Ranking the NBA's Top 10 League-Pass Alert Teams
Just for a few minutes, let's pretend that the NBA isn't about winning.
Instead, everything centers around providing the maximum levels of entertainment for fans. Dunks abound, as do flashy passes, up-tempo offensive play, monstrous blocks on the less glamorous end and tough jumpers from star players.
Obviously, NBA teams aren't going to alter their style of play to cater to these new ideals, as their contracts are still determined by their effectiveness on the court. But that's how we're evaluating them here.
These rankings are not about which teams play the best basketball. I'm not attempting to predict which ones will finish with the best record, though there is usually at least somewhat of a correlation between entertainment value and success. Good squads are generally more fun to watch than bad ones, after all.
All we're focusing on here are the teams you need to watch whenever possible. Seek out broadcasts of their games and clear your schedules whenever they have a particularly intriguing matchup.
You won't want to miss them.
Honorable Mentions
1 of 11
Chicago Bulls
The passing in the frontcourt will inevitably be fantastic, between the creativity of Pau Gasol and the big-man flair of Joakim Noah. Add in Jimmy Butler's athleticism, as well as Derrick Rose's overall studliness at point guard, and you have the makings of a marvelously entertaining team, even if there's an overall defensive orientation.
But until we know Rose is going to be, well, Rose, the Chicago Bulls are doomed to the honorable mentions.
Philadelphia 76ers
Even though there's plenty of young talent on the roster, the Philadelphia 76ers are not going to be particularly fun to watch.
Their opponents, however, will be.
Portland Trail Blazers
Tune in for the starting lineup but make sure you change the channel as soon as the Portland Trail Blazers' second unit is forced into action. Even though it should be much-improved, it's still a group of players that will hold back the five-man squad that spends so much time on the floor.
Nonetheless, Damian Lillard and LaMarcus Aldridge are borderline superstars, and the rest of the starters aren't too shabby.
San Antonio Spurs
Sadly, the popular misconception that the San Antonio Spurs play boring basketball hasn't completely fizzled out. Nothing could be further from the truth, even if there's not enough athleticism on the squad to provide too many SportsCenter-style highlights.
But if you're in the mood for watching a team play as close to perfect basketball as possible, the Spurs are the squad you want to see.
Washington Wizards
Between John Wall blazing up and down the court and Bradley Beal raining in perimeter jumpers, there shouldn't be any shortage of offense in the nation's capital. Add in Paul Pierce, Marcin Gortat and Nene and that statement becomes even more true.
However, a lack of entertainment on the bench, some offensive inconsistency and a playing style that can lead to a bit of stagnation in the half-court set just barely keeps the Washington Wizards out of the top 10.
10. Milwaukee Bucks
2 of 11
It's all about young talent here.
Even though the Milwaukee Bucks aren't going to be particularly competitive, they have players with upside at just about every position. The same can be said of teams such as the Orlando Magic and Philadelphia 76ers, but the Bucks have far more potential on the current roster.
For example, Bleacher Report's Jim Cavan called Brandon Knight the next big breakout star at the 1, writing, "Knight—still just 22 years old—sits on the precarious cusp of either taking that next big step or fading forever into middling oblivion."
There's certainly no guarantee of an explosion, but it's possible. And somehow, Knight may be the least interesting of the potential starters.
You've heard plenty about Giannis Antetokounmpo and his incalculable potential by now. Jabari Parker is poised to compete for Rookie of the Year, due to his offensive skill and sure-to-be-large role. But in the frontcourt, both John Henson and Larry Sanders are striving to use their length as a method of proving they belong in big NBA roles.
Plus, that's saying nothing of O.J. Mayo's redemption campaign, Nate Wolters' quest to prove he deserves a larger allotment of the minutes and Khris Middleton's attempt to provide a solid encore for Milwaukee.
Don't expect wins but expect so many flashes of potential you'll feel like you're surrounded by paparazzi.
9. Minnesota Timberwolves
3 of 11
If the Minnesota Timberwolves don't try to run the opposition to death, they're doing something wrong.
There's just too much fast-break talent on this roster, especially now that Shabazz Muhammad and Anthony Bennett are in better shape than they were as rookies. Between those two, Andrew Wiggins, Corey Brewer, Zach LaVine and Thaddeus Young, Ricky Rubio will have no shortage of targets for his deft passes in transition.
The only problem is that Nikola Pekovic doesn't really fit that style of play, as he's more of a hulking center who loves serving as a bruiser in the post. But if he's trailing, he'll pick up plenty of rebounds, and the Wolves can always just give more minutes to Gorgui Dieng.
Much like the Milwaukee Bucks, Minnesota is inundated with plenty of young talent. Wiggins in particular stands out, but the city also provides last year's No. 1 pick with a perfect opportunity to rebound from an atrocious rookie season.
On top of that, LaVine is one of the best athletes in this current class of first-year players, and while he'll struggle with the college-to-NBA transition, he's still going to provide some high-flying highlights when he's on the court.
Expect lots of points, lots of alley-oops and lots of entertainment, even if the losses pile up.
8. Denver Nuggets
4 of 11
The Denver Nuggets are going to spend the 2014-15 season running, running some more and then continuing to run for good measure.
After playing with the No. 3 pace in the Association last year, per Basketball-Reference.com, this squad wants to go even faster. That was one of my primary takeaways after attending the Denver media day, as head coach Brian Shaw emphasized speed, even mentioning that he wanted his team to push toward 120 points per game:
"We want to get out and run. We played at a fast pace last year; we want to play at an ever faster pace this year.
[...]
We want to run, but we also want to be well-rounded and be able to execute in the half-court and play that style. We want to be able to score...if we can, I'd like to score 120 points a game. But I also want us to be able to win our fair share of games that are in the 80s, to be able to play whatever style that it is.
"
If there's a team suited to do so, it's this one.
Not only are the Nuggets incredibly deep but they also boast the services of so many speedy players and tremendous athletes, with Ty Lawson and Kenneth Faried chief among them. That duo should be a devastating one in transition, but it's not as though the rest of the Nuggets lag behind them in terms of their potential entertainment factors.
Nate Robinson is always worth watching, and JaVale McGee is overflowing with the ability to do something memorable, though there's never any certainty whether it will help or hurt his team. With Arron Afflalo returning to town and Danilo Gallinari coming back from injury, there are even more options at Shaw's disposal.
As if the Pepsi Center's altitude didn't already leave opposing players gasping for breath...
7. Oklahoma City Thunder
5 of 11
There's no doubt that Kevin Durant is one of the must-watch players in the NBA. Coming off an MVP season, he'll be seeking to defend that individual title while getting even better, which is a rather scary prospect for the rest of the league.
Russell Westbrook qualifies as such too.
The dynamic point guard is an unpredictable entity, one who can shoot his team out of a game or explode with mid-range jumpers and thunderous slams to put up a dozen points in just a matter of minutes. Either way, he's a remarkably fun 1-guard.
To round things out, Serge Ibaka is a terror on the interior of a defense, blocking some shots, altering others and just wreaking general havoc whenever he's on the floor. Plus, Reggie Jackson is due to break out even further, filling that role James Harden once occupied before he was traded to the Houston Rockets.
This is undoubtedly one of the most entertaining teams in the sport, but Scott Brooks is holding them back from earning an even higher placement in these rankings. Without any creativity coming from the sidelines, the Oklahoma City Thunder offense is too prone to stagnation, relying on isolation sets and hero ball.
Sure, Durant and Westbrook still make that fun, but until there's more variation in the offense, OKC isn't as entertaining as it could be. This team has so much unrealized potential in that department.
6. Dallas Mavericks
6 of 11
The Dallas Mavericks are only going to get more entertaining now that the versatile Chandler Parsons will be suiting up at the 3 and even playing the 4 in some smaller lineups. Good as Vince Carter was, Parsons is better, especially when he's allowed to keep the ball in his hands and facilitate for his teammates. Plus, he's similarly potent from the outside.
Losing Jose Calderon will hurt, but the Mavericks also upgraded at center, bringing back Tyson Chandler to anchor the defense and provide the guards with a constant target around the rim. There's a reason he's so efficient year in and year out, as he spends quite a bit of time making hand-to-rim contact while throwing the ball with a downward trajectory.
According to Basketball-Reference.com, the Mavs scored 111.2 points per 100 possessions last year, a mark that left them trailing only the Portland Trail Blazers and Los Angeles Clippers. Not only are they getting even better on the offensive end but they also have two players who are always must-watch guys when they're really feeling it.
Dirk Nowitzki, despite playing out the twilight of his career, is one. His flamingo fadeaway is always an entertaining shot, and he's still so good at splashing in tough jumpers and coming through in big moments.
Though he's nowhere near as stellar from the perimeter, Monta Ellis is arguably even more fun to watch. His athletic drives and circus finishes create plenty of highlights, and few guards have the ability to heat up like he does.
5. Golden State Warriors
7 of 11
During the 2013-14 season, only two players managed to connect on at least 220 shots from beyond the three-point arc.
One was Klay Thompson, who hit 223 triples for the Golden State Warriors, beginning to convince some that he was deserving of a huge contract extension. The other was Stephen Curry, who couldn't top his record-setting 2012-13 season but still managed to rain in a league-best 261 bombs.
The Splash Brothers, as they're known both in the Bay Area and throughout the basketball-watching world, are the best in the business at shooting those deep jumpers, and that's not likely to change heading forward. If anything, they're both young enough that they should only be getting better, especially with noted sharpshooter Steve Kerr in their ears throughout the year.
There are other entertaining players on the roster—Andre Iguodala in particular deserves a mention—but it's Kerr who keys such a stellar ranking.
Mark Jackson was a good inspirational speaker and a coach who related with his players, but his offensive sets were limited and lacked creativity. That shouldn't be the case with Kerr, who will allow the ridiculous amount of talent on this roster to shine.
4. New Orleans Pelicans
8 of 11
Two words: Anthony Davis.
One word: Unibrow.
As this rising superstar attempts to carry the New Orleans Pelicans into the playoffs, despite the stacked nature of the Western Conference, you won't want to miss his exploits. Not only is he building upon history, trying to produce better stats than the ones he earned last year, which hadn't been matched by any young big man since Hakeem Olajuwon and David Robinson, but he's also quite the thrilling and captivating talent.
Davis is mesmerizing on defense, trapping players well outside the arc, providing help defense and recovering to his man and swatting shots left and right, but he's just as fun on the offensive end. Whether he's finishing seemingly unreachable alley-oops or knocking down mid-range jumpers, he's sure to do something worthy of your attention.
Plus, the rest of the roster isn't too shabby, especially now that they should experience better health than they did in 2013-14. Remember, Jrue Holiday was an All-Star during his Philadelphia days, and Eric Gordon still has time to justify at least a portion of his massive contract.
Don't sleep on these Pelicans, both in the Western standings and in terms of watchability.
3. Los Angeles Clippers
9 of 11
Are the Los Angeles Clippers about to have even more fast-break opportunities?
As DeAndre Jordan told Bleacher Report's Jared Zwerling, the ultimate goal whenever he blocks a shot isn't to send the ball into the stands, but rather it's to facilitate a transition play:
"What I really want to do on a block is not only keep the ball in play, but block the ball far enough to where I know Chris [Paul], Matt Barnes or even Blake Griffin can grab it, run the court and get us a bucket. Blake is so damn strong that he can go down and get us a three-point play. And that changes the entire game.
I'm getting better at blocking a shot and getting that rebound so we can go out on the break. But everything is a work in progress.
"
The Clippers already filled the Staples Center with enough lobs during fast-break chances, but Jordan's development could somehow lead to even more.
That means more Chris Paul dazzling with his handles, deft passes and innate scoring ability. That means more of the hordes of shooters spotting up for quick triples. That means more of Jamal Crawford's handles in one-on-one situations. That means more dunks from Blake Griffin, which is never a bad thing.
LAC was an offensive machine in 2013-14, boasting the services of two top-10 players and one of the fastest rising centers in the league, a player who took so many strides under the tutelage of Doc Rivers. Now they should be even better, with a solid set of backups keeping them as fresh as ever.
When this team is on the floor, you never know when a two-minute stretch is going to provide you with enough highlights to last a lifetime.
2. Cleveland Cavaliers
10 of 11
Not to put words in your mouths, but whether you're rooting for the Cleveland Cavaliers to end Northeast Ohio's championship drought or hoping that the NBA's newest superteam flops like the Los Angeles Lakers did two years ago, you have to be intrigued by this team.
LeBron James, the single-most entertaining player in basketball, is heading home, eager to motivate his troops and play MVP-caliber basketball for the Cavs. Kyrie Irving finally gets to play meaningful minutes, which should make his handles even tighter. Kevin Love will end his stretch of campaigns that end after the regular season.
But how will they work together? Who takes the last shot in a close game? Will Irving's dazzling dribbles take the ball out of James' hands for too long? Will defense hold this team back?
There are so many unanswered questions, and they likely won't have definitive conclusions until the end of the season, if not after that. But the process of figuring everything out is going to be loads of fun.
After all, James, once more, is the premier entertainer in the sport. Meanwhile, Irving and Love made the Cavs and Minnesota Timberwolves, respectively, into entertaining squads whenever they're on the court together.
Now that they're on the same team, the offensive potential is just limitless.
1. Phoenix Suns
11 of 11
The Phoenix Suns are by no means a guarantee to make the playoffs, but they won't allow you to regret watching them whenever you give them the opportunity to provide loads of entertainment.
Goran Dragic, one of the NBA's most underrated players, is a one-man fast break, slithering through defenders and finishing creatively around the hoop. If you didn't watch him put up All-Star-caliber numbers last year or carry the Slovenian national team during the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup, please remedy that as soon as possible.
Even if you did, help yourself to some more of him.
But he's not exactly the only standout in the backcourt. Not after Eric Bledsoe, sometimes called "Mini LeBron" due to his all-around contributions and insanely athletic play, re-signed with the Suns. Not after Isaiah Thomas, the diminutive but dynamic scoring guard who last played with the Sacramento Kings, agreed to a steal of a contract.
Jeff Hornacek's system thrives with two point guards on the court, and he has three of the very best offensive ones at his disposal.
And the entertainment doesn't even stop there, as Zoran Dragic and the Morris brothers, Markieff and Marcus, are there to provide two familial duos. Plus, T.J. Warren will be attempting to have his creativity on the offensive end carry over from N.C. State to the Association, and Gerald Green remains one of the league's highest-flying players.
There's no shortage of entertainment here. Whether or not the postseason quest is successful, the Suns—barring any unforeseen injuries—will play the most watchable brand of basketball throughout the NBA.
