So your favourite team isn’t playing, but there are plenty of sports on TV. What are you going to watch?
Are there certain players you gravitate toward? Particular teams who offer something—be it a unique approach to the game or a club that can’t seem to help but compete in close contests—that keep you tuning in? A jersey or colour scheme that’s appealing to the eye? Sheer greatness or staggering ineptitude?
It all boils down to one overriding factor: Watchability.
So with that in mind, we present the Watchable 20—otherwise known as The 20—a recurring ranking of the 20 most watchable teams across pretty much every major league and sport. Excitement matters. Scoring matters. Stars matter. Big plays matter.
And your opinion matters. Did we miss out on one of your favourites? Disagree with our choices? Make your case for the teams you’d rather watch in the comments below, or tweet @sportsnet with #Watchable20.
1. Golden State Warriors: Always, man. Always. The most free-wheeling team this side of the Globetrotters, this is what happens when you take Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, Andre Igoudala, and Kent Bazemore, and add the most electrifying home court in basketball.
2. Portland Trail-Blazers: The best team in the NBA at the moment, the Blazers boast two stars at the top of their game (I’d make a serious argument for LaMarcus Aldridge as the MVP), and quite simply Damian Lillard’s buzzer-beating heroics have been the most exciting thing going in sports.
3. Chicago Blackhawks: A fast, star-laden team continuing where it left off last season. Patrick Kane alone is worth hunting down their games wherever you can find them.
4. Dallas Cowboys: Who knew that when Terrell Owens told us to get our popcorn ready, he was looking a decade into the future? Love ’em or hate ’em, Tony Romo’s gang always finds a way to play in dramatic, tension-filled, down-to-the-wire fourth quarters. And usually lose them.
5. Oklahoma City Thunder: You could justify cancelling dinner plans to stay home and watch Kevin Durant play basketball. Ditto Russell Westbrook. Those two guys on the same team? That’s appointment viewing. Figures that a Warriors-Thunder game this season would end like this:
6. Everton: They’re not the best team in football (futbol, that is), but the Liverpool club gets it done without relying on expensive star power like their neighbours. What’s more, they don’t hold back at all; these guys will make you re-think the notion that soccer is too conservative.
7. Washington Capitals: Not only is Alex Ovechkin nearly on pace to notch 50 goals in 50 games, the Caps have played more OT games than anyone and “boast” the closest goal differential (you can’t get closer) in hockey: 0.00.
8. Pittsburgh Penguins: It starts with Sidney Crosby, but there are just too many big names on the Pens to not take notice whenever they’re playing, particularly at home, where Pittsburgh has staked its claim as the most exciting arena in which to catch an NHL game—home to both the loudest and most dedicated (longest sellout streak in hockey) crowd there is. That matters.
9. Seattle Seahawks: Like watching football teams dominated by defence, and lead by a pint-size quarterback who flits around the pocket like a younger, stronger, faster Doug Flutie? Like watching the best team in their league run roughshod over their competition? Like watching a Super Bowl favourite play like one week in and week out? Yeah, so do we.
10. Atletico Madrid: Let’s face it, it’s not as fun to root for mega powerhouses like Barcelona and Real Madrid, clubs with wallets that allow them to build an all-star team year after year. Instead, check out Atletico, a very solid outfit who, despite losing star Falcao in the summer transfer window, are still extremely watchable thanks to Diego Costa et al.
11. Dallas Mavericks: Not sure anybody would have pegged the Mavs to be on a list like this heading into the season, but it’s just fun to watch Dirk Nowitzki continue to refine his once-in-a-lifetime game as the years go on. Plus, the Dirk/Monta Ellis pick-and-roll is shockingly effective and a big reason why the Mavs look playoff-bound.
12. Kansas City Chiefs: Admittedly probably too low for purists (confession: this isn’t exactly a science) considering they’re posting scores over 40 and 50 in recent weeks. But they’ve slowed noticeably on defence since their 9-0 start. Still, K.C. belongs here for the Jamaal Charles Show alone.
13. San Jose Sharks: A noticeably more energized, fast-paced Sharks team than we’re used to seeing, San Jose just finds a way to get it done game in and game out. Losing rookie Tomas Hertl to knee surgery hurts, but this is still a very watchable squad.
14. Manchester City: This only counts if Man City is playing at home, because if they are, you know the Sky Blues will light up the back of the net. And the fans will roar in that full-throated, drunk-British-spectator way. And everything will feel… important.
15. Denver Broncos: They’re not quite the world-destroying dynamo they were in September and October, but still: High-scoring football orchestrated by a pigskin-chucking robot. Historic levels of offence. A gorgeous stadium. The after-catch skills of Demaryius Thomas and the giant tears of Knowshon Moreno. Need we say more?
16. St. Louis Blues: You’ll never know how much you’ll love them unless you give them a chance. Young, fast and hungry, the Blues play the kind of all-around game that, when it’s really clicking, makes you realize you’re watching hockey played at its finest level. Ken Hitchcock hates sloppy hockey and his charges have learned his lesson well.
17. Phoenix Suns: This was supposed to be a ‘tanking’-caliber club, developing young players like Eric Bledsoe and Miles Plumlee, while playing for draft picks. Now? The Suns are a playoff team and talking about packaging picks for a star player to win-now. Gotta love when players refuse to follow the narrative. Screw tanking.
18. Toronto Maple Leafs: Comment away if you disagree—but you slow down to watch a train wreck when you see one next to the road, too. Stop pretending you don’t tune in to watch the meltdown when you hear the Panthers are up 2-0. The fan rage on Twitter is also an entertaining sideshow.
19. Chicago Bears: Brandon Marshall. Alshon Jeffery. Matt Forte. Three incredible playmakers and a coach in Marc Trestman who is dedicated to putting as much of the game as humanly possible into their hands. Bonus: They can’t stop anyone on defence, so you’re nearly guaranteed a 34-27 game. At least.
20. (tie) Indiana Pacers and Los Angeles Clippers: Two teams that go about their business in two very different ways, but with a long list of compelling characters and deep playoff aspirations, you certainly can’t go wrong with either of these on any given night.