to have noticed.

I dont hate the warriors in fact I rooted for them during the down years of the lakers.. & I like what their ownership has done in maximizing the prime of Steph

UcanUwill · Post #4 » by **UcanUwill** » Tue Nov 4, 2025 2:30 pm

Lamelo had good games.

badpotato · Post #5 » by **badpotato** » Tue Nov 4, 2025 2:37 pm

I'll admit I envy Kawhi- he already had a good thing going being part-time player getting paid like full-time one.

What he did with his Aspiration deal is next-level though, color me impressed.

mastermixer · Post #6 » by **mastermixer** » Tue Nov 4, 2025 2:48 pm

LeBron.

Find his personality very unlikable but you have to give the guy credit. To play the game at the top level he did for so long without any major injury or any *real* off-court problems is pretty amazing.

Too bad he’s insufferable

hauntedcomputer · Post #7 » by **hauntedcomputer** » Tue Nov 4, 2025 3:15 pm

I root against all front-runners and bandwagoneers but Pelinka did a good trade.

Liam_Gallagher · Post #8 » by **Liam_Gallagher** » Tue Nov 4, 2025 3:35 pm

No one's gonna mention the injury-riddled-but 6 and 2 Lakers from Los Angeles?

PistolPeteJR · Post #9 » by **PistolPeteJR** » Tue Nov 4, 2025 3:41 pm

Harden. Not a fan, never been. He had a season or two where you could see things weren't trending in the right direction, then put up a real good season last year. Let's see what the entirety of this season looks like, but good on him.

Post #10 » by **infinite11285** » Tue Nov 4, 2025 3:47 pm

Can JJ Redick get some love?

tamaraw08 · Post #11 » by **tamaraw08** » Tue Nov 4, 2025 3:59 pm

xinxin wrote:I hate the celtics but you have to respect their organization and fans.. they know what winning is all about. & i get that celtic pride.

I hate the spurs but you have to admire what their front office has done the last 20 years. w/ Pop, Duncan. just the consistency & finding the gems that no one seems to have noticed.

I dont hate the warriors in fact I rooted for them during the down years of the lakers.. & I like what their ownership has done in maximizing the prime of Steph

Yeah the freaking Celtics. I really thought this team would struggle when Brad Stevens stopped coaching them but my goodness, they were fine with Ime Udoka. Then Ime Udoka got fired and I thought they will fall off. hope. :banghead:

They also lose some good players then just kept replenishing their roster.
ahh the freaking Warriors who just lost KD, asked him to do a sign and trade to at least get DLo then trade him for Wiggins.
Wiggins turned into Pippen in the Finals to win another ring.
Then they turned Wiggins in to the freaking actual Jimmy Butler. :noway:

Post #12 » by **Texas Chuck** » Tue Nov 4, 2025 4:41 pm

Timmy Duncan

SlimShady83 · Post #13 » by **SlimShady83** » Tue Nov 4, 2025 6:04 pm

As a Laker fan, I will not; Bos/Clip/Den, where's the FUN in giving them credit?

Tatum should be a Laker and everyone knows it, thanks Magic.
If It weren't for Den Lakers would have more chips then Bos or tied still.
And well Clippers need to change their name and move far away from LA even further lol

SlimShady83 · Post #14 » by **SlimShady83** » Tue Nov 4, 2025 6:07 pm

Liam_Gallagher wrote:No one's gonna mention the injury-riddled-but 6 and 2 Lakers from Los Angeles?

Entire NBA should be giving us credit lol.

NZB2323 · Post #15 » by **NZB2323** » Tue Nov 4, 2025 6:58 pm

As a Bulls fan I hate the Knicks and Pistons but they’re both good teams. We usually hate teams that are good and beat us in the playoffs. Does anyone hate the Hornets or Pelicans?

bonita_the_frog · Post #16 » by **bonita_the_frog** » Tue Nov 4, 2025 7:00 pm

I was not giving credit to JJ Redick last season but am now :thumbsup:

I mean i was saying the Lakers would lose early in the playoffs, whereas i don't think they'll lose early this year, at least not in the 1st Round.
JJ Redick earned my credit during their recent injuries, as the offense looks better than ever without LeBron :thumbsup:

Doncic and Reaves are the most dynamic offensive duo in the NBA (or 2nd best, to KD and GUN), so credit to JJ Redick :thumbsup:

And even when Doncic or Reaves or both are absent the offense looks tasty :thumbsup:

MrGoat · Post #17 » by **MrGoat** » Tue Nov 4, 2025 7:21 pm

Ok, Wembanyama is actually good.

cgf · Post #18 » by **cgf** » Tue Nov 4, 2025 7:30 pm

I’m starting to believe Giggity can play a key role on a top team and not just shine for a play-in pretender / also-ran. He’s developed enough touch as a scorer to be a reliable threat even against good defenses. Still not sure exactly what that team looks like, but there is a realistic squad he could be crucial to contending.

AbeVigodaLive · Post #19 » by **AbeVigodaLive** » Tue Nov 4, 2025 8:55 pm

Fine.

The Los Angeles Lakers making 32 championship rounds is SLIGHTLY more impressive than all four of the pro sports teams in my home state combining to make 8 championship rounds over the past 64 years.

bkkrh · Post #20 » by **bkkrh** » Tue Nov 4, 2025 9:07 pm

After hating them during the 90s and early 2000s, I found myself rooting suprisingly often for the Pacers in Playoff series since the 2010s. They really understand to build likeable teams.

Pat Riley leaving the Knicks was the worst thing that happened to our franchise. You can clearly see that he used his approach on the Knicks as a blueprint on how to build and run the Heat. Even though I love Van Gundy, handing the keys completely over to Riley would have turned us into a dynasty.