Kris and Dan Answer NBA Questions

"What is your favorite team to watch right now?"

DAN SAYS:

For me, it's the Denver Nuggets.

I have always been a fan of explosive basketball players, the kind that compel you to loudly proclaim "damn!" while watching.

Denver has a lot of these players right now. Kenyon Martin (he's back to his old, nasty form). Nene (he's healthy and playing the way people thought he could when he was drafted in the lottery and got his big contract). JR Smith (simply one of the most talented players in the NBA, if also one of the most frustrating.)

Plus they have Chauncey Billups (a big upgrade for this particular team over AI) competently running the show, and Carmelo Anthony (when he's healthy) is one of the best pure scorers in the league.



So they combine competence and power. They're good, and they do a lot of things during a game that make it fun to watch. They are also a George Karl team, so they're not going to all of a sudden start playing slow-down defense (though they're not as bad a defensive team as they get made out to be - you have to adjust for pace.) That means they're often going to be in a high-scoring game on both sides, so the best guys on the team they're playing are also going to look pretty good.If you're a fan of entertaining basketball, you have to be a fan of watching Nuggets games. I definitely am.

KRIS SAYS:

Dan posed this question about a week ago, and I have thought about it long and hard and watched a bunch of games this past week. Obviously the Nuggets are a fine choice. So are the Hawks, Suns, Magic, Celtics and Blazers.

But to me this decision came down to two teams, the Lakers and Cavs. Mainly because I am a star kinda guy and these teams have the two biggest stars in the game. Yesterday finally mad the decision for me, it is the Lakers.

Kobe Bean Bryant is the number one reason for watching the Lakers play. He is such a joy to watch; he plays the game with a smoothness and effortless demeanor. It is to appreciate the game to watch it played so beautifully on the highest level. But it is not just Bryant who I enjoy watching.

The team has some other excellent players as well as role players who fit the puzzle perfectly. Pau Gasol is the modern day big man; the ability to move up and down the floor, shoot the ball with range and is an outstanding passer on both the perimeter and in the post. The emergence of Andrew Bynum (which I doubted coming out of high school) as a legit post presence in this league. He is big and strong, but light on his feet and has a variety of post moves. And lastly the other player that stands out to me is Lamar Odom. I have followed his star crossed career since I first saw him play as a sophomore in high school. He also, ike Gasol, for his size has such a great all court game, including his passing which makes him an asset to any team that he is on.

Along with those stars they have a slew of role players. Perimeter shooters Derek Fisher, Sasha Vujacic and Vlad Radmonovic help spread the court with their range. When healthy, Jordan Farmer along with Trevor Ariza help bring in a younger more up tempo second unit.

In all, because of Kobe’s immense talent and because of how the rest of the teams fits and plays their roles so well is why I enjoy watching the Lakers more than any team in the league.