Most intense rivalry in the NBA?

Question

What do you guys think is the most intense rivalry currently? Obviously of all time it's Celtics-Lakers, but as for active rivalries, I think it's either Dallas-San Antonio, Lakers-Suns, or Dallas-Phoenix.

Answer 1

Celtics vs Lakers.

Answer 2

Without a doubt it's San Antonio/Dallas. This is a true rivalry. Watch a game between these teams at any point in the season and you'll see pure intensity, emotionally and physically. Also, both of these teams have proven themselves near equals and this creates a much more heated rivalry since anyone can win at anytime. In the next few years I think the Mavs/Suns rivalry will get more intense but right now Dirk and Steve Nash are still good friends. Once they learn to hate each other then that'll make for some good basketball.

Answer 3

Dallas and San Antonio, not just because they are the 2 best teams in the league for the last 2 years and for years to come. But they are in the same division, so more games are played against each other, and both teams are in the State of Texas, so the atmosphere created by the fans is a little different than the other rivalries.

Answer 4

Obviously, any rivalry pales in comparison with the rivalry the Lakers and Celtics had from the 60s to the 80s... but that rivalry means nothing now... when you have Celtic fans chanting "MVP" for Kobe (and seriously meaning it), then you know the rivalry's over.

Miami/Detroit is a great present day rivalry from the Eastern Conference.

But I would go with San Antonio and Dallas right at the moment. They each know that the other is a huge obstacle toward getting to the finals, plus you have the regional aspect of it, with both teams being located in Texas.

Answer 5

Dallas-San Antonio

Answer 6

I think Dallas Mavericks and Phoenix Suns because they're probably battling to be number 1!
For some strange reason, I also think Clippers and Lakers are good rivalries. I think this because both are LA teams, but when Clippers first started getting good and stuff, everyone liked the Lakers and the Clippers had no fans. So the Clippers were probably very jealous and stuff. Don't you think?

Answer 7

Dallas and San Antonio

Answer 8

San Antonio vs. Dallas without a doubt.

Answer 9

I think if your talking about rivalry's from these day, I would say


Sixers Vs. Pistons - Because Larry Brown left Sixers to be a piston

Mavericks Vs. Spurs - The 2 best in Texas (Where im from) But can you call this a rivalry i mean spurs dont care about the Mavericks, Mavs havent done anything for the Spurs to hate or be jealous of.

Suns Vs Lakers - Kobe Vs. Bell

Answer 10

i see rivalries as big games with big hits. look at the rivalries we saw in the 90's between the Heat and Knicks in the late 90's, and the Bulls and Pistons in the early 90's.

in those games there were big hits, heavy defence and a physical aspect to the game where every player was out there putting their body on the line to win.

between the Bulls and Pistons we saw countless games of Jordan and Pippen being heavily guarded and defended by the Pistons who instilled their own sense o heavy defence to stifle the Bulls.

in the late 90's we saw countless fights between the Knicks and Heat as both teams played aggressive and hard, never wanting to give an inch to the opponent.

these rivalries were intense rivalries. they were the games to watch because the players played hard. there was heat between the teams and bad blood between players.

nowadays we have good match ups, but not necessarily rivalries. teams like dallas, san antonio, LA and phoenix all play hard against one another for playoff positions, not because there is tension of rivalry. i think these teams you mentioned have great games with good positional battles, but they are hardly a rivalry like the ones in the 90's