Fansided

Every NBA team’s arch-nemesis

By Paul Centopani

JUNE 2, 1985: The Lakers Michael Cooper, center, pushes the Celtics Ray Williams away from Kurt Rambis, second from right, after Williams and Rambis crashed into the seats along the sideline during Game 3 of the 1985 NBA Finals. The Lakers won, 136-111, to take a 2-1 lead in the series. 6/2/85 (Photo by Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
JUNE 2, 1985: The Lakers Michael Cooper, center, pushes the Celtics Ray Williams away from Kurt Rambis, second from right, after Williams and Rambis crashed into the seats along the sideline during Game 3 of the 1985 NBA Finals. The Lakers won, 136-111, to take a 2-1 lead in the series. 6/2/85 (Photo by Los Angeles Times via Getty Images) /
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(Photo credit should read JEFF HAYNES/AFP/Getty Images)
(Photo credit should read JEFF HAYNES/AFP/Getty Images) /

Bulls: Living in the post-Michael Jordan fallout zone

It’s not quite Chernobyl level, but Chicago struggled to put together a consistent contender ever since Michael Jordan left the Windy City. As a team that destroyed many a childhood, the Bulls won’t get much pity, but it isn’t easy to emerge from behind the shadow of a legend.

They had their run with the Tom Thibodeau era before it crumbled around Derrick Rose’s ACL. In the time before and since, the Bulls have either been listless or directionless, straddling the line of rebuilding and contending. The top brass continues to fumble badly, making short-sighted hirings, firings, and trades. It’s gotten so dire, protest t-shirts have been produced. 

Cavaliers: Cleveland itself

The Cavs finally broke the city-wide championship curse in 2016, raising a banner with prodigal son LeBron James. It put to rest the ghosts of Earnest Byner, Craig Ehlo, José Mesa, and The Decision.

However, in 2010, Cleveland caught an L so grand, I don’t think it can ever be lived down.

Pacers: A top-tier floor general

Have the Pacers ever gone a season deploying an upper-echelon point guard in the league? Since entering the NBA in 1976, Indiana finished in the top-5 in assists only three times, the last coming in the 2002-03 season.

Their point guards in those years? Micheal Williams (1991-92), Pooh Richardson (1992-93) and Jamaal Tinsley (2002-03). Luminaries all. Some teams have manifested traits of always-present player archetypes or perpetual roster holes. Indiana, whose best point guard ever was late 90s Mark Jackson, is one of those teams.

Pistons: Perpetual cycles of self-destruction

Ever since winning the 2004 championship, Joe Dumars kept trying to build off that team even when the foundation rotted away. That foundation cratered into a trench with the doomed signings of Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva.

Really, their demise could be pinpointed to one single place in time. 

According to the peerless Matt Rutkowski, Boston historically stands as the Detroit’s biggest nemesis but aren’t important enough to reciprocate the nemesising: The Celtics have the Lakers, and that means SO much more to the Celtics. The Pistons are the Michigan State in the U of M/OSU rivalry.

Bucks: Playoff shortcomings

1974. That was Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s final year with Milwaukee and the last time they made the Finals. Since then, the U.S. went to the moon like eight times probably, Al Gore invented the internet and Brittney Spears shaved her head. Also in that time, the Bucks went through bad postseason luck and execution.

Boston and Philadelphia took turns snuffing out strong Milwaukee groups of the 80s. After building back up, they got saddled with suspect refereeing during the 2001 Eastern Conference Finals

This past year, with the MVP leading them to the league’s best record, they went up 2-0 in the Eastern Conference Finals…then dropped four straight.

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