ISH 2012 NBA Championship Ranking

[MaxFly]

With the start of the playoffs only 2 weeks away, let's rank our top 5 most likely 2012 NBA Champions, "1" being the team we deem the most likely to win the championship. Each poster gets to submit one ranking with the cut off date for submissions being April 27th. The rankings will be analyzed and combined to create a sort of ISH consensus and will be released before the playoffs begin.

I thought it would be interesting to see how close we can come as a community to predicting who the champion will be and how the runner-ups will fall. Have fun... pick wisely.

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.


Update:

The numbers have been tallied and the ISH Consensus is as follows.

1. Heat
2. Thunder
3. Bulls
4. Spurs
5. Lakers

Let's see just how well this holds up!

[StateOfMind12]

1. OKC Thunder
2. Chicago Bulls
3. Memphis Grizzlies
4. Miami Heat
5. Boston Celtics

[Velocirap31]

Good idea.

1. Miami Heat
2. OKC Thunder
3. Chicago Bulls
4. San Antonio Spurs
5. LA Lakers I guess

[Alamo]

1. San Antonio Spurs
2. Chicago Bulls
3. Oklahoma City Thunder
4. Miami Heat
5. LA Lakers

Of course there are those other teams like the Mavs and Celtics that could still win. But this is my top 5.

[TMT]

1. Oklahoma City Thunder
2. Chicago Bulls
3. Miami Heat
4. Los Angeles Lakers
5. Dallas Mavericks/San Antonio Spurs

[Story Up]

1) Heat
2) Thunder
3) Bulls
4) Lakers
5) Grizzlies

[ganja0710]

1. Oklahoma City Thunder
2. Los Angeles Lakers
3. Boston Celtics
4. Memphis Grizzlies
5. Miami Heat

[Salazaar]

1. Oklahoma City Thunder
2. Miami Heat
3. Chicago Bulls
4. Los Angeles Lakers
5. San Antonio Spurs

[Odinn]

1. Miami Heat
2. Chicago Bulls
3. OKC Thunder
4. San Antonio Spurs
5. Los Angeles Lakers

[sbw19]

1. OKC
2. Chicago
3. Miami
4. Lakers
5. Spurs

[Harison]

1. Miami Heat
2. OKC Thunder
3. Chicago Bulls
4. San Antonio Spurs
5. Lakers

If Heat is healthy and Lebron wont disappear - they have the best chance to win it all. Same as last season :kobe:

[alenleomessi]

1. Miami Heat
2. Oklahoma City Thunder
3. San Antonio Spurs
4. Los Angeles Clippers
5. Boston Celtics

[TrueRob]

1. Miami Heat
2. Chicago Bulls
3. Oklahoma City Thunder
4. Los Angeles Lakers
5. San Antonio Spurs

[rfoster24]

1) Oklahoma City
2) Chicago
3) Miami
4) LAL
5) Boston
6) LAC

[Clippersfan86]

Clippers have a better road record than Lakers, better record vs +.500 teams AND have been a MUCH better defensive ranking the second half of the season yet get no mention while the Lakers keep getting mention. Goes to show that people are basing this on history than current matchups/games. I think Lakers DO indeed have a small shot but I'd give the same to the Clippers.

[talkingconch]

Clippers have a better road record than Lakers, better record vs +.500 teams AND have been a MUCH better defensive ranking the second half of the season yet get no mention while the Lakers keep getting mention. Goes to show that people are basing this on history than current matchups/games. I think Lakers DO indeed have a small shot but I'd give the same to the Clippers.
lol

[Clippersfan86]

lol

Reality is both Lakers and Clippers are in the same boat besides the experience factor. Both teams when playing well can dominate any team... BUT haven't been consistent this season. They also both play up to teams. I'm saying Lakers have a shot, despite not being a favorite but Clippers have a small shot as well. The talent is there for both teams, coach is not.

[All Net]

Clippers have a better road record than Lakers, better record vs +.500 teams AND have been a MUCH better defensive ranking the second half of the season yet get no mention while the Lakers keep getting mention. Goes to show that people are basing this on history than current matchups/games. I think Lakers DO indeed have a small shot but I'd give the same to the Clippers.

Well first off Lakers do have a great frontcourt which has shown it can win come playoff time. They as it stands now have a more favourable match-up in round one and round two than the Clippers do which helps. Although that can all change in the next week or so.

still in two minds wether to have Bulls over Heat. I think in current form aside I have to now base this on how they are built for the playoffs instead of current form.

1. Miami Heat
2. Chicago Bulls
3. Oklahoma Thunder
4. Los Angeles Lakers
5. Memphis Grizzles


I really think RIGHT NOW you can swap and change Thunder and Bulls as most likely to win it all at this moment along with Miami. Either of the 3 could for ranked 1st. Maybe if Bulls met Thunder in the finals homecourt might be the difference maker. It's really tough to say right now.

I feel if Bulls and Thunder is the finals match-up then I get the feeling the Bulls would be considered the favourite by the media.

But in general as in consistent as Miami have been I expect they will be the favourites by the media to win it all heading into the playoffs.

[chazzy]

Miami
Chicago
OKC
Lakers
Boston/SA
Memphis (if Zbo is healthy)
Clippers

[swi7ch]

1. Okc
2. Chi
3. Mia
4. Lal
5. Sas

[qrich]

1] Miami Heat
2] Chicago Bulls
3] San Antonio Spurs
4] Oklahoma City Thunder
5] Clippers

[talkingconch]

Heat will beat the Bulls in the playoffs. Just my opinion.

[Mr. Incredible]

1. Heat
2. Thunder
3. Bulls
4. Lakers
5. Grizzlies

[Oositdwn]

1. OKC thunder
2. Chicago bulls
3. LA lakers
4. Miami heat
5. San Antonio spurs

[EnoughSaid]

It seems that LeBron and Wade always turn it up for the playoffs, especially Wade, so if it goes like planned, Heat make the ECF, take out the Bulls in most likely 5 or 6 games, and then go on to the Finals to face either of the 4 teams (OKC, Spurs, Grizzlies, Lakers).

[TheAesirsFinest]

Clippers have a better road record than Lakers, better record vs +.500 teams AND have been a MUCH better defensive ranking the second half of the season yet get no mention while the Lakers keep getting mention. Goes to show that people are basing this on history than current matchups/games. I think Lakers DO indeed have a small shot but I'd give the same to the Clippers.

The problem is that, in a series, coaching staffs can have massive impacts on the outcome.

You guys have Vinny.

Good luck.

1. Bulls
2. Thunder
3. Heat
4. Grizzlies
5. Lakers

[dyna]

1) OKC
2) Bulls
3) Miami
4) Lakers
5) Memphis
6) San Antonio

[28renyoy]

1. OKC
2. Miami
3. Chicago
4. LAL
5. San Antonio

[The Choken One]

Whoever comes out of the West IMO...

More than likely will be the Thunder, but I would really like to see the Lakers in the finals.

[wally_world]

1. Thunders
2. Bulls
3. Heat
4. Spurs
5. Suns :rockon:

[t-rex]

1) Thunder
2) Heat
3) Spurs
4) Lakers
5) Celtics


Sorry, I don't like the Bulls at all. I think they will lose to either the Celtics or Heat in the playoffs. I even think its possible for the Pacers to take the Bulls 6 or 7 games,


How I rank the teams by conference

1) Heat
2) Celtics
3) Bulls
4) Pacers
5) Hawks

1) Thunder
2) Spurs
3) Lakers
4) Grizzles
5) Mavericks

I took the top 3 from the Western Conference. And the top 2 from the Eastern Conference to get to my top 5 overall.

[NauruDude]

1. Miami Heat - LerBon, DWade and C-Bo
2. Indiana Pacers - GOOD ALLROUND SIDE NO OBVIOUS WEAKNESS NO SUPERSTAR MORON
3. Boston Celtics - NEVER UNDERESTIMATE THE HEART OF A CHAMPION
4. Dallas Mavericks - CURRENT CHAMPIONS HAVE DIRK
5. San Antonio Spurs - HAVE BIG THREE

[All Net]

Hate to say it but I think this is the year that starts off the Thunder western conference dominance. Going to be hard to see anybody beating them anytime soon if they do get out of the west this year given their ages and Durant's and Westbrook's improvements over the next several years.

[Sakkreth]

1. Miami Heat
2. OKC Thunder
3. Chicago Bulls
4. San Antonio Spurs
5. Los Angeles Lakers

[pauk]

1. Miami Heat
2. San Antonio Spurs
3. Chicago Bulls
4. Los Angeles Lakers
5. OKC Thunder

[The Ownage]

Thunder
Heat
Bulls
Lakers
Grizzlies

In order.

[elementally morale]

1) Heat
2) Lakers
3) Spurs
4) Thunder
5) Bulls

[Heavincent]

Clippers have a better road record than Lakers, better record vs +.500 teams AND have been a MUCH better defensive ranking the second half of the season yet get no mention while the Lakers keep getting mention. Goes to show that people are basing this on history than current matchups/games. I think Lakers DO indeed have a small shot but I'd give the same to the Clippers.

People are mentioning them because they have proven champions. The Clippers do not. Not to mention the Lakers have a better record than the Clippers and won the season series.

Take the homer glasses off.

[bleedinpurpleTwo]

1. Heat
2. OKC
3. Bulls
4. Spurs
5. Lakers

[imnew09]

1.Lakers



The rest. :)

[AMISTILLILL]

1. Chicago Bulls
2. San Antonio Spurs
3. Miami Heat
4. Oklahoma City Thunder
5. Boston Celtics

[d21221hk]

1. okc
2. heat
3. bulls
4. lakers
5. spurs

[AT9]

How is Memphis getting into so many top 5's? Scrappy and talented? Yes. Serious title contenders? No.

There's a huge chance the winner will be one of the current top two seeds in their conferences (in no order):

Chicago
Miami
OKC
San Antonio

Number 5 is more of a wild card spot:

Lakers
Boston/Memphis/Clippers

[MaxFly]

Thanks to those who have submitted a ranking. Keep them coming!

[1rkrage]

1.76ers
2.Mavericks
3.Memphis
4.Houston
5.Phoenix

[Lebron23]

In a best of 7 series

1. Miami Heat
2. OKC Thunder
3. San Antonio Spurs
4. Memphis Grizzlies
5. Chicago Bulls/Los Angeles Lakers

[MaxFly]

Keep them coming, guys. Starting to put together what we have so far... it's pretty interesting. Just a note... if you don't have a ranking, you're not going to be counted, so make it count by posting a ranking. Good stuff so far.

[Doranku]

1. Thunder
2. Heat
3. Bulls
4. Lakers
5. Celtics

[maybeshewill13]

1. Heat
2. Thunder
3. Spurs
4. Bulls
5. Grizzlies

[Ruutu]

1. Heat
2. Thunder
3. Spurs
4. Bulls
5. NY

[CeltsGarlic]

1. Celtics
2. OKC
3. BUlls
4. Spurs
5. Miami

[Maniak]

1. San Antonio Spurs
2. Oklahoma City Thunder
3. Miami Heat
4. Memphis Grizzlies
5. Chicago Bulls

[Vienceslav]

1)Heat:confusedshrug:
2)Chicago:rockon:
3)Spurs:applause:
4)OKC:hammerhead:
5)LAL:bowdown:

[TheMan]

1.Bulls
2.Spurs
3.Thunder
4.Heat
5.Lakers

[pegasus]

1.Bulls
2.Spurs
3.OKC/Heat
4.Heat/OKC
5.Lakers

[SwayDizzle]

1. Lakers
2. Bulls
3. Spurs
4. Heat
5. OKC

[Stern]

Heat
Spurs
Bulls
Celtics
Thunder

[albas89]

1) Heat
2) Spurs
3) Thunder
4) Bulls
5) Celtics

imo the top 4 are indisputable! I could've put the Lakers or the Grizzlies at 5, though...

[DMAVS41]

Heat
Thunder
Bulls
Lakers
Spurs

[chips93]

heat
thunder
spurs
lakers
bulls

[AlphaWolf24]

Lebron , Wade and Bosh all on the same team..

they have to be the Favorites every year they are together..

after that , it's a toss up..

[maxhornets]

1. Miami Heat
2. San Antonio Spurs
3. OKC Thunder
4. Bulls
5. LA Clippers

[chips93]

Heat
Thunder
Bulls
Lakers
Spurs

i thought i remember you saying recently that you expected the bulls to beat the heat?

[Celtics 1825]

1. Oklahoma City Thunder
2. Chicago Bulls
3. San Antonio Spurs
4. Miami Heat
5. Los Angeles Lakers

[DMAVS41]

i thought i remember you saying recently that you expected the bulls to beat the heat?

I did....but with the Rose situation I just don't think I can take the Bulls over the Heat.

If Rose is good to go? I'd put the Bulls on top with the Heat 2nd. But for now I have to move the Bulls down to third with Rose not healthy.

[SpecialQue]

1. Grizzlies
2. Spurs
3. Bulls
4. Heat
5. Thunder

As much as I love my Lakers, I just don't see them in the finals this year.

[jbryan1984]

1. OKC
2. Bulls
3. Heat
4. Lakers
5. Dallas

[UtahJazzFan88]

1. Heat
2. Spurs
3. Bulls
4. OKC
5. Lakers

[cteach111]

1. Bulls
2. Spurs
3. Thunder
4. Heat
5. Lakers

[BigTicket]

My ranking:

1. Miami Heat
2. Chicago Bulls
3. San Antonio Spurs
4. Los Angeles Lakers
5. Oklahoma City Thunder

I'm putting Miami above Chicago because they beat them last year in the same situation, and because Derrick Rose has been so injury plagued this year, and I'm not convinced he's going to be at his best.

Also, I think OKC has slipped a bit lately, and I'd say the Lakers are the favorites to win when they meet in the 2nd round, given their greater experience.

[qrich]

Shit, I'm up late and bored, not tired, went ahead and added all the rankings (1st pick is 5 points, 2nd is 4, etc.). Ranked by total points with () denoting amount of #1 votes.

1] Heat (26)
2] Thunder (17)
3] Bulls (6)
4] Spurs (2)
5] Lakers (1)
6] Celtics (1)
7] Grizzlies (1)
8] Mavericks
8] Clippers
10] Pacers
11] Knicks

[MaxFly]

1. Heat
2. Thunder
3. Spurs
4. Bulls
5. Celtics

[MaxFly]

55 Rankings so far... Keep them coming... tomorrow is the last day.

[iDunk]

1. Miami Heat
2. San Antonio Spurs
3. Oklahoma City Thunder
4. Chicago Bulls
5. New York Knicks

[MTing]

1. Miami Heat
2. OKC Thunder
3. Chicago Bulls
4. San Antonio Spurs
5. Dallas Mavericks/Boston Celtics

[TheSilentKiller]

1. Thunder
2. Heat
3. Bulls
4. Spurs
5. Lakers

[Craptors]

1. Spurs
2. Thunder
3. Heat
4. Lakers
5. Bulls

[jamal99]

1. Spurs
2. Thunder
3. Bulls
4. Heat
5. Grizzlies

[Wally450]

1. Miami Heat
2. Oklahoma City Thunder
3. Chicago Bulls
4. L.A. Lakers
5. Boston Celtics

[blacknapalm]

1. Heat
2. Spurs
3. Thunder
4. Bulls
5. Grizzlies

[Jotaro Durant]

thunder
celtics
clippers
lakers
bulls

[b0bab0i]

Heat
Thunder
Bulls
Clippers
Lakers

[Matty2Cool]

spurs
heat
bulls
thunder
celtics

[MeloMike]

1. Spurs
2. Thunder
3. Bulls
4. Heat
5. Grizz

[3peated]

Lakers
Spurs
bulls
heat
knicks

[Real Men Wear Green]

1: Heat
2: Lakers
3: Thunder
4: Bulls
5: Memphis
With any luck I just pissed off some Spurs fans.
Miami over LA in 5 games.

[Gear2]

1) Heat
2) Thunder
3) Bulls
4) Celtics
5) Spurs

[josh99]

1. OKC Thunder
2. Miami Heat
3. Chicago Bulls
4. San Antonio Spurs
5. LA Lakers

[Aidz]

How can this be a top 5?

It should be:
1
2
3/4
(5/6/7/8)

You retard.

These are my picks:
1 - Miami
2 - OKC
3/4 - Bulls / Spurs

[D-Wade316]

1. Heat
2. Clippers
3. Bulls
4. Mavs

[CardiacKemba]

1. Miami Heat
2. Oklahoma City

3/4 Chicago Bulls/Memphis Grizzlies

[blacknapalm]

How can this be a top 5?

It should be:
1
2
3/4
(5/6/7/8)

You retard.

These are my picks:
1 - Miami
2 - OKC
3/4 - Bulls / Spurs

not really. if you think the two best teams are in the west or east, there's no reason to not pick those teams. maybe you think OKC/spurs are the best teams in the league so they'll go 1/2. maybe you think heat/bulls are the best in the east so they'll go 1/2. hell you could feel that the three best teams reside in the west/east.

this is about championship rankings, meaning teams you find to be the most likely to win it all. you're making a championship scenario with an alternative. just a different strategy

[MaxFly]

Yes... let's keep the format as

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

This is about who you feel is most likely to win the championship, ranked 1 (best chance) to 5.

[Tenchi Ryu]

Rose playing like Rose
1.Bulls
2.Thunder
3.Miami
4.Spurs
5.Lakers

Rose not up to par
1.Thunder
2.Miami
3.Spurs
4.Bulls
5.Lakers

[keepinitreal]

1. Miami
2. OKC
3. Chicago
4. LA Lakers
5. Dallas

[MaxFly]

Rose playing like Rose
1.Bulls
2.Thunder
3.Miami
4.Spurs
5.Lakers

Rose not up to par
1.Thunder
2.Miami
3.Spurs
4.Bulls
5.Lakers

Gonna need 1

[MaxFly]

The numbers have been tallied and the ISH Consensus is as follows.

1. Heat
2. Thunder
3. Bulls
4. Spurs
5. Lakers

Let's see just how well this holds up!

[TrueRob]

I would say the consensus held up pretty well. :D