FanPulse results: MFFL confidence drops, plus more

It’s the Friday before a big holiday for many of us. Chances are if you’re at work, you’re not working hard. That’s why you’re reading this, right? If you’re off, then go spend time with friends and family. Put down the screen. Life is better when you’re social. But since you’re here, I might as well tell you about the latest SB Nation FanPulse results.

“FanPulse?! What’s that?” you say. Well, by this point you know that it’s a weekly poll put together by the brains over at the mothership. It surveys fans about different NBA topics each week and looks at how a fanbase feels about its team. Sound fun? Of course! SIGN UP.

This week, we took a look at the somewhat disappointing Western Conference. For years, the West has been stacked with talented teams. Not so much this season. There’s a jumble after the sixth seed of sub-.500 teams. It’s an ugly mess.

This week, you were asked which two of these embarrassing teams would crawl out of the sludge and make the post season. For me, this was probably the hardest question we’ve seen from FanPulse this year. I just don’t have much faith in any of these organizations right now. Here’s how people responded:

Overwhelmingly, voters feel like the Portland Trail Blazers will return to the playoffs. They did make the Western Conference Finals last season so they must have the benefit of the doubt because of that. Sure, they could make it back. But they also just lost Rodney Hood for the season, adding to the list of devastating injuries they’ve experienced dating back to last year. Maybe the addition of Carmelo Anthony is enough to get them over the hump along with the always dangerous duo of Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum. I don’t know. You seem to think so and that’s good enough.

The Sacramento Kings are the other team that are favored to make the playoffs. OK. They did just get De’Aaron Fox back from injury so that’s a plus. Nemanja Bjelica has also been playing well of late. Mavs fans know that Harrison Barnes plays there. But I just don’t know about this one. It’s the KANGZ. Somehow, someway this team will have something happen to it that will perpetuate the purgatory of Kings fans. That’s just how the world works. Heck, SB Nation pretty much just fired all of the writers at Sactown Royalty. Something bad always happens.

As for me, I think I voted for the Minnesota Timberwolves and Phoenix Suns to make the playoffs. Both received the next best votes of confidence.

On to the Dallas Mavericks!

I’m kind of running out of things to say here. Since our Mavs-centric question is the same every week, it makes it hard to change things up. Making it even harder is the degree of continuing confidence fans have had for much of the season I think that’s great. You should be confident. The team is fun! BUT WAIT! WHAT’S THIS????

A DIP! Confidence is wavering! I never thought I would get to write this! People are legitimately worried. We all know why we’re seeing our first movement on the chart in weeks. The ankle injury to Luka Doncic bummed everyone out. Here’s proof.

This poll went out before the Mavericks marched into Milwaukee and beat the Bucks. If Dallas beats the Philadelphia 76ers on the road Friday night, the confidence should tip back up toward 100 percent by the time next week’s poll swings around. We’ll have to wait and see. You can participate in that poll. All you have to do is SIGN UP.

Until then, have a safe an happy holidays.