Players aren't the only ones who get to be free agents. Sometimes, fans have the right to switch allegiances too. It's why bandwagons exist.

Perhaps you're a supporter of a lottery team and need a squad or two to get behind as you watch the NBA playoffs unfold. Or a lapsed fan who only tunes in once the basketball gets real. Maybe you're just a hoop head who has League Pass on lock in an effort to take in as much hardwood action as possible.

Whatever the case, we have you covered with our playoff bandwagon power rankings.

Based on voting from various Bleacher Report writers and staff members, we've ordered the playoff teams from Nos. 1 to 16 in order of easiest to root for in the 2023-24 postseason to hardest. Sixteen points were awarded for a first-place vote, on down the line to one point for a 16th-place vote.

Though it's tough to drop all biases, votes were cast from the viewpoint of a neutral NBA fan. Considerations included excitement factor, length of title drought and other prominent storylines.

Think of this as B/R's friendly adopt-a-team assistance program.

Voting panel consisted of: B/R writers Andy Bailey, Zach Buckley, Grant Hughes, Eric Pincus and Greg Swartz, and B/R staff members Joey Akeley, Bryant Knox, Emily McCarthy, Bryan Toporek, Chris Trenchard and Jason Dunbar.

1. Oklahoma City Thunder

Voting Total: 131 (four first-place votes)

Why You Should Hop on the Bandwagon

Nobody expected this—not this early. The Oklahoma City Thunder are the youngest top seed ever with an average age of 23.9, per the Locked On Thunder podcast.

It's the second time in Thunder history they've been the top seed in the West, post-move from Seattle. Led by ascendant superstar and likely top-two MVP finisher Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the Thunder have a championship ceiling in '24.

You want offense? They have plenty, with a third-best net rating of 119.5. You want star power? SGA, and to a lesser extent Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams, have you covered. Title drought? Technically, the franchise last won a championship under the Seattle SuperSonics banner in 1978-79, but that doesn't feel all that relevant to the majority of the team's current fanbase.

OKC is the vanguard of the NBA's current wave of up-and-coming teams. And it may just fully arrive during these playoffs. This is what The Process looks like when everything breaks right (just don't let them hear you say that).

If you back the Thunder now, you have some heady days ahead of you.

Plus, as colleague Bryan Toporek noted: "If this year's Thunder win the championship despite being the second-youngest team in the NBA, it'll be that much more hilarious that Durant, Westbrook and Harden never did during their OKC days."

Why You Shouldn't

It might be a little too late to hop on here.

Where have you been since general manager Sam Presti began flipping stars for future assets after the short-lived Westbrook and Paul George era? Haven't you noticed this team collected enough draft assets to choke a rhinoceros over the last half-decade?

Granted, that take is a little gatkeep-ey, and in 2024 that approach is more frowned upon than ever. But if there's an argument to be made to stay away, it's that the timing of a jump to the OKC bandwagon looks a little suspect.

2. New York Knicks

Voting Total: 127 (two first-place votes)

Why You Should Hop on the Bandwagon

If there's a singular player anyone can get behind in these playoffs, it's Jalen Brunson.

A second-round pick of the Mavericks in 2018, he joined the New York Knicks via free agency ahead of last season and changed the culture of losing for the franchise, most recently bringing the team to its first 50-win season since 2012-13 and the days of Carmelo Anthony.

The two-time national champion at Villanova has a legitimate First Team All-NBA case this year with 28.7 points, 6.7 assists and 0.9 steals per game to go with 40.1 percent shooting from three. It's also fitting that Brunson shares a lineup at Madison Square Garden with his college cohorts in Josh Hart and Donte DiVincenzo.

Overall, the Knicks are a plucky No. 2 seed despite massive injury setbacks. Big man Julius Randle is out for year with a shoulder injury and big trade acquisition O.G. Anunoby only played 23 games for the team, though he returned from an elbow injury this month.

But New York doesn't take its foot off the gas behind head coach Tom Thibodeau. Case in point: With 50 wins and the No. 2 seed on the line, Thibodeau refused to rest his starters against the Bulls in a game that, had they lost, would've given them an easier playoff path and a first-round matchup with the Pacers. Instead, they're facing the 76ers and found themselves underdogs in their opening series ahead of Game 1, per FanDuel.

They won't back down under any circumstances. It's hard not to admire that kind of gumption.

B/R colleague Joey Akeley wrote: "I'm a sucker for teams that A) overcome injuries, B) play rugged defense and C) make up for a talent disadvantage by seemingly playing harder than everyone else. The Knicks do all these things. Can Brunson play 48 minutes per game for four seven-game series and maintain his greatness? Thibodeau might actually try it."

Let's also not forget that Knicks fans are a long-suffering bunch, having last witnessed a title in 1972-73.

Why You Shouldn't

New York is 30th in pace. That ranking is to be expected from such a physical team, but you probably won't mistake Knicks games for poetry on hardwood.

If you're not a fan of that physically aggressive, defense-first style of play, this might not be the team for you.

3. Minnesota Timberwolves

Voting Total: 115 (two first-place votes)

Why You Should Hop on the Bandwagon

Anthony Edwards is a problem.

It would probably suffice to just leave this highlight here and watch the Minnesota Timberwolves bandwagon swell without writing another word:

Everyone John Collins ever met felt that one. Clearly, Edwards' watchability rating is through the roof.

Because I can't help myself, here's one more from the other end:

Still, a few highlights do not make a star, and there's plenty more to Ant than that. This season, he entered the conversation as the possible post-LeBron face of the league. No matter who gets your vote for that particular distinction, that's a clear indication that his star is burning brightly.

And his teammates believe in him. Edwards dislocated a finger on the dunk above but had it popped back in on the sideline and returned to the game. The Athletic's Jon Krawczynski put it into context on his podcast April 13:

"Not only does he come back out and not miss a minute of action, but he plays really in control and dynamic at the same time down that stretch. He's hitting jump shots. Hitting threes. Going to the rim. Making passes. Getting others involved. ... That's the kind of thing that cements you. That just makes it 100 percent clear that you are The. Man. And to hear his teammates talk about it after the game, they are in awe of this person."

Sounds like a compelling case to hop on this bandwagon.

Saturday, Minnesota hosted its first Game 1 of a playoff series in 20 years. It has a riveting superstar blossoming before our eyes alongside three-time Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert and standout big man Karl-Anthony Towns, who just returned from a lengthy absence caused by knee trouble.

And oh yeah, the Twin Cities are sorely due for a championship, as the only men's pro team to win a title for the region were MLB's Minnesota Twins in 1987 and 1991.

Why You Shouldn't

Aside from Kevins Garnett and Love, this franchise hasn't had a whole lot to cheer for during its existence—and both stars found championship success elsewhere. So while that makes the T-Wolves a favorite in these rankings, it also makes for a fanbase that's girded for a letdown.

If you hop on this bandwagon, you might want to be too—especially since, while Minnesota has an outside shot at a title, it also faces a tough first-round matchup against the Suns and a potential date with the reigning-champ Nuggets in Round 2.

And that's not even mentioning the snafu in the transfer of power from longtime governor Glen Taylor to Alex Rodriguez and Marc Lore. As Toporek said: "Since a handful of billionaires appear intent on destroying any goodwill surrounding this team, can we at least let the Wolves win one championship before that happens?"

4. Indiana Pacers

Voting Total: 102 (one first-place vote)

Why You Should Hop on the Bandwagon

Tyrese Haliburton's got moxie oozing from his pores. Who can forget when the Indiana Pacers star mocked Damian Lillard's "Dame Time" celebration after hitting a late three against the Bucks during the inaugural in-season tournament?

Hali and Pacers showed how exciting they can be in their run to the finals of said tourney, and that was before an in-season trade for big-man Pascal Siakam.

And in a city that just welcomed Caitlin Clark as the WNBA's No. 1 pick, the Pacers are poised to wrest the spotlight back from the counterpart Fever ahead of a first-round matchup with the banged-up Bucks—a fitting twist of fate.

With Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo missing the opener and likely more, and Lillard not practicing for much of the week ahead of the series, the Pacers are gaining steam as an upset pick. Add the fact that they won't have to face the juggernaut Celtics until the Eastern Conference Finals should they advance that far, and Indy turns into a dark-horse candidate to make noise deep into the playoffs.

As for the on-court product, Indiana is all about that action, boss, as it's No. 1 in pace among playoff teams and finished behind only Boston in offensive efficiency, so you know you will see points a-plenty.

And despite some great teams during the Reggie Miller days in the '90s and the Paul George days in the '10s, the Pacers have advanced to the NBA Finals just once—losing that series in 2000 to the Lakers.

In the Basketball State, that's clearly a mega-glitch in the sports timeline we find ourselves in. So for the sentimental fans among us, a surprise Pacers run checks that box in bold, however unlikely a title might be.

Other than that, who knows, maybe you're a Philly fan who relishes the chance to see Bucks coach Doc Rivers sent packing early.

Why You Shouldn't

Haliburton suffered a hamstring strain in late January and missed 10 of the next 11 games, after which he wasn't the same player he was before the setback.

• Before: 24.2 PPG, 12.7 AST, 1.2 STL, .496/.404/.868
• After: 16.8 PPG, 9.3 AST, 1.3 STL, .455/.324/.843

Part of that is because he felt rushed back by the NBA's 65-game rule and may have returned too quickly. But whatever the reason, his scoring, assist and shooting numbers are notably down since the setback. It could prove irrelevant over the coming days, but Hali's drop-off is at least one indication that this might not be a long bandwagon ride.

Another is their playoff-worst 118.0 defensive (in)efficiency, which was No. 24 during the season. While that end of the floor doesn't always provide the highest entertainment factor for most, it does allow the team in question to keep entertaining you by keeping it in games.

5. Dallas Mavericks

Voting Total: 100

Why You Should Hop on the Bandwagon

There's a feel-good vibe around this iteration of the Dallas Mavericks.

They have an MVP candidate in Luka Dončic—who led the NBA in scoring with 33.9 points alongside 9.2 rebounds and 9.8 assists per game—and an in-house campaign for him to win said award after players and team staff wore Pravi MVP shirts this month.

He forms 50 percent of one of the league's most dynamic duos alongside Kyrie Irving, who is about as clutch as they come. After all, he did hit a title-winning shot to knock off the 73-win Warriors in 2016 for what the Wall Street Journal called "the biggest shot in NBA history."

Not a bad thing to go bandwagon riding with. He's also still up to similar things, having hit this jaw-dropping lefty game-winner against the Nuggets in March:

And there's a strong sense of togetherness with the Mavs. The 22-point comeback against the Rockets on April 7 serves as a prime example. As the two combined for 85 points in the galvanizing overtime win, they shared an on-court embrace—first with each other, then with more teammates:

Afterward, Brad Townsend of the Dallas Morning News dubbed Luka and Kyrie "basketball soulmates."

Dallas head coach Jason Kidd said:

"We have each other's backs. We're playing for something bigger than just the back of the jersey. We're playing for one another. You can see the chemistry, the celebration at the end. It takes a long time to build that. That just doesn't happen overnight. But the beauty of Kai and Luka hugging there at the end . . . those two trusting in their teammates that were out on the floor was huge."

It's hard not to get caught up in these vibes.

The Mavs were on fire heading into the playoffs, going 16-2 before losing the final two games of the year, both of which Dončic and Irving sat out. Now they're facing a Clippers team that knocked them out of two of their previous three postseason trips.

A superstar duo. Plenty of camaraderie. And a strong revenge factor.

What's not to like?

Why You Shouldn't

You don't have to look far back in Kyrie's past for reasons not to root for him. The most glaring being his promotion of an antisemitic movie on social media while with the Brooklyn Nets in 2022.

And while it might not be entirely fair to slap the "villain" label on him, since, well, things aren't always that easy, if we want to shove the narrative into a Hollywoodesque good-versus-evil box, then many people won't have a problem doing so.

6. Philadelphia 76ers

Voting Total: 99

Why You Should Hop on the Bandwagon

Perhaps a sense of shellshock has taken over the Philadelphia 76ers' fanbase in recent seasons given the wild James Harden divorce and Joel Embiid's constant injury management.

The latter is the biggest reason the Sixers find themselves at the No. 7 seed in the East.

But with Embiid on the floor, Philly is not as far behind Boston as some might think. At the very least, the Sixers have more than a puncher's chance with the game's most dangerous scorer manning the paint. The reigning MVP dropped 70 in a game this year and was a candidate to take the award again before injury troubles took him out of the running.

And then there's the rise of Tyrese Maxey, who turned from up-and-comer to full-blown star and formidable running mate to the franchise big man this season.

Despite the low seed, Philly remains in the contending tier as long as the French-Cameroonian import is on the floor. And if the Sixers do pull off a championship run, any Harden detractors will be crowing the whole way through.

In addition, the franchise's title drought stretches back to 1982-83—before a good portion of the current fanbase was born. Nab the Larry O'Brien, and the vicarious vibes would resonate through everywhere but rival cities.

Why You Shouldn't

As is the case with many of these anti-bandwagon takes, the health of this team's biggest star is always a concern.

Embiid's balky knee caused him to leave Saturday's Game 1 against the Knicks for a stretch, though he returned and finished with 29 points.

If he's forced to miss any significant time, though, disappointment is bound to follow.

7. Denver Nuggets

Voting Total: 95 (two first-place votes)

Why You Should Hop on the Bandwagon

We could be witnessing the NBA's next dynasty. While the league is no stranger to such runs, with the Warriors having won four titles in eight years from 2015 to 2022, fans of history in action will want to watch the reigning champ Denver Nuggets try to go back to back.

Two-time league MVP Nikola Jokic is at the height of his powers at 29 years old and is the favorite to take a third such honor this season. If he does, he'll be one of nine players to win at least three MVPs. He is also the most recent Finals MVP.

If that doesn't scream "watch me," I don't know what does.

Jamal Murray (27), Michael Porter Jr. (25) and Aaron Gordon (28) form a standout supporting cast, and given the relative youth of this core, the Nuggets aren't going anywhere (barring any more devastating injuries). The Murray-Joker two-man game is also one of the league's must-see attractions.

For whatever reason, many people were hesitant to believe in the Joker for years, with one analyst calling him "the worst MVP since Dave Cowens" after the Denver star won his first award. Nick Wright has since walked that back, but the sentiment is still out there, with Gilbert Arenas calling him "the worst MVP in 40 years," on Shannon Sharpe's Nightcap (h/t Newsweek) this month.

What gives?

Let the hate flow. Hop on this bandwagon and relish the chance to see the generational big man shut down the naysayers once again.

Why You Shouldn't

There's not much weight to the MVP hot takes above, and Joker is No. 1 all-time in career box plus/minus, as B/R's Andy Bailey points out.

But maybe you buy Arenas' line of thinking anyway, and that's OK. Teams built around big men aren't for everyone.

There's also the fact that, you know, they just won a title. Before last season, the Nuggets counted themselves among 11 championship-less franchises. Since they checked that box, some of the sentimentality is removed for outsiders.

8. Orlando Magic

Voting Total: 91

Why You Should Hop on the Bandwagon

As is the case for several of the teams in these playoffs, the Orlando Magic have zero championships. And while that adds some attractiveness to their bandwagon case—since who doesn't love to see a fanbase get that first taste of sweet, sweet Larry O'Brien-induced euphoria—it's not a realistic expectation yet.

Still, it's the perfect time to hit this wagon. The early growing pains of this rebuild are close to ending, as the core anchored by 2022 No. 1 pick Paolo Banchero is entertaining and on the rise. Along with 22-year-old Franz Wagner, Banchero forms one of the league's most promising young frontcourts.

And while the team's overall offensive efficiency might not be there, both Banchero and Wagner put up at least 19 points per night and have the potential to put on a show.

Another integral part of this frontcourt, Jonathan Isaac, is Orlando's resident feel-good story. After tearing his ACL in August 2020 during bubble play, he played just 11 games over the subsequent three seasons because of the injury and hamstring and adductor setbacks.

That he's back and making any sort of impact is uplifting enough. But when Isaac is slotted in at the 5, the Magic seem on a mission to make defense fun.

They sport the league's No. 2 unit on the less glamorous end, and at points Issac can act as a one-man wrecking crew:

If he's at the heart of a rousing playoff run, then we might have underestimated the number of bandwagon riders this team will carry.

Why You Shouldn't

Orlando finished No. 22 in offensive rating and No. 25 in pace, so it won't exactly be off to the races against the Cavs or a potential second-round opponent.

And much like Cleveland, it's liable to be a short bandwagon ride with the Celtics looming in Round 2.

9. New Orleans Pelicans

Voting Total: 90

Why You Should Hop on the Bandwagon

In a strange way, it feels like Zion Williamson is a post-hype star.

That's even after LeBron James called the New Orleans Pelicans franchise player a "generational talent" this past week.

It's not the 2019 No. 1 overall pick's talent level that has the basketball world hesitant to fully buy all the Zion stock. It's his health. His play-in performance against the Lakers was a microcosm of his young career: a dominant 40-point effort cut short by a hamstring strain.

Every time the hype train gets rolling, it gets derailed.

But the hype train does eventually get rolling again. And when it does, you're going to get nights like the one he had against the Lakers, showing how he could be one of the NBA's main attractions with a few health breaks and some better conditioning:

His rare blend of power and athleticism is something to behold, and any New Orleans bandwagon-hoppers are in for a treat.

Other than the mercurial star, New Orleans features two 20-point scorers in wing Brandon Ingram and veteran guard CJ McCollum, who for short stretches can conceivably make up for the loss of the team's best player.

As for long-suffering fanbases, New Orleans hasn't found much success during its existence. The franchise's past is a little convoluted, as its previous history as the Charlotte Hornets was tacked on to the current team with that moniker (formerly the Charlotte Bobcats).

So officially, we're only talking about a team that has records back to 2002-03.

But in the end, it's all semantics as far as banners go, as neither iteration has ever made it past the conference semifinals.

That's a long way of saying this is another wagon with nary a Larry O'Brien Trophy on it.

Why You Shouldn't

Not going to spill a lot of ink on this one: Bet on Zion's health at your own peril.

He missed the Pelicans' play-in win over the Kings and is expected to miss the first two games of the opening-round matchup with the Thunder, per The Athletic's William Guillory.

That, no doubt, has our panel a bit down on the Pels.

10. Boston Celtics

Voting Total: 83

Why You Should Hop on the Bandwagon

The Boston Celtics are a well-oiled machine as the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference. They have stars in Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. They have championship pedigree with Jrue Holiday. Kristaps Porziņģis and Derrick White round out the league's scariest starting five.

The 64-win C's had the fourth-most victories in franchise history and were one of the most dominant regular-season teams in recent memory. By at least one measure, this is one of the best offenses in NBA history. Per Basketball Reference, Boston's 123.2 mark is the best offensive rating on record, which goes back to 1973-74. The team also finished third in defensive rating.

In short, what you're getting is a borderline juggernaut.

This core also has plenty of unfinished business after losing to the Warriors in the 2022 Finals as well as watching Tatum become hobbled early with an injury in last year's Game 7 Eastern Conference Finals loss to the Heat.

This group has as good a chance as it will probably ever have to silence the "Break up the J's!" crowd once and for all.

Why You Shouldn't

Nobody roots for Goliath. Unless you're a dyed-in-the-wool Boston fan, the Celtics' season-long domination and a tied-for-league-high 17 championship banners casts them in that role.

Their title drought goes back to 2008 and the days of Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen, sure, but try telling a Kings or Hawks fan how long that is in the scheme of things.

As Toporek told me: "You really need a reason to root against Boston fans? Where have you been for the past 20 years, and can you take me there with you?"

11. Los Angeles Lakers

Voting Total: 72

Why You Should Hop on the Bandwagon

Let's hand this one over everyone's favorite (former) little man:

I don't care if the reference is outdated—an all-time player deserves an all-time meme, and I'm rolling it out while I have the chance.

Internet lore aside, LeBron James' floor is a top-two player all-time. Depending on who you ask, he's the GOAT. In his waning playing days, there's an outside shot this is the 39-year-old's last postseason. That's what you're getting as a Los Angeles Lakers bandwagon rider.

Akeley put it succinctly, writing: "I get it if you have Lakers fatigue or LeBron fatigue or both. But I can't help but root for LeBron in the twilight of his career. We'll never see anyone like him again."

Point being: Watch the King while you can.

There's also his current partner in crime, Anthony Davis, who's among the league's best when healthy.

It's hard to root against a guy who embraces a unique look in a unibrow—and even has trademarks surrounding it—and can average 24.7 points per game and harbors the defensive chops to do things like this:

Why You Shouldn't

As Akeley alluded to, James has made 16 previous trips to the playoffs, resulting in 10 Finals appearances and four titles. Unless you're a new basketball fan, there's a slight chance you might've seen this show before.

Given that the four-time MVP has done nearly everything possible on a basketball court, wanting to see someone else get a chance is a valid standpoint. It seems our voters agree.

Also, that "when healthy" label is important for AD, because he tweaked his back ahead of the first-round matchup with the defending champ Nuggets. While he played in Game 1 Saturday, it's something to watch, as the Lakers would be dead in the water without him.

Let's not fail to mention that L.A. is tied with Boston for a league-record 17 Larry O'Brien Trophies, its most recent coming in the COVID-shortened 2020 season. L.A. is one of the NBA's crown-jewel franchises, so this fanbase has suffered fewer painful stretches than most.

12. Cleveland Cavaliers

Voting Total: 66

Why You Should Hop on the Bandwagon

Not so long ago, the Cleveland Cavaliers seemed as though they might push into the league's top tier in the near future. They had a young, up-and-coming collection of talent that included Darius Garland, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen.

Then they landed star guard Donovan Mitchell, and optimism grew. But a first-round exit followed a 50-win season last year, and a second straight No. 4 seed in the East now has them facing the Magic in the opening round carrying modest expectations.

Yet that group of young talent is still there—and Mitchell still has the potential to take over a series. If you're a Cavs backer, you're pinning your hops on the 27-year-old's ability to go supernova.

Then there's the number of titles in franchise history: one. Sure, the Cavs pulled off a win for the ages in 2016 behind LeBron James and Kyrie Irving, which broke a championship drought that lasted since the team's founding in 1970-71.

But while there are other teams that can't claim a title as recently as that one, the pain of losing hometown hero LeBron James for a second time still scores Cavs fans plenty of empathy.

Why You Shouldn't

If you're a fan of a team that hopes to land Mitchell, you should probably hope for an early Cavs exit.

The star guard has one season left on a five-year pact that carries a player option for 2025-26, and there have been plenty of rumblings that another early playoff exit could cause him to rethink his commitment to the Cavs. If he doesn't want to re-up long term, Cleveland could deal him.

So if you're an offseason chaos backer, a Magic win in the opening round is what you want.

13. Phoenix Suns

Voting Total: 63

Why You Should Hop on the Bandwagon

Kevin Durant. Devin Booker. Bradley Beal. Superteam excitement galore!

For KD backers, this Phoenix Suns core represents his best shot in years to get post-Golden State validation. Because while Booker and Beal are stars in their own right, these Suns are not the 73-win Warriors that Durant joined ahead of the 2016-17 season. And as wild as it is, the two-time Finals MVP still has his detractors when it comes to his legacy and those two Golden State titles.

Regardless, KD is one of the most natural scorers the game has ever seen and still averaged 27.1 points per game at age 35 this season. Booker is one of the league's most explosive scorers, having dropped a career-high 70 points in a game in 2017 and finishing tied for fifth in the league with his teammate at 27.1 points per game this year. Beal has multiple 30 point-per-game seasons in his past. Phoenix was 10th in offensive efficiency in 2023-24.

So, this team can still get plenty of buckets.

Before Durant's arrival in 2023, the Suns made a run to the 2021 Finals behind Booker and Chris Paul to no avail. Charles Barkley couldn't pull it off in 1993 vs. Michael Jordan's Bulls, nor could the 1975-76 version against the Celtics.

In the race to the bottom of the title-drought doldrums, Phoenix is the oldest franchise without an NBA championship. And unlike some of the other titleless entrants in this year's bracket, KD's presence gives them a realistic shot at removing that dubious distinction.

Why You Shouldn't

Of course, KD has loads of naysayers. No one denies his greatness—it's just that some feel his legacy comes with a caveat. As Toporek put it: "This would be Kevin Durant's first championship without a giant asterisk on it. We can't allow that." Maybe you count yourself among that group.

Beyond that, there's Grayson Allen. He's cleaned up his act and seemingly endeared himself to the Suns' fanbase on his way to leading the NBA in three-point percentage this season, but Allen has in the past carried a rep as a dirty player both at Duke and in the pros, and there will certainly be those who will always see him that way.

14. Miami Heat

Voting Total: 62

Why You Should Hop on the Bandwagon

The Miami Heat have forged a reputation as a scrappy, determined bunch during the Jimmy Butler-Bam Adebayo era, and here they are after having survived the play-in, facing the Celtics again.

Perhaps the low ranking is partially because they got to the first round by the skin of their teeth and are missing their best player.

What's wild is that despite Boston's regular-season dominance, C's fans have to be at least a little nervous having to square off with Erik Spoelstra's squad for the fourth time in five postseasons—given that the Heat have taken two of the last three series between the teams.

Last year's Eastern Conference Finals saw Miami go up 3-0 and Boston come back to force a Game 7, only for Butler and Co. to blow out their rivals in Massachusetts and head to the NBA Finals as a No. 8 seed. Had they won, they truly would have been the people's champ as the lowest seeded team to ever win a title.

They made that run behind two of the scariest words in basketball: Playoff Jimmy.

Problem is, Butler sprained his MCL in the team's first play-in game and could be out "multiple weeks," per The Athletic and Stadium's Shams Charania. Still, after Miami took down Chicago to advance, the Butler return memes were already loading:

That's because they've built an aura around #HeatCulture and a general belief in their ability to prevail in hard-fought playoff series. And you know what? Miami had a next-man-up philosophy sans Butler in eliminating Chicago in Friday's play-in, as Tyler Herro went for 24 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists.

If you're a fan of gritty, physical basketball and a top-five defense, this team is for you.

Why You Shouldn't

Yeah, about that whole "sans Butler" thing. During the season, the Heat were 21st in offensive rating and a plodding second-to-last in pace. With him on the floor, they were a plus-5.5. Without him? Minus-1.7.

As Toporek told me: "If the Heat struggled to score with Butler, how bad is their offense going to be without him? Avert your eyes unless he comes back."

Otherwise, maybe you're a fan of one of his former franchises and just can't stomach the thought of what could have been with him in tow.

15. Los Angeles Clippers

Voting Total: 58

Why You Should Hop on the Bandwagon

Toiling in the shadows of the Los Angeles Lakers for the majority of their existence, the L.A. Clippers are a "little brother" franchise if there ever was one. The pre-Lob City history of this team alone makes you feel for the fanbase, as the Clips never seemed like a true title contender in L.A. before Chris Paul's late-2011 arrival.

L.A. is also one of 10 squads that have never won a championship.

But led by a Big Three of Kawhi Leonard, Paul George and James Harden, this iteration is capable of capturing a championship at its best. And given that L.A. has former league MVP Russell Westbrook heading up its bench unit, it isn't lacking star power.

Given that collection of talent, the Clippers boasted the No. 4 attack in the league in terms of offensive rating.

The big question with Leonard is always health, and this year is no different, as he's dealing with a knee ailment. But the two-time Finals MVP willed the 2019 Raptors to a championship, and at 32, he theoretically can do it again. Not many players can say the same, which brings the sort-of "What If" excitement that surrounds a top-of-his game Kawhi.

And who knows, we might get a Playoff P appearance—or even one of Harden's famous eye rolls.

There's also the angle of a late-career Russ finally contributing to a title team after the tribulations he went through during his ill-fitting days with the Lakers.

Why You Shouldn't

Then again, Harden shot his way out of town with several franchises—most recently via his tiff with 76ers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey in which he called the latter a liar in the process of forcing a trade to L.A.

The way his tenures ended in Houston, Brooklyn and Philly left a bad taste for a lot of people.

Toporek put it best: "Harden quit on three teams within the past four years. Do you really want the basketball gods to reward that behavior with a championship?"

16. Milwaukee Bucks

Voting Total: 46

Why You Should Hop on the Bandwagon

For years, Damian Lillard's superstar production and loyalty to the Portland Trail Blazers made him the unofficial rep of titleless stars who most deserved a championship. Many don't want to see him go the way of Charles Barkley, Karl Malone and other Hall of Famers who never won a ring.

Now—when both are healthy—he forms a dynamic duo with Giannis Antetokounmpo, a seven-time All-NBA selection, one-time NBA champ and one of only five players ever to win a league MVP and a Defensive Player of the Year award. The Greek import finished second in the NBA in scoring this year with 30.4 point per game and is virtually unstoppable when he has a head of steam going to the basket.

Bobby Portis has the best staredown in the league and is a folk hero to get behind:

Why You Shouldn't

There's just one slight problem. Antetokounmpo will likely miss at least Sunday's Game 1 against the Pacers and potentially longer because of a calf strain. Lillard is dealing with a few ailments but will play. Without Giannis and Lillard healthy for the full series, there's a real chance the Pacers will end Milwaukee's run early.

Plus, the Bucks just won a title in 2021, and there's no rule that requires you to feel bad for a ringless Dame.

As Akeley put it: "I'm all for player empowerment, so I had no issue with Damian Lillard requesting a trade from the Trail Blazers. But does that mean I have to root for Lillard to have immediate results with the Bucks? No. I'd like to see a long-suffering franchise hoist a title before the Bucks get another."

Then there's the odd stretch following the in-season hiring of Doc Rivers, which included JJ Redick calling out the veteran head coach by saying he's "always making excuses." If you side with Redick on this one, you might not be pulling for Rivers to land his second championship as a head coach.

Statistics via Basketball Reference and NBA.com.