NBA: Lack of a true Rivalry?

by **Axel** on Fri Dec 08, 2006 3:35 pm

Sure there are some really good teams in the league again this year, the same as last, but am I the only one who doesn't see a really good rivalry in the NBA right now? It seems like with all the hyping of individual players, all the team rivalries have gone away. Personally I don't care much for the individual rivalries (Kobe vs lebron, Wade vs Kobe, etc etc) and prefer the team games.

It seems like the last great rivalry in the NBA was the Kings and Lakers, and since those teams have both changed dramatically, there really isn't a true rivalry anymore. By true rivalry, I mean there was always a sense of importance when the two played, no matter what time of the year. Shaq and his comment about the "Queens", and all the epic playoff battles, made the games really fun to watch, and I just dont see anything like that right now.

I think that's what the NBA is really lacking right now more than anything.

by **Matt** on Fri Dec 08, 2006 3:43 pm

yeah i know what you mean.....there was also the Portland and Lakers rivalry and Indiana and Detroit. The key was that they lasted a few seasons and into the playoffs.

Right now, Dallas v SAS is probably the closest thing we have since they've met a cpl times in the playoffs already each being victorious, they are from the same division and state too.

In the East no team really is elite for more than 2yrs, except Detroit which has played in 4 consecutive East finals. Only if they play Miami again we can start calling it a rivalry, but it seems as though Miami's future doesn't look to good with all the old guys they have.

YouTube · by **ThaLiveKing** on Sat Dec 09, 2006 11:57 am

Yeah SAS and Dallas are the best rivaly this year!! Phoenix and Lakers. Raptors and Hawks have a friendly rivalry, a lot of their games are almost classic ball

by **ixcuincle** on Sat Dec 09, 2006 12:07 pm

True , there hasn't been a good rivalry of late...the best I can remember was , as you said before , the Sacramento - Los Angeles rivalry. I remember the last time those 2 were in the WCF , Phil Jackson insulted Sacramento as a farmer town because of the cowbells...it was one of the best Western Conference Finals games I had seen. Even the old 80's rivalries are nothing like they were back in the day : Knicks - Bulls , Celtics - Lakers , Pistons - Celtics etc...

by **Isaiah** on Sat Dec 09, 2006 12:23 pm

Lakers-Clippers hasn't really evolved into a rivalry yet..while I think the Lakers-Suns situation is starting to develop into a rivalry, same with Dallas-San Antonio..other than that I really don't see any else

by **Matt** on Sat Dec 09, 2006 5:19 pm

the key to rivalries is meeting in the playoffs multiple times.

by **Christopherson** on Sun Dec 10, 2006 5:57 am

Other than Yankees-Red Sox, and maybe Colts-Patriots, are there really any other rivalries in any of the major sports? (excluding college) Free agency and the lack of loyalty by players had destroyed the notion of a rivalry.

by **Ruff Ryder** on Sun Dec 10, 2006 6:21 am

Christopherson wrote:Other than Yankees-Red Sox, and maybe Colts-Patriots, are there really any other rivalries in any of the major sports? (excluding college) Free agency and the lack of loyalty by players had destroyed the notion of a rivalry.

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Of all NFL rivalries you name the Colts-Patriots? That's only been a rivalry for the last few years. How about the Cowboys and Redskins? Colleges have tons of rivalries so I'm not going that deep into them. But I think the new rivalry will be the Heat and Cavs, especially after judging last years games where LeBron and D-Wade just took over the game. But yea, teams just aren't consistantly good anymore and for some reason the expectations fall off.

by **Christopherson** on Sun Dec 10, 2006 6:43 am

You honestly think the Boys and Redskins is a legit rivalry? Thats just a "traditional" rivalry. If you want to consider that a rivalry then you are going to have to consider Boston-Phili in the the NBA. As far as Heat-Cavs, that is more of a Wade-LeBron rivalry based off of draft year/position and individual succes vs. team success.

by **BIG GREEN** on Sun Dec 10, 2006 9:21 am

They keep trying to throw the mavs and spurs in our faces as a rivalry with their loud mouth spokes person jason terry at the helm...but is it really?

by **air gordon** on Sun Dec 17, 2006 4:31 am

Matt wrote:the key to rivalries is meeting in the playoffs multiple times.

and sometimes i think both teams need to have a genuine disdain for each other

the NBA didn't need to hype all those great rivalries from the 80's and in the 90's. the teams/players provided all the drama.

even the more recent ones-
Detroit vs Indy
Sacto vs La

i don't think anyone on the those teams met for drinks after their games

i wouldn't call the Mavs-Spurs rivalry an epic one just yet but i do think it's awesome. I think in the past few years these 2 teams have been the best in the West. Last year's series was the best of the playoffs

maybe the mainstream is not embracing as much since Duncan and Dirk aren't big on NBA persona/charisma. Plus their teams are from the same state, division. who knows

by **Dean** on Sun Dec 17, 2006 10:45 am

I think two good rivalries are the suns with both the mavs and lakers.. always have great games with each other, particularly Dallas whom theyve had many great playoff games with. Plus its got Steve Nash vs Dirk, two former teammates who love to play eachother.

Bluesky · by **Andrew** on Sun Dec 17, 2006 11:26 am

air gordon wrote:the NBA didn't need to hype all those great rivalries from the 80's and in the 90's. the teams/players provided all the drama.

I think that's definitely part of the problem. The NBA is so eager to market the next face of the league, the next rivalry for the ages and the new generation rather than letting players establish their own identity, rivalries to develop in their own time and as you said, allowing the players and teams to provide the drama themselves rather than interest being manufactured by the league's hype machine.

by **greg9** on Sun Dec 17, 2006 12:38 pm

Miami and Detroit is probably the best one right now. I think they really hate each other when they are on the court. In Miami's Shaq-era, those 2 series have both been very heated.

by **Matt** on Sun Dec 17, 2006 1:04 pm

don't think anyone on the those teams met for drinks after their games

actually Rasheed & JO used to dine together before games

by **cyanide** on Sun Dec 17, 2006 2:03 pm

Add a rivalry with New York and Denver because of that brawl; but it'll probably be short lived since there's no division, record or playoff rivalry.

by **dada** on Sun Dec 17, 2006 3:41 pm

...and the Knicks arent even good enough to have a worthwhile rivalry with.

by **Jugs** on Sun Dec 17, 2006 8:24 pm

They can rival the Raptors for the worst team in the NBA.

by **Elbeen** on Sun Dec 17, 2006 9:08 pm

Denver-New York may be the best rivalry right now... after that brawl

by **air_edwards23** on Mon Dec 18, 2006 9:34 am

yea thats true

by **BigKaboom2** on Mon Dec 18, 2006 10:20 am

Elbeen wrote:Denver-New York may be the best rivalry right now... after that brawl

Is there an echo in here?

I think Suns - Mavs is the best rivalry.

by **BIG GREEN** on Mon Dec 18, 2006 10:42 am

Man after seeing that brawl...i wouldn't be suprised if denver and new york are the next best rivalry. 8-)

by **J@3** on Mon Dec 18, 2006 10:46 am

Since the brawl, I think New York and Denver will be the next best rivalry.

by **arrell** on Mon Dec 18, 2006 11:03 am

So it takes a brawl to start a rivalry? HA!

by **J@3** on Mon Dec 18, 2006 11:03 am

You completely ruined it.

NBA: Lack of a true Rivalry?

NBA: Lack of a true Rivalry?

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