THE BLESSING... AND THE CURSE
I can now watch NBA highlights to my heart's content which, in the context of this blog at least, is a good thing. The curse tho is that, I don't even really give AF about the NBA anymore.
And I don't mean that literally, or else, you know, I wouldn't even bother writing this post. But now, a no.1 pick underperforming, Wemby winning MVP, the Sixers doing exceptionally well in the draft, like nothing surprises me anymore. My NBA honeymoon ended a long time ago, and sometimes I wonder, like how can a grown man go his entire life excited about this shit, even if he's being paid to do so.
That said, I know the power of inception and am going to leave readers out in the cold. I've also had the pleasure of seeing every team play at least once this season, I think, even the lowly Nets. So without further ado, here comes the first Power Stinkings of the 2025-26 Season, in which the worst, most-disappointing teams in the league get their roses first.
1. NEW ORLEANS PELICANS (0-6)
NOP has been convincingly failing at least three or four years consecutive now, starting the season with deep, above-average rosters only to make the Play-Ins or miss the postseason altogether. And I'm sorta happy that they've made the top of this list, as it gives me the opportunity to address a theme that will popup at least once more in this post, that being stars playing out of position.
In this case, I'm of course referring to Zion. I'm not saying that all of the Pelicans problems are due to Williamson more or less being forced to play point-forward, whereas it's obvious he's more along the lines of a conventional power-forward, but I mean something has to change in the way they play him already.
I'm also sad that Jordan Poole is now stuck in this sh*thole. Poole was more or less on the cusp of superstardom a couple of seasons back in Golden State. Now, he's sorta devolving into one of these Clarkson, Oubre type players, like a good scorer but one who, you know what I'm saying?
Poole was so convincing in GSW that I was convinced he would succeed and even excel elsewhere. That hasn't been the case, and hopefully he'll end up back on a competing team with some kind of set structure, maybe even back with the Dubs eventually.
Zion still sells a lot of jerseys. But I think if any superstar gets traded come February, it would most logically be him, you know, if NOP actually wants to move on already.
2. BROOKLYN NETS (0-7)
The reason that the Nets didn't top this list is because, unlike the Pelicans, at least they're expected to fail. To my understanding they're already looking forward to the next draft, as some franchises have to learn the hard way.
Brooklyn had a whopping five picks in last summer's draft and is still unable to generate buzz or apparently wins. I understand that failed Big 3 experiment left them bitter, but perhaps they need to get off this youth movement shit ASAP, as those types of things take exceptional braintrusts, which Brooklyn doesn't have.
3. INDIANIA PACERS (1-6)
The Pacers should also arguably top this list, because there's no reason why a team who just made the Finals, all the way to Game 7 at that - should be this garbage, even if their best player is injured. Actually a lot of dudes are injured, but still. In this day and age, when you see a failing team putting a punch of dudes on the injured list, it feels more like load management, giving up type shit, than factual reporting.
I won't go as far as to say Indiana has betrayed their fans, since Myles Turner finally leaving (on his own accord, with team not getting shit in return) has to sting also. But when you hear terms like "fluke" and "overrated" being thrown around, now you know why.
4. WASHINGTON WIZARDS (1-6)
The Wizards, as expected, suck, and there really isn't much to say beyond that. In all the decades I've been following the NBA, Washington has always underachieved or been flatout garbage. That's what fans have come to expect, and by this point it feels normal.
I saw some highlights the other day and, with this being a young team, the Wizards are actually kinda fun to watch. But if any squad allows these dudes to beat them, they should expect a firm tongue lashing from coach.
5. SACRAMENTO KINGS (2-5)
It gets to a point where you're just tired of making excuses for the Kings. Teams with their head coach in prison are performing better than these dudes type shit. Meanwhile, Sacramento has arguably the best PF in the game in Domantas Sabonis.
Niggas is like the Pelicans but without the injuries, so it's even harder to understand why they always fail. In all of my years following the NBA, there was only one brief era, around the turn of the century, when the Kings were actually good. Zach LaVine, I would theorize in part due to his looks, has had ample (undeserved) opportunity to prove alpha, but obviously he's not that type of player and should perhaps be more role oriented.
6. DALLAS MAVERICKS (3-5)
Being a consensus no.1 pick isn't what it used to be. Back in the day, consensus no.1s were dudes like Shaq, Duncan and AI, who came out the gate hot and never looked back. Now, you have cats like Zion Williamson and Cooper Flagg generating the buzz yet failing to dominate.
That said, I'm not dissing Flagg, at all. If this were a 1990s' team, i.e. one that played offense with a set structure (and through an intellectual PG), I'm sure the Mavs would be contenders. Forcing Cooper to play the point or whatever, first of all, from what I've seen he really isn't running the point at all. D-Lo is the main man holding down that responsibility, which isn't particularly ideal since he's more of a 2.
Second, it's apparently time for Jason Kidd to go already. If this braintrust can rationalize parting ways Doncic - i.e. the greatest scorer in today's NBA, not even a full season after he led the team to the Finals - then I don't see why they're so committed to keeping Kidd around, who is an above-average coach, but it ain't like that.
Bring in someone who can organize and sell set offenses rather than letting dudes do what they want. Let Flagg play his natural position, i.e. SF/PF, and furthermore feed Cooper the ball instead of just letting dudes chuck up threes type shit. AD and them have already had their time in the sun. There's no reason, on paper, why this team should be underperforming.
7. ORLANDO MAGIC (3-4)
I was the first (and only) pundit who, back when Bane was traded to Orlando, was like 'what's the big deal?' Throughout the entirety of this franchise's existence, the Magic have more or less had an ass backwards braintrust, one that really can't do shit unless they're blessed with no.1 picks. Panchero is a phenom but first of all, despite being a giant, prefers to play like a G. And secondly, though a perennial allstar type, he's not dominant.
The Magic have been suffering from a lack of size throughout the entire Panchero era. So how do they respond? Finally making a big move - by pursuing one of the shorter players in the league. Desmond Bane has a head made for Hollywood, not the NBA.
This is why I always say, braintrusts need to think for themselves rather than letting the times and fashion and media influence their actions. Maybe the Magic will get their shit together. But if dudes don't learn how to play in the paint it won't really amount to much.
8. BOSTON CELTICS (3-5)
I never agreed with the Celtics more or less deciding to tank since Jayson Tatum is seriously hurt. That's not the heart of a champion, and with this type of shit going on it's understandable why Michael Jordan recently spoke out against load management.
Dudes are fukin sissies, and in this case I'm referring to some of the braintrusts out there. Intentionally fielding an inferior roster because a star player is hurt is a betrayal of fans, as already inferred with Indiana.
9. MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES (3-5)
I'm not really disappointed in the Grizzlies because, who really expected this roster to accomplish anything to began with? Memphis has lost so key instrumental players over the past few seasons, replacing them with nobodies (no offense). When was the last time you heard of a star player signing with the Grizz? And this is despite that fact that, with Morant, they're a moderately-popular team.
Ja is now becoming the scapegoat, which I think isn't fair the way some outlets are reporting on him, you know, 'he's not as athletic' and that type of shit. What do you expect? That's what separates stars from superstars and why Tyrese Haliburton may never get there.
10. CHARLOTTE HORNETS (3-4)
Out of every player, it's LaMelo Ball who I would like to see effectively healthy for an entire season. That's the only way we can ever ascertain if at least the Hornets are a playoff team. Their roster isn't half bad, and Ball is like a perennial allstar.
Only Charlotte's braintrust knows why they gave the keys to car to someone with major injury issues. Maybe they were like 'dude is mad popular, so f*ck it.'
11. ATLANTA HAWKS (3-4)
Speaking of injury issues, Trae Young is another player who, like Morant, may have already peaked early in his career health-wise. You always hear dudes talking that 'give it your all' shit, but when some guys do that for a season or two, there's no going back. I guess that's the downside in a way of a team developing too quickly around a young star, you know, going deep into the postseason and those kind of things. Maybe the preferred course of action should be letting some of them grow up a bit. Maybe, that's what Dallas is doing with Flagg(?).
12. TORONTO RAPTORS (3*4)
Canadians don't deserve this shit - first Team Canada, and now the Raptors. If there was a vote for what team should be thrown out of the NBA, I'd go with Toronto because, like the Kings, their rosters like never live up to potential (except for that one season). But with Sacramento, at least are based in California.
I'm starting to believe that yes, Brandon Ingram's style of play is too isolationist to benefit a 5-on-5 team. Gone are the good ol' days when being able to average 20ppg season in and season out guaranteed you an allstar berth. Dudes are now out here dropping 40 regularly, thus making players like Ingram middling scorers who ideally should evolve their games.
13. PHOENIX SUNS (3-4)
I was just about ready to write the Suns off until they defeated, indeed blew out, the undefeated Spurs. Booker seems to still be adjusting to a fulltime PG role, one who is willing to pass even, but it's not like his options are overly ideal. Grayson Allen seems to be benefitting from the Trump Era of the NBA, with White players - and especially American ones - proving that they can hang.
14. LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS (3-3)
The Clippers have a deep, talented roster, but sometimes I feel their core is too old, amongst other issues. They've even been dubbed "the oldest team in NBA history", with the average age being about 33. But even if they weren't, this is a squad you can count on to disappoint in one way or another. James "the Head" Harden is easily one of the best offensive players ever, but at some point you have to argue how beneficial he actually is at the point.
15. CLEVELAND CAVALIERS (4-3)
For some reason I can't quite explain, I didn't go into this season expecting much from the Cavs. I guess that's a symptom of being heartbroken, when you don't even expect the other party to live up to expectations anymore.
Yet and still, Cleveland has one of the most talented rosters in the league. What's being floated around, since their very disappointing exit from the 2025 Playoffs, is that this squad is more dependent on Garland than many of us realize. So either Darius is like one of the most-underrated players, or this team isn't as formidable as they appear on paper.
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