NBA 2016/17 season preview: Which basketball team corresponds to your AFL side?
ARE you an AFL fan looking for a sport to follow in the off season? Here’s a handy guide to which NBA team to support based on your AFL side.
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WITH the return of the AFL season what seems like an eternity away, Aussies are broadening their horizons in their search for sporting sustenance.
And if you’re looking for a fast-paced, high-tempo sport to follow while you wait for the footy season to return, the NBA will definitely help fill the void.
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We’ve come up with a handy guide on which NBA team to follow that best corresponds with your AFL team.
Adelaide Crows = Oklahoma City Thunder
Tell us if this script sounds familiar: a star of the game, arguably going into his prime, decides to leave one title contender for another.
That’s the situation Oklahoma City found themselves in when superstar Kevin Durant decided to join the star-studded Golden State Warriors, drawing direct comparisons to Patrick Dangerfield’s move to Geelong.
The Crows and the Thunder have both faced this situation heading into a new season with fans questioning if the team can survive without its star.
Just as Adelaide had Rory Sloane waiting in the wings, Oklahoma City has a bona fide NBA superstar in Russell Westbrook.
Often considered the “other guy” behind Durant, Westbrook has constantly shown he is more than capable of winning games on his own while Durant has been injured. He definitely can go above and beyond this year.
Brisbane Lions = Chicago Bulls
One of the most annoying thing for fans of these teams is that both have had historically incredible periods of success.
Even people who never followed the NBA know of the Bulls three-peats in the 90s with Michael Jordan, and Lions’ fans will never forget the glorious three-peat from 2001-2003 where they were kings of the AFL.
However last season both teams failed to make the finals/playoffs and while the Lions are attempting to rebuild, the Bulls are a couple years ahead of them with some strong drafting.
The Bulls made some interesting veteran recruits in the off season — Dwyane Wade, Rajon Rondo, Robin Lopez — but their star draft pick Jimmy Butler is the leader of their team and they’ll be hoping more of their young talent in Bobby Portis, Nikola Mirotic and Doug McDermott can make a name for themselves.
Carlton Blues = Boston Celtics
A working class icon since their inceptions, both of these clubs have more trophies in their cabinets then you can shake a stick at.
While the Blues and Celtics have taken very different paths to get to where they are now, they are in very similar positions.
Both have an energetic young coach and are heavily invested in youth.
And while the Blues’ fans have struggled in the lower part of the ladder for a number of years, the Celtics’ will give them something to smile about, as they are expected to be a contender in the Eastern Conference this season.
Collingwood Magpies = Dallas Mavericks
If we said to you that one of the most powerful men in the organisation was a media figurehead who seemed to be on television all the time, got in trouble for what he says and that the teams fans loved him, would you believe us if we said we weren’t talking about Eddie McGuire?
Just as Collingwood has Eddie, Dallas has Marc Cuban. The multi-billionaire seems to be on TV way more than his team, but Eddie still wins due to sheer workload.
Dallas also has Australian Olympian and NBA Championship-winning centre Andrew Bogut on its roster, so there’s a hometown element to cheer for there.
Essendon Bombers = Los Angeles Lakers
It has been dark times for these two high-profile teams.
The Lakers are an iconic franchise that ties the NBA record for most championships won in history, but has recently fallen on hard times, and finished last in their conference in 2016.
With the retirement of future hall of famer Kobe Bryant, the young Lakers will be looking to work their way back into relevance behind a young core, much like the Bombers are looking to do in 2017.
Player comparison: Zac Merrett — D’Angelo Russell.
Fremantle Dockers = New Orleans Pelicans
When it comes to teams with weird nicknames, Fremantle and New Orleans take the cake. They’re not ones that you only need to explain once.
Each of the Dockers and Pelicans have arguably the greatest young player in the competition in Nat Fyfe and Anthony Davis, only problem is they both struggle to stay healthy for a whole season.
If Davis can stay healthy, the Pelicans will be a thorn in the side of many opponents.
Geelong Cats = Golden State Warriors
Geelong has had a long-run of recent success, and while they didn’t manage to go all the way last season, they did manage to recruit the best player in the competition in Patrick Dangerfield.
The Warriors have done the same with superstar forward, Kevin Durant. The MVP sharp shooter made the high-profile move from Oklahoma City to join the Dubs.
Just as all eyes were on Danger, even more will be on KD this season, and see how damaging he can be alongside reigning MVP Stephen Curry.
GWS Giants = Minnesota Timberwolves
With more top round draft picks then you can throw a stick at, the Timberwolves truly are the GWS of the NBA.
While they’re a bit further back in their development, Minnesota’s young guard is proving to be a real handful for even the most experienced NBA teams.
If Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins can continue to build on strong career starts, don’t be surprised if the Timberwolves rocket up the standings in the west.
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Gold Coast = Houston Rockets
Two teams with best-in-the-competition calibre superstars in Gary Ablett Jnr and James Harden, but both have struggled to put successful talent around them to take the next step. This may be slightly harsh on the Rockets, who did make it to the Western Conference finals two seasons ago, but last year was viewed as a major disappointment for the franchise when they only just scraped into the playoffs.
The Rockets are set up to be one of the most exciting offensive teams this season under new coach Mike D’Antoni, and James Harden’s move to the point guard position will give him the opportunity to put up MVP-like numbers.
Hawthorn Hawks = San Antonio Spurs
Both these teams have one defining characteristic over the past couple of seasons, they win. They win, they win and then they win again.
Despite numerous roster changes, both these teams are almost annoyingly consistent.
This is in part due to the legendary coaches at the helm of both teams. Alistair Clarkson has been instrumental to the Hawks recent success, Spurs coach Greg Popovich has spent 20 years building a dynasty in the Texas desert.
Both are known for being slightly short fused, but Clarko wins for putting his fist though an MCG wall. Also the Spurs have Aussie Boomers star Patty Mills, so there’s an added homegrown element to cheer for.
Melbourne Demons = Milwaukee Bucks
The future is coming. That has been the mantra in Milwaukee for the past couple of seasons. Something which many Demons fans will say sounds strangely familiar.
But with their good mix of young talent and older leaders, the Bucks can make a push up the Eastern Conference standings.
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Plus they also have a rookie turning a lot of heads in Australia’s newest NBA phenom Thon Maker
Also they have Delly, you can’t go wrong with Delly.
What are you most looking forward to this NBA season? Tell us in the comments below.
North Melbourne Kangaroos = Miami Heat
Two teams that very quickly went from a who’s who to who’s that?
Both clubs will be going into next season without their longest serving players as Boomer Harvey and Dwayne Wade were moved on.
With the big name older players leaving, it’s time for the young brigade to step up and prove they’re good enough to do it on their own.
Port Adelaide Power = Los Angeles Clippers
Port Adelaide fans haven’t been able to enjoy much success in the past few years, but at their core they are a strong team who are still trying to find a way to retool before going back to the finals, rather than bottom out.
The Clippers unfortunately find themselves in a difficult position, in the same Western Conference as the Golden State Warriors and San Antonio Spurs, but they are hoping that another year with a very similar roster and stronger team chemistry will help them find a way to break through.
Blake Griffin started hot last year before he missed most of second half of the season with injury, and the Clippers will be hoping he can recapture his form along with Chris Paul and DeAndre Jordan, on the way for a further playoff push.
Richmond Tigers = New York Knicks
The Knicks are one of the most popular franchises in the country, but have failed to have any legitimate success in over 40 years. They are always overhyped, being a big market team — but usually fail to live up to expectations.
A couple of years ago, they made the playoffs, but since that time have fallen back into the bottom half of the Eastern Conference, much to the fans’ dismay.
Sound familiar, Tigers fans?
The good news in they’ve brought in some big names: MVP Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah will slot into their starting line-up along with star forward Carmello Anthony and young stud Kristaps Porzingis.
The potential is there Tigers’ fans, build up your expectations, just don’t be surprised if the Knicks crash and burn again this season like they have in the past.
St. Kilda Saints = Orlando Magic
The Orlando Magic are a young team with a long championship drought. In 2009, their star centre Dwight Howard took them all the way to the Finals, but they couldn’t get over the line, much like the Saints in 2010 against Collingwood.
The Magic made some odd moves this off-season, but they’ve acquired a lot of big man talent, and a new head coach in Frank Vogel, who has proven playoff form.
They may not be a chance to contend this season, but this could be a fun team to watch with new recruit Serge Ibaka and high-flying forward Aaron Gordon providing plenty of highlights.
Sydney Swans = Cleveland Cavaliers
A powerhouse of the league, the Cleveland Cavaliers have the highest payroll in the NBA, and brought back hometown hero and superstar LeBron James two years ago, who delivered a championship to ‘the Land’ in the 2016 season.
Sydney has COLA, effectively giving them one of the highest payrolls in the AFL, and brought in superstar Lance Franklin on a big-money contract two years ago, hoping it will bring them another premiership.
The Cavs are a constant title contender with James, much like Sydney, who continue to find a way to go deep into the AFL finals campaign.
The Cavs lost in 2015, before defeating the Warriors last season in a thrilling NBA Finals to win the championship, could the Swans do the same next year?
Western Bulldogs = Indiana Pacers
All the fans of the newly crowned AFL premiers can rest easy now your premiership drought is over, and instead shift their focus to a team that not many people in the NBA are talking about who have the potential to be a surprise packet this NBA season.
The Indiana Pacers have quietly retooled their roster to bring in some very savvy NBA veterans to complement some of their already strong roster.
Paul George is the unquestionable leader and star, but he now will have great help from point guard Jeff Teague, another forward to help down low in Thaddeus Young, and some bench scoring in big man Al Jefferson.
Jump on now Bulldogs fans, because this could be a team that could go a long way in the Eastern Conference come playoffs time.
West Coast Eagles = Toronto Raptors
The Raptors are sometimes the forgotten team in the NBA because they are the only team outside of the United States. West Coast has a tendency to also go under the radar to many Melbourne footy fans, but always find a way to make their way back to the finals.
The Raptors made it all the way to the Eastern Conference finals last season, before getting knocked out by the champion Cavaliers.
West Coast were bundled out of the finals last season by the eventual premiers, the Western Bulldogs. There’s no doubt that both teams will be looking to come back and make amends in coming seasons.
Don’t follow an AFL team? Utah Jazz
If you aren’t an AFL fan, but are looking for someone to follow this year? Or don’t agree with our team comparison for your AFL side? Get on the Utah Jazz bandwagon.
The Jazz are quietly being touted as the team in the west that will have a big leap this season, with a very deep and talented roster.
They also have two Australians on the team, in young guard Dante Exum and veteran Joe Ingles, so show some Aussie pride and back our boys as the Jazz make the leap into the playoffs.
What do you think of our NBA / AFL comparisons? Did we get it right? Tell us in the comments below.
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