In Honor Of Football Returning Here Is An NFL Counterpart For Every NBA Team
With football officially starting tomorrow and the FIBA World Cup in action, we’re about to be living a life where the two best sports are active and in our lives. Then before you know it NBA camps will open, Fall will be here and we won’t have a reason to have to go outside. I can’t wait. So in honor of the NFL season being just one sleep away, I figured why not have some fun and combine the two sports, breaking down each NBA team and their NFL counterpart. Obviously there will be two NFL teams not listen since they have two more teams than the NBA, but you get the idea. Alright let’s dive in
Atlanta Hawks / Cleveland Browns
Both teams showed progress last year that has their fanbases very excited for the upcoming season. Their prized high draft pick was in the conversation for ROY and proved all the doubters wrong who said they would struggle at the next level. They are loaded with awesome young talent and appear to be on the up and up. Two teams that haven’t been in the playoffs in a long time that have a great shot to break through this season despite being one of the youngest teams in their respective leagues.
Boston Celtics / Dallas Cowboys
A lot of people hate them because of their past success. They are a team that should be pretty good in the regular season and make the playoffs, but recent history is filled with terrible playoff disappointments. They haven’t won a title in forever yet still are talked about as contenders. Their head coaches sort of underachieved last year but has rock solid job security. They can be great if they put everything together, the giant question is if they actually can.
Brooklyn Nets / Baltimore Ravens
In my opinion, these are two teams that could be a year away from really making a run. Both made the playoffs last year and were early exits, but they both have great foundations and a bright future. They play you hard as hell and are always capable of beating good teams on any given night and their PG/QB are the type of talent where you cannot look away because they could do something awesome at any moment.
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Charlotte Hornets / Miami Dolphins
Two teams all about the tank. One gave a shit ton of money to Terry Rozier to ensure he would take 20 shots a night and help them lose, the other is blowing it up and starting over.
Chicago Bulls / Buffalo Bills
They aren’t good, but they don’t truly stink either. They can pull an upset if someone gets hot, but they are still in the rebuilding phase with their franchise really depending on their new young talent. They both for sure will have some god awful performances, but they’ll also have those nights where they look like a team that’s starting to put it together. They may not make the playoffs, but they’ll be watchable.
Cleveland Cavaliers / Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Both have high draft picks that may not be the answer, both are currently rebuilding and nobody really expects much from them. I feel like they mirror each other pretty well.
Dallas Mavericks / New York Giants
Both won titles in 2011, and they enter this season with two of the most exciting young second year players in the league that each won ROY. They should be good enough to at least flirt with the playoffs, even if nobody considers them anywhere close to being real contenders. They aren’t even the best team in their own state and that’s OK, because they are going to be a League Pass/RedZone regular once their young studs do something that melts your brain.
Denver Nuggets / Chicago Bears
On paper, they’re stacked. They are both coming off pretty surprising seasons where nobody really believed they were legit. A couple of elite defenses this is the season they both attempt to back up that what we saw last season was no fluke and that they are for real. Both were near the top of their respective conferences who employ a singular unstoppable force. With the Nuggets it’s Jokic with the Bears it’s Mack.
Detroit Pistons / Carolina Panthers
Two franchises that really come down to one stud and then a really good supporting teammate. With DET it’s Blake and Drummond and with CAR it’s Cam and McCaffrey. They are teams that usually are fighting some sort of injury bug and are always on the playoff bubble. Not terrible, can be really good at certain points of the year, but will always have a few head scratching losses that end up boning them in the end.
Golden State Warriors / New England Patriots
The closest thing we have to a couple of dynasties. Many are counting GS out as legit contenders because of their injuries, and we’re already starting to get the hot takes that the Pats are no longer the best team in the AFC. In the end, it’s usually these two teams playing for all the marbles.
Houston Rockets / Kansas City Chiefs
A couple of teams that look unstoppable during the year. They score a billion points, have a best player who is changing how the game is played, yet come the postseason it’s always the same old story. Disappointment. Both have an achilles heel of defense being a problem, and we usually hear about how they are truly the best team without ever ya know, actually winning anything.
Indiana Pacers / Philadelphia Eagles
Teams loaded with talent who both have their best player coming off injury. Their fate will rely on how those guys come back and perform, and while they may not be considered the favorites for a title, they could absolute be a tough out for someone if everything clicks. Both are coming off relatively early postseason exits, but could definitely surprise people this season if their studs are 100% healthy.
LA Clippers / New Orleans Saints
A couple of title favorites, both teams are loaded at some of the most important positions. The Saints at QB and WR and the Clippers at wing. There are huge expectations for each team to break through this season, both have legit coaches, and both at some point were the laughingstock of their respective league and now are considered the cream of the crop.
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LA Lakers / Green Bay Packers
Both are rich in history and are led by an all time great who is coming off an injury plagued season where the team as a whole wasn’t so hot. Now healthy, they should be contenders despite both playing in a pretty stacked division. They’re also home to insufferable fanbases so that fits nicely.
Memphis Grizzlies / Indianapolis Colts
Two teams that are now in a rebuild phase but have enough talent where at least they’ll be worth watching. At this point nobody really expects much from either, but they have some young talent that could surprise people. The Grizzlies with their rookies and the Colts with Brissett. They were sort of forced into rebuilds by saying goodbye to some franchise legends, but both do have decent looking futures.
Miami Heat / Tennessee Titans
They certainly don’t stink, but they don’t really scare anybody. If you take a night off against them they can certainly beat any team in the league, but it’s not sustainable. Both are sort of middle of the pack in terms of title odds, and are at this point where they aren’t really rebuilding but aren’t really contending either. Stuck in purgatory if you will.
Milwaukee Bucks / Los Angeles Rams
Two teams that broke through last year with awesome regular seasons. They are another sexy pick to win the title this year, despite both sort of choking in the playoffs the season prior. The Rams scored 3 points in the Super Bowl, the Bucks lost 4 straight to lose the ECF, but both are loaded with talent on either end and should be forces again this season.
Minnesota Timberwolves / Houston Texans
These are teams that should be good in theory. They have some absolute studs on their roster, yet they never seem to be able to truly put it together. Both recently have either missed the playoffs or been early exits despite having some unicorn level talent.
New Orleans Pelicans / Arizona Cardinals
They’ll probably stink, but everyone cannot wait to see both #1 picks actually play. No where close to being considered contenders, they still have some interesting pieces that who knows one day may pan out. No matter what their record is though, the #1 picks are what are going to bring people to watch.
New York Knicks / Oakland Raiders
This one is pretty self explanatory.
Oklahoma City Thunder / San Francisco 49ers
They are both relatively young, both rebuilding, and may actually be a little bit better than we expect. There’s a chance OKC if they keep Paul could surprise people, and who knows if Jimmy G is healthy and actually legit, maybe the 49ers do the same.
Orlando Magic / Jacksonville Jaguars
They both had that one good year, have some good young talent, and both play in a division that is prime for the taking. The Magic did it last season, and now with the AFC South wide open the Jags can certainly do something similar. The Magic also had one of the best defenses after the All Star break, and as we know defense is the strength of this Jaguars team.
Philadelphia Sixers / Minnesota Vikings
Another pair of teams whose fans always talk about how they are contenders and the best without ever winning anything. It’s usually the same story, really good during the regular season, awesome defense, but they are led by guys who choke in the big moments. The Vikings have a QB who can’t beat good teams and the Sixers are led by guys who can’t shoot and score 1 point in a playoff game. Both have good solid coaches and a ton of talent, it’s just the same old story of disappointment every single year.
Phoenix Suns / Cincinnati Bengals
Two teams that should be better than they are, but as we enter next season both should be pretty shitty. At the bottom of their leagues in terms of title odds, these are teams that may have one or two good moments, but in the end you know who they are and that’s not changing anytime soon.
Portland Trail Blazers / Pittsburgh Steelers
Really good during the regular season, will be talked about as a one of the best teams in their conference, they just haven’t been able to get over the hump. Both teams have their boogieman who just so happen to be the best of the best, with PIT it’s NE and with POR it’s GS. Having said that they are still mentioned among the 3 teams that have a chance to come out of their respective conference, and should be considered in that top tier.
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Sacramento Kings / New York Jets
At times, both franchises didn’t look like they had any idea what the hell they were doing. Every decision they’ve made was a disaster. But recently, things are looking better. They are still able to do things that make you scratch your head, but both could be very exciting to watch as both are loaded with good young talent. Unfortunately they both play in divisions that they have no chance of winning, but these are two former dumpster fires that actually could be pretty decent and fight for a final playoff spot.
San Antonio Spurs / Seattle Seahawks
Old reliable. You know both of these teams are going to be in the playoffs. The Seahawks have made it 6 of the last 7 years and the Spurs like the last 20 or some shit. Both have recent-ish titles, both are coming off early round playoff exits last season, but they are both teams you can never truly rule out.
Toronto Raptors / Atlanta Falcons
They’ll both be good, they’ll have their moments, but you don’t expect them to really compete for a title. They both have some really intriguing pieces but they aren’t quite in that top tier of their respective conferences. They are that next level which is still good, but nothing to blow your dick off.
Utah Jazz / Los Angeles Chargers
After the seasons they just had, both are considered quasi-contenders that are deep as hell with talent. Both had disappointing early playoff exits and are in the mix for the 2nd/3rd spot in their division. A ton of hype surrounds the Jazz entering next season the same way there always seems to be hype around the Chargers. They’ll both win a ton of games in the regular season, but their question will always be if they can break through in the postseason.
Washington Wizards / Washington Redskins
Both have around the 11th highest payroll in their respective leagues. Both are in a rebuild phase and have had to deal with injuries to some of their best players, and both are projected to be near the bottom of the standings. You could say their front offices have been a bit of a disaster for a long time, and hey if guys come back from injury and are legit maybe they surprise people. With the Wizards that’s Isaiah and with the Redskins that’s Derrius Guice. Nobody is expecting much from either, so at least it should be a stress free season.
And that’ll do it. Best of luck to each of you this upcoming NFL and NBA season. Tomorrow can’t come soon enough.