Contender with no title or suck 90% of the time with title?

[ConnorHenry]

The NBA needs to change things so it's no longer a choice between these two extremes.

One title sandwiched between years of suckitude doesn't appeal to me.

Neither does seeing half or more of the league trying to tank to get high picks.

[bwgood77]

The other huge aspect of this scenario is the age of the fan. If you were in your 20's and absolutely loved the early 80's 76ers then being that age and able to fully follow a championship ring winning squad might be worth the abundant mediocre years the 76ers have had in the last 30 years.

So a 25 year old in 1983 might rather be a 76ers fan than the Suns who have had tons of fun teams but no ring.

But, if you were 5 years old or maybe not even born in 1983 then good chance you would rather trade spots with a Suns fan in this time period.



A similar scenario off the top of my head was my dad was in HS for the 1985 Bears and he wouldn't trade being a Bears fan for anything. I think because of the dominance of the 85 Bears in a time period in his life that he understood football and was a rabid fan means more to him than if the Bears were to win back to back titles right now. So, no chance he would trade his Bears fanhood even with all the crap teams we endured of the 90's for another team that was consistently good but never got the ring.

But, me being born in 89 that ring will obviously never mean as much to me (considering I wasn't even alive, but of course I love the 85 Bears) as it means to my pops.

I don't think football is a good example, because there is enough parity that almost any team has a chance to compete almost immediately. Being a Chargers fan, they were projected to be a bottom 3-4 team last year and they got to the 2nd round of the playoffs and played a pretty good game against the Broncos. I'd love for the NBA to be a little more like the NFL in this respect, but due to the impact of superstars I guess it isn't totally realistic.

As far as the Sixers go, I almost used them as an example of two teams fitting each scenario (a few posts back) but noticed they have been in the playoffs about half the time since that championship, so it hasn't been nearly as miserable as being a Clips or Warriors fan over the past 25 years.

[Johnlac1]

People don't go to basketball games to watch their team stink. They want to be entertained. Rotten teams rarely entertain. Few people are going to watch a team that is going to stink horribly for five years or so in the hopes of being a champion at some future date. Besides it doesn't work that way. If you're good enough to get into the playoffs, one excellent player can make your team a contender.

[philly5]

The thing about the NBA is you need a superstar(or 2) to win(04 pistons excluded). There is only 5 total positions, between offense and defense, so 1 great player dramatically increases your potential. The sixers took there shot to stay relevant with the Bynum trade, everyone knows that went to sh*t, and on top of that we gave away our picks and young talent. So, in comes new ownership and GM to right the ship, and I believe philly can be back in the playoffs next year. To the OPs question I would rather accrue and watch young talent blossom, while losing, then be on the treadmill w/ Iguodala, Turner, etc. KNOWING we have zero shot at a title.

[Edrees]

I guess my big problem with this scenario is this: in what world is it realistic for championship teams to fall off the face of the earth?

If the kings won a title that one year with Horrys shot they would have won 1 title but have been completely abysmal 80% of the rest of their existence

[bwgood77]

The thing about the NBA is you need a superstar(or 2) to win(04 pistons excluded). There is only 5 total positions, between offense and defense, so 1 great player dramatically increases your potential. The sixers took there shot to stay relevant with the Bynum trade, everyone knows that went to sh*t, and on top of that we gave away our picks and young talent. So, in comes new ownership and GM to right the ship, and I believe philly can be back in the playoffs next year. To the OPs question I would rather accrue and watch young talent blossom, while losing, then be on the treadmill w/ Iguodala, Turner, etc. KNOWING we have zero shot at a title.

NEXT YEAR? I'd be surprised if you make it in the next 4 years.

[philly5]

The thing about the NBA is you need a superstar(or 2) to win(04 pistons excluded). There is only 5 total positions, between offense and defense, so 1 great player dramatically increases your potential. The sixers took there shot to stay relevant with the Bynum trade, everyone knows that went to sh*t, and on top of that we gave away our picks and young talent. So, in comes new ownership and GM to right the ship, and I believe philly can be back in the playoffs next year. To the OPs question I would rather accrue and watch young talent blossom, while losing, then be on the treadmill w/ Iguodala, Turner, etc. KNOWING we have zero shot at a title.

NEXT YEAR? I'd be surprised if you make it in the next 4 years.

Well next year hinkie might actually go after a decent FA. MCW, Noel, Embiid hopefully all healthy...throw in 2015 top 5 pick, Wroten, Mcdaniels, and a decent FA. I think we could see a good uptick in wins.

[RoyalMajesty]

I can't believe it's even this close of a vote

Give me one or two championships every 30 years and I'm fine being bad for the rest of the 80% of the 30 years INSTEAD of being contenders and not winning a championship.

[M4P]

If you're a contender, there's still a chance for a champ. The city that the team resides in also benefits economically, and you're also known as "that ____ team".



If you would rather win a champ every 30 years or so but have tank droughts in between, there's a high likelihood that your franchise will not even stay in your city/keep their origins/identity

[bwgood77]

I can't believe it's even this close of a vote

Give me one or two championships every 30 years and I'm fine being bad for the rest of the 80% of the 30 years INSTEAD of being contenders and not winning a championship.

That's just amazing to me that someone would rather spend 30 years watching a crap team finally win a championship. It would be extremely satisfying when you did, but the other years would be miserable as a fan.

I get a ton of entertainment seeing a team compete and be almost there every year, and sure, I'd love to see them win one, but at least I've had 30 years of entertainment.

[HoraryAstrology]

Any year without a championship is a failure for the Lakers regardless of their record. They don't hang division titles in the rafters.

They hang Minneapolis titles though. The city of Los Angeles never celebrated 16 championships, there's been 11 parades.

[RoyalMajesty]

I can't believe it's even this close of a vote

Give me one or two championships every 30 years and I'm fine being bad for the rest of the 80% of the 30 years INSTEAD of being contenders and not winning a championship.

That's just amazing to me that someone would rather spend 30 years watching a crap team finally win a championship. It would be extremely satisfying when you did, but the other years would be miserable as a fan.

I get a ton of entertainment seeing a team compete and be almost there every year, and sure, I'd love to see them win one, but at least I've had 30 years of entertainment.

No wonder you're a Phoenix Suns fan j/k

[lilfishi22]

The championship is just the cherry on the cake and if it's the difference between a cake and a plate of doo-doo with whipped cream and cherry on top, give me the cake.

[bwgood77]

I can't believe it's even this close of a vote

Give me one or two championships every 30 years and I'm fine being bad for the rest of the 80% of the 30 years INSTEAD of being contenders and not winning a championship.

That's just amazing to me that someone would rather spend 30 years watching a crap team finally win a championship. It would be extremely satisfying when you did, but the other years would be miserable as a fan.

I get a ton of entertainment seeing a team compete and be almost there every year, and sure, I'd love to see them win one, but at least I've had 30 years of entertainment.

No wonder you're a Phoenix Suns fan j/k

But the funny thing is that you guys have a decent chance of getting there IF Bogut and Curry stay healthy, and especially if you get Love, but over those years we had the best record in the league at least twice, maybe more, and in my opinion had the best team in 95 and 07 but blew it due to unfortunate circumstances. And in 93 if Paxson doesn't hit that shot for the Bulls to win in game 6, we had game 7 at home with momentum. But of course those are all reasons that you can't depend on your team winning it all no matter how good you are.

I hope you guys do well because I'd rather see you win it probably more than any team other than OKC but it's still a stretch as a don't see a team better than a 5 seed unless you get Love, and even then it might take a while to hit your stride. Good luck!

[Dr Aki]

so, pre-2011 mavs vs pre-2008 boston?

got to be boston

[canguy20m]

before 2004 I considered red sox and braves two of the best teams of the last 50 years despite not winning many championships.

[doozyj]

Any year without a championship is a failure for the Lakers regardless of their record. They don't hang division titles in the rafters.

They hang Minneapolis titles though. The city of Los Angeles never celebrated 16 championships, there's been 11 parades.

What's your point? The Lakers own those championships, has nothing to do with L.A. If they moved to the moon one day, they still would own those championships. Why so salty though?

[EArl]

Win baby!

[Damkac]

Be in the mix every year

Championship is the ultimate goal but the main reason for watching basketball is simply enjoying good games.

[realball]

I'd prefer a consistently good team. Championships are great and all, but I don't watch the NBA because I want to see my favorite players hold a trophy and feel good about themselves. I watch it for good quality basketball and exciting moments i.e. the playoffs.