Ultimate Franchise Rankings
May 28, 2021 15:02:29 GMT -5
razorbacks, Kots (Colorado GM), and 4 more like this
Post by Miege22 on May 28, 2021 15:02:29 GMT -5
I plan on folding this into the history of the league thread, but I wanted to do something fun along the same lines as this Athletic article. Basically, they assigned a point value to postseason results (Super Bowl is 11 points, losing Super Bowl is 5 points, making playoffs is 1 point, etc.), then ranked the franchises based on the point totals. I went a little deeper and added regular season results because I wanted to recognize that there's more to being a good franchise than simply winning a title (though that is obviously weighted quite heavily), so here is the scoring breakdown:
Winning the Title: 5 points
Finals Appearance: 3 points
Conference Finals: 2 points
Playoff appearance: 1 point
Best record in League: 5 points
Best record in Conference: 3 points
Division Title: 2 points
Undefeated Reg. Season: 3 points
Double-Digit wins - reg. season: 2 points
GM of Year Award: 5 points
(NEW FOR 2024-)
GM Cup Title: 4 points
GM Cup Knockout Round: 2 points
Without further ado, here is where teams rank based on the scoring system:
1. Brooklyn Nets
Total: 159 points
No real surprise here. The Nets have been one of the most consistent teams in the league, winning 9 division titles in 12 years. They've also had 9 double-digit win seasons and finished with the best record in the league 5 times. Those numbers, combined with their 4 titles and 7 seasons as the top team in the East is what really bolsters their score. They've built up a large enough lead on the 2nd team on this list that a few years wandering through the wilderness likely won't knock them off of this perch.
Average: 13.25 points/season
2020-21: 0
2. Tampa Bay Bull Sharks
Total: 112 points
Much like the Nets, the Bull Sharks have a sizable advantage on the team below them. Had it not been for the Nets claiming back-to-back titles as recently as 2 and 3 years ago, Tampa would have a real shot at passing Brooklyn. It was a banner year for Tampa in 2021, even if it didn't end in a banner. The Bull Sharks racked up 15 points (Brooklyn had 0), and a few more years of those kind of results will give Tampa a real shot to get to #1.
Average: 9.33 points/season
2020-21: 15
3. Utah Jazz
Total: 98 points
The Jazz may as well be the reason to open this up to regular season results as well. Despite making 10 playoff appearances, 6 conference finals, and 3 finals, the Jazz have been unable to claim that first ring. However, their sheer regular season dominance is enough to vault them to third. Their league-best TEN seasons with double-digit wins really buoy them here (they also have zero bad seasons, unlike the two teams above them). In fact, this past year was the first in their franchise's history in which they didn't accrue any points, missing out by just one win.
Average: 8.17 points/season
2020-21: 0
4. Houston Rockets
Total: 66 points
Houston has been in both conferences in their history, and they've had success on either side of the bracket. They picked up 15 points this past year, allowing them to leapfrog the team below them. When they make the playoffs, they typically make noise (5 conference finals in 7 appearances). More impressive is that all 69 of their points have come in just the last 9 seasons. Unlike the teams above them, Houston was under different ownership for the first three years in the league. That ownership was, well, bad. If you look at just their record since moltreszwarriors took over, their average shoots up to 7.33 points per season.
Average: 5.5 points/season
2020-21: 15
5. Memphis Grizzlies
Total: 57 points
For as good as Brooklyn, Tampa, Utah and Houston have been, the Grizzlies are the authors of the greatest three-year regular season run in league history. From 2017-2019, Memphis finished with the best record in the league each season, with one undefeated year thrown in. That three year stretch accounts for 55 of their 57 total points. In just three years, the Grizzlies went from the bottom of this list to the top-4 (now 5, thanks to Houston's past season). It may not have resulted in a title, but it completely changed the way this franchise is viewed.
Average: 4.75 points/season
2020-21: 0
6. Kansas City Kings
Total: 41 points
Believe it or not, the King Poopies come in at 6th among all franchises thanks in large part to their 7 playoff appearances. Not only have they made 7 trips to the postseason, but they've also been to the conference finals 3 times. And when they make the playoffs, they don't just squeak in. They won double-digit games in each of their 7 postseason trips. The last three years have been big for the Kings, as they've accumulated 21 of their 41 points. A great year next year, and a jump into the top-5 is feasible.
Average: 3.42 points/season
2020-21: 8
7. Miami Heat
Total: 37 points
Most of the damage was done before the Heat moved from Portland, but they did pick up some points this year. Like the Kings, the Heat are in this spot in large part because of their playoff appearances and double-digit win seasons. In fact, the difference between the Heat and Kings is one double-digit win season and a GM of the Year award. Other than that, its basically a dead heat. Their 2018 run to the Finals was easily their best season, as they picked up 10 points that year.
Average: 3.08 points/season
2020-21: 3
8. Oklahoma City Thunder
Total: 28 points
No team is a better example of the power of one great season than the OKC Thunder. In 2011, the Thunder finished with the best record in the league and won the championship. They picked up 23 of their 28 points in that one season. None of those happened under the current owner, so the GM of the Year award the previous owner picked up is not counted in this total. Its been a while since the Thunder picked up any points though, as they've put up goose eggs since 2015.
Average: 2.33 points/season
2020-21: 0
9. Atlanta Hawks
Total: 26 points
Much like the Thunder, a lot Atlanta's damage took place in one season. The inaugural season, to be exact. Atlanta won the title and picked up 15 points. It briefly had them at the top of this list, but it's been kind of a tough last few years. The Hawks haven't gotten on the scoreboard since 2017.
Average: 2.17 points/season
2020-21: 0
10. Las Vegas Gamblers
Total: 24 points
Yes, the last three years have been miserable (three straight last place finishes), but there was a time when the Gamblers were among the titans of this league. From 2013-2015, the Gamblers had three straight double-digit win seasons, a division title and a Finals appearance. That 2015 season was the high water mark as they not only made the Finals, but they finished with the best record in the league as well. 18 of their 24 points came in that season.
Average: 2 points/season
2020-21: 0
11. Toronto Raptors
Total: 22 points
One of the side effects, so to speak, of Brooklyn and Tampa dominating the East the way they have is that really good teams don't quite get the points they normally would. The Raptors are exhibit A of this phenomenon. Toronto has 6 double-digit win seasons. They've made the playoffs 8 times. And yet, they've only won one division title, and they've never made the conference finals. The combination of Brooklyn and some tough injury luck has conspired to keep Toronto from making a deep playoff run.
Average: 1.83 points/season
2020-21: 0
12. Seattle Supersonics
Total: 21 points
It's been a big couple of years for Seattle. After going through the first decade with just 1 point, two0six took over and wasted no time getting Seattle into the thick of it. They've scored 20 points the last two years, and they were a pandemic and a turnover away from tacking on 13 more points to that total. With their core talent in place for a few more years, they should have no problems making their way up this list.
Average: 1.75 points/season
2020-21: 10
13. New York Knicks
Total: 20 points
Fresh off their move being officially approved, the new New York Knicks will look to keep their momentum going. They had just 3 points until teefbe became the owner and righted the ship. Their remaining 17 points have all come in just the last three years, though ownership is surely hoping that their move to NY will finally help boost them to a conference finals.
Average: 1.67 points/season
2020-21: 1
14. Washington Wizards
Total: 19 points
The Wizards land here by virtue of multiple conference finals appearances, something the team they're tied with hasn't done. Washington is kind of an interesting team, historically speaking. They've never really been bottom of the league bad, but they've only had one real run: a 2017 Finals appearance that ended in a loss to Houston
Average: 1.58 points/season
2020-21: 0
15. Portland Trailblazers
Total: 19 points
Unlike some of the teams above them, the Blazers saw a majority of their points scored early in the league's history. 15 of their 19 points came in the league's first two years. However, things look to be turning around. The Blazers moved to Portland from Cleveland before this past season, and they picked up 3 points, their first points since 2012.
Average: 1.58 points/season
2020-21: 3
16. Chicago Bulls
Total: 18 points
A HUGE 2021 got the Bulls out of the basement and easily put them within striking distance of the top-10. It's been a pretty remarkable turnaround for a franchise that finished last in their division each of the first 6 seasons in the league. They haven't made the playoffs every year since then, but they've never won fewer than 7 games, and it finally came together in an epic run to the title in 2021.
Average: 1.5 points/season
2020-21: 13
17. Orlando Magic
Total: 14 points
Two conference finals appearances for Orlando in their franchise history, both ending in losses to the eventual champions. Other than that, honestly, there's not much else to write about... yet.
Average: 1.17 points/season
2020-21: 0
18. Golden State Warriors
Total: 10 points
The Dubs have struggled the last few years, but they've actually made the playoffs four times in their history. That's good enough to put them in the top half of the league. There's also a lot of talent on this team, so one would expect their playoff drought to end soon.
Average: 0.83 points/season
2020-21: 0
19. Minnesota Timberwolves
Total: 6 points
Their 2019-2020 season was good enough to get them out of the bottom, as they won 12 games and made the playoffs. It was their first playoff appearance since 2012, when our old friend cornvan somehow got them to the Western Conference Finals. To be fair, that was the lockout shortened season when teams only played 10 games a piece. That was a weird year where 4 teams went winless, which is an extreme outlier. With the reigning MVP on the roster, Minnesota will be a tough team to deal with moving forward.
Average: 0.5 points/season
2020-21: 0
20. Colorado Swannies
Total: 5 points
The Swannies made waves when the league first started, winning 11 games and making a cinderella run to the conference finals. It's been pretty tough since then. They've won just 31 games in the last 11 years. However, there are plenty of reasons to be optimistic. Despite a 2-12 season, the Swannies managed to roster the DPOY (Myles Turner), MIP (Jerami Grant), and ROY (LaMelo Ball). Throw in Darius Garland and, oh yeah, Anthony Davis, and this team really isn't far away from ending the longest current playoff drought in the league.
Average: 0.42 points/season
2020-21: 0
Winning the Title: 5 points
Finals Appearance: 3 points
Conference Finals: 2 points
Playoff appearance: 1 point
Best record in League: 5 points
Best record in Conference: 3 points
Division Title: 2 points
Undefeated Reg. Season: 3 points
Double-Digit wins - reg. season: 2 points
GM of Year Award: 5 points
(NEW FOR 2024-)
GM Cup Title: 4 points
GM Cup Knockout Round: 2 points
Without further ado, here is where teams rank based on the scoring system:
1. Brooklyn Nets
Total: 159 points
No real surprise here. The Nets have been one of the most consistent teams in the league, winning 9 division titles in 12 years. They've also had 9 double-digit win seasons and finished with the best record in the league 5 times. Those numbers, combined with their 4 titles and 7 seasons as the top team in the East is what really bolsters their score. They've built up a large enough lead on the 2nd team on this list that a few years wandering through the wilderness likely won't knock them off of this perch.
Average: 13.25 points/season
2020-21: 0
2. Tampa Bay Bull Sharks
Total: 112 points
Much like the Nets, the Bull Sharks have a sizable advantage on the team below them. Had it not been for the Nets claiming back-to-back titles as recently as 2 and 3 years ago, Tampa would have a real shot at passing Brooklyn. It was a banner year for Tampa in 2021, even if it didn't end in a banner. The Bull Sharks racked up 15 points (Brooklyn had 0), and a few more years of those kind of results will give Tampa a real shot to get to #1.
Average: 9.33 points/season
2020-21: 15
3. Utah Jazz
Total: 98 points
The Jazz may as well be the reason to open this up to regular season results as well. Despite making 10 playoff appearances, 6 conference finals, and 3 finals, the Jazz have been unable to claim that first ring. However, their sheer regular season dominance is enough to vault them to third. Their league-best TEN seasons with double-digit wins really buoy them here (they also have zero bad seasons, unlike the two teams above them). In fact, this past year was the first in their franchise's history in which they didn't accrue any points, missing out by just one win.
Average: 8.17 points/season
2020-21: 0
4. Houston Rockets
Total: 66 points
Houston has been in both conferences in their history, and they've had success on either side of the bracket. They picked up 15 points this past year, allowing them to leapfrog the team below them. When they make the playoffs, they typically make noise (5 conference finals in 7 appearances). More impressive is that all 69 of their points have come in just the last 9 seasons. Unlike the teams above them, Houston was under different ownership for the first three years in the league. That ownership was, well, bad. If you look at just their record since moltreszwarriors took over, their average shoots up to 7.33 points per season.
Average: 5.5 points/season
2020-21: 15
5. Memphis Grizzlies
Total: 57 points
For as good as Brooklyn, Tampa, Utah and Houston have been, the Grizzlies are the authors of the greatest three-year regular season run in league history. From 2017-2019, Memphis finished with the best record in the league each season, with one undefeated year thrown in. That three year stretch accounts for 55 of their 57 total points. In just three years, the Grizzlies went from the bottom of this list to the top-4 (now 5, thanks to Houston's past season). It may not have resulted in a title, but it completely changed the way this franchise is viewed.
Average: 4.75 points/season
2020-21: 0
6. Kansas City Kings
Total: 41 points
Believe it or not, the King Poopies come in at 6th among all franchises thanks in large part to their 7 playoff appearances. Not only have they made 7 trips to the postseason, but they've also been to the conference finals 3 times. And when they make the playoffs, they don't just squeak in. They won double-digit games in each of their 7 postseason trips. The last three years have been big for the Kings, as they've accumulated 21 of their 41 points. A great year next year, and a jump into the top-5 is feasible.
Average: 3.42 points/season
2020-21: 8
7. Miami Heat
Total: 37 points
Most of the damage was done before the Heat moved from Portland, but they did pick up some points this year. Like the Kings, the Heat are in this spot in large part because of their playoff appearances and double-digit win seasons. In fact, the difference between the Heat and Kings is one double-digit win season and a GM of the Year award. Other than that, its basically a dead heat. Their 2018 run to the Finals was easily their best season, as they picked up 10 points that year.
Average: 3.08 points/season
2020-21: 3
8. Oklahoma City Thunder
Total: 28 points
No team is a better example of the power of one great season than the OKC Thunder. In 2011, the Thunder finished with the best record in the league and won the championship. They picked up 23 of their 28 points in that one season. None of those happened under the current owner, so the GM of the Year award the previous owner picked up is not counted in this total. Its been a while since the Thunder picked up any points though, as they've put up goose eggs since 2015.
Average: 2.33 points/season
2020-21: 0
9. Atlanta Hawks
Total: 26 points
Much like the Thunder, a lot Atlanta's damage took place in one season. The inaugural season, to be exact. Atlanta won the title and picked up 15 points. It briefly had them at the top of this list, but it's been kind of a tough last few years. The Hawks haven't gotten on the scoreboard since 2017.
Average: 2.17 points/season
2020-21: 0
10. Las Vegas Gamblers
Total: 24 points
Yes, the last three years have been miserable (three straight last place finishes), but there was a time when the Gamblers were among the titans of this league. From 2013-2015, the Gamblers had three straight double-digit win seasons, a division title and a Finals appearance. That 2015 season was the high water mark as they not only made the Finals, but they finished with the best record in the league as well. 18 of their 24 points came in that season.
Average: 2 points/season
2020-21: 0
11. Toronto Raptors
Total: 22 points
One of the side effects, so to speak, of Brooklyn and Tampa dominating the East the way they have is that really good teams don't quite get the points they normally would. The Raptors are exhibit A of this phenomenon. Toronto has 6 double-digit win seasons. They've made the playoffs 8 times. And yet, they've only won one division title, and they've never made the conference finals. The combination of Brooklyn and some tough injury luck has conspired to keep Toronto from making a deep playoff run.
Average: 1.83 points/season
2020-21: 0
12. Seattle Supersonics
Total: 21 points
It's been a big couple of years for Seattle. After going through the first decade with just 1 point, two0six took over and wasted no time getting Seattle into the thick of it. They've scored 20 points the last two years, and they were a pandemic and a turnover away from tacking on 13 more points to that total. With their core talent in place for a few more years, they should have no problems making their way up this list.
Average: 1.75 points/season
2020-21: 10
13. New York Knicks
Total: 20 points
Fresh off their move being officially approved, the new New York Knicks will look to keep their momentum going. They had just 3 points until teefbe became the owner and righted the ship. Their remaining 17 points have all come in just the last three years, though ownership is surely hoping that their move to NY will finally help boost them to a conference finals.
Average: 1.67 points/season
2020-21: 1
14. Washington Wizards
Total: 19 points
The Wizards land here by virtue of multiple conference finals appearances, something the team they're tied with hasn't done. Washington is kind of an interesting team, historically speaking. They've never really been bottom of the league bad, but they've only had one real run: a 2017 Finals appearance that ended in a loss to Houston
Average: 1.58 points/season
2020-21: 0
15. Portland Trailblazers
Total: 19 points
Unlike some of the teams above them, the Blazers saw a majority of their points scored early in the league's history. 15 of their 19 points came in the league's first two years. However, things look to be turning around. The Blazers moved to Portland from Cleveland before this past season, and they picked up 3 points, their first points since 2012.
Average: 1.58 points/season
2020-21: 3
16. Chicago Bulls
Total: 18 points
A HUGE 2021 got the Bulls out of the basement and easily put them within striking distance of the top-10. It's been a pretty remarkable turnaround for a franchise that finished last in their division each of the first 6 seasons in the league. They haven't made the playoffs every year since then, but they've never won fewer than 7 games, and it finally came together in an epic run to the title in 2021.
Average: 1.5 points/season
2020-21: 13
17. Orlando Magic
Total: 14 points
Two conference finals appearances for Orlando in their franchise history, both ending in losses to the eventual champions. Other than that, honestly, there's not much else to write about... yet.
Average: 1.17 points/season
2020-21: 0
18. Golden State Warriors
Total: 10 points
The Dubs have struggled the last few years, but they've actually made the playoffs four times in their history. That's good enough to put them in the top half of the league. There's also a lot of talent on this team, so one would expect their playoff drought to end soon.
Average: 0.83 points/season
2020-21: 0
19. Minnesota Timberwolves
Total: 6 points
Their 2019-2020 season was good enough to get them out of the bottom, as they won 12 games and made the playoffs. It was their first playoff appearance since 2012, when our old friend cornvan somehow got them to the Western Conference Finals. To be fair, that was the lockout shortened season when teams only played 10 games a piece. That was a weird year where 4 teams went winless, which is an extreme outlier. With the reigning MVP on the roster, Minnesota will be a tough team to deal with moving forward.
Average: 0.5 points/season
2020-21: 0
20. Colorado Swannies
Total: 5 points
The Swannies made waves when the league first started, winning 11 games and making a cinderella run to the conference finals. It's been pretty tough since then. They've won just 31 games in the last 11 years. However, there are plenty of reasons to be optimistic. Despite a 2-12 season, the Swannies managed to roster the DPOY (Myles Turner), MIP (Jerami Grant), and ROY (LaMelo Ball). Throw in Darius Garland and, oh yeah, Anthony Davis, and this team really isn't far away from ending the longest current playoff drought in the league.
Average: 0.42 points/season
2020-21: 0