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1 - What's your second favorite NBA team after the Spurs? Or if you don't have one, what team do you enjoy watching the most when the Spurs are not playing?
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Michael Erler: Probably the Bulls. They were always my Eastern Conference team when I was a kid.
Bruno Passos: I'm not a fan of the team, but I could probably watch any Warriors game on account of Stephen Curry. I just love watching him shoot from 27 feet and defenses being able to do little else but watch.
Taylor Young: I have a hard time not hating everyone. But, after the Portland series I came away from it liking the Blazers.
Jesus Gomez: My favorite team to watch last season were the Blazers. At times their motion offense rivaled only the Spurs' in beauty and everyone on their starting lineup was extremely likable.
2 - Who's your favorite current non-Spur player, a guy you'd love to see wearing Silver and Black? Stars are acceptable as your answer but role players are preferred.
ME: I like Dirk a lot. He just seems like a very cool dude. He'll never be a Spur, obviously. Rajon Rondo is way up there for me too. Goran Dragic, Joakim Noah and Marcin Gortat are up there.
BP: Although he's probably getting too close to star territory, Bradley Beal is pretty interesting and would be really fun on the wing with Kawhi. I've also liked what I've seen from his former teammate, Trevor Booker. Nothing spectacular, but he brings good value and hustle when he's on the floor.
TY: I would enjoy seeing a high-energy big like Kenneth Faried on the Spurs. You know, what DeJuan Blair was supposed to be.
JG: Taj Gibson was a beast last season. To his already stellar defense he added a more refined post game that, while not exactly pretty to watch, made him a more versatile offensive player. Imagining bench lineups with Diaw and Gibson down low makes me salivate.
JRW: Now that Shane Battier is retired, I'd love to see Jarrett Jack in a Spurs jersey. First, there's all the times he's killed the Spurs. Second, I think Pop would find a way to make him shine on our second unit. Can you imagine him sharing the court with Manu? Forget it.
3 - Who was your favorite non-Spur player growing up?
ME: Scottie Pippen, probably. Really liked his game and his style. Dominique Wilkins was up there. Sarunas Marculionis. Dennis Rodman. And of course AI. I feel like an idiot for mentioning him this late.
BP: Shawn Kemp. I had the hideous Kamikaze shoes, bought the VHS highlight tapes, and absolutely loved watching him catch alley-oops from Gary Payton.
4 - Besides Kyle Anderson, who's the rookie you are the most excited to see play?
ME: I want to see how Doug McDermott will do. It's probably a bad sign for him, or for me (or both), that I typed Jimmer Fredette before realizing my mistake.
5 - If the Spurs can't win the championship, which contender would you like to see hoisting the Larry O'Brien? And which contender would you absolutely hate to see win it all?
ME: Bulls, easily. I wouldn't mind the Warriors either though. My hometown has suffered enough and I like Steve Kerr. As for who I don't want to see win, I guess I'll go with OKC. Man, screw those guys. I hope they never win. I'm tempted to say Rockets before anybody, because they're so unlikable, but I don't think they need our help wishing ill upon them to not win.
BP: It's hard to put a Western Conference team here for some reason. I could maybe go for a team like Chicago in the East, with a healthy Derrick Rose finally putting together another healthy season. I feel like Bulls fans (and NBA fans in general) deserve another look at what made him an MVP not that long ago.
TY: The Cavs. I appreciate rabid fans and I want to see Cleveland celebrate. I also have always felt like LeBron was an insurance policy against the teams I really hate. You know LeBron is going to get his, so he might as well take out someone like the Mavs, Rockets, Clippers and Thunder. I would be pretty upset if the Mavericks turned around and won the title this year.
JG: If the Spurs can't win the title, I hope the Bulls do. I still have fond memories of rooting for MJ before my AI phase and there's really no other team with a legitimate chance to win I don't dislike. If i have to choose one that I absolutely don't want to see emerging victorious, it would probably be the Clippers. Chris Paul with a ring would be too much for me to handle.
JRW: If the Spurs don't win, and if they don't play them in the coming playoffs, then I'd like to see the Thunder win. Now that Derek Fisher isn't on their team anymore, Kendrick Perkins is the only Thunder player I really have a distaste for. Even Russell Westbrook's histrionics can't spoil all of the goodwill that's somehow built up in me for that team. Man, they're so good. But that's only if they don't beat the Spurs. If they do, then I'd have to say Cleveland or Chicago.
And I'd really rather the Clippers not win.