My brother and myself got into an argument just a few minutes ago Over the phone, I expressed my rabid distaste for the Dallas Mavericks, and how I hoped they would not go to the Finals and/or not win a championship. My brother asked me why I don't like them and I said it's because they're our rivals, both conference and in-state. He thought I was dumb, stating that since the Rockets didn't make it, that you should cheer for the better home state team. I stated that was ridiculous, as they were our rivals. He responded with the fact we haven't played them in meaningful games in years. He brought up the LA Lakers/Clippers argument, stating that since the Clippers, Warriors, and Kings are crappy teams, that everyone who is their fan would be cheering for the Lakers since they represent California. I replied that, if they were to do that, they would be band wagoners. Finally, the Western Conference vs. Eastern Conference was brought up. He asked whether I'd cheer for the West in the finals over the East, and I said it'd depend on who the teams were. He said that's dumb, and we should always go for the West. I brought up the 07-08 Finals with the Lakers and Celts, where he was cheering for the Men in Green. He stated that it was because he liked the team, so I'm pretty sure that neutralized the arguement. Basically, it ended up with us lambasting each others viewpoints, as well as a goodnight. TLDR: I believe you should not cheer for rivals, especially not in-state ones. Believe in city-pride. Brother believes you should cheer for the home-state team, because they were the better team making it into playoffs.
The reffing was horrible tonight. I can never EVER root for the Mavs...even when they played the Lakers. OKC got raped by the refs tonight...and I can't help but recall our first round matchup with Mavs in '05.
what? kd shot 18-19, westbrook 14-18 FT okc even shot 7 more freethrows than the mavs and you're blaming the refs?
I generally root for teams that I feel are under-rated or unfairly maligned by the media. I tend to not root for teams that get a ton of media hype or attention. Whether they are a "rival" or not doesn't really enter into it that much for me. The Rockets haven't played enough games on the big stage recently to have a real rivalry anyway.
Look at the actual fouls given to Dirk though...as soon as he caught it in the post and turned, the whistle was blown with little to no contact. Also think back to Dirk's layup where Ibaka tried to block it...Dirk reached back and slapped at him afterwards and got an and1.
I may be getting old, but if you asked me the top 3 teams I hate in the NBA, the list has always been and will forever be 1. Utah 2. Utah 3. Don't go to Utah. Utah sucks. And then maybe at #4 I'd have room for LA. What has Dallas ever done to us? One measly series in 2005 where we were the 5-6 seed or whatever. We didn't have enough talent to win it all then anyways. And then in the regular season Jason Terry likes to all of a sudden go 14-16 on FG against the Rockets only. So what. Let Dallas have its time in the sun. They've been dumped on by David Stern and the NBA for so long, I don't mind if they have a little joy now and then. Plus, my money's STILL on Dallas getting dumped on this year. You think Stern's gonna let that Miami team lose to Cuban? Forget it.
I'm not sure Dallas is really a rival of ours The only team I truly hate and always will hate is Utah, no matter what I will never root for them Lakers after that, Mavs a fairly distant 3rd
I still despise that call when Michael freakin Finely came out of bounds to steal the ball from Jon Barry. That's one of the reasons why I don't ever root for the Mavericks. Also you're forgetting that Dirk is one of the biggest of not the biggest whiners in the NBA. I didn't think the ref's were that harsh on OKC but I thought they should've let the Thunder get physical with Dirk for at least a bit, it seemed like the Mavs/Heat all over again when Wade got all the ghost calls. Ridiculous how bad at times they called the touch fouls. Dirk should have to earn his points, it shouldn't be given to him. Regardless though I still dislike the Jazz with the utmost negativity. They beat us what? 2-3 times when we had our core of Yao/Tracy here? Funny how most of their good players were shipped out though. You should definitely root for whomever you want to root for but I could never root for the Mavericks over the Thunder, Durant as a person and as a player is exceptionally greater than Dirk and his antics. Hopefully the Thunder get the next one in Dallas..
That play still really upsets me...and what was worse was Dallas fans knowing it was an illegal play, had no qualms with it because "they won." I really hate Mavs fans, too many of them have soured me completely from the Mavs. I will never, EVER cheer for them. I mean seriously...they have in adition to Dirk, they have Terry and Barea...good god, how much douchebaggery can a man take? Exactly...touch fouls galore. I get crucified here for saying Dirk didn't deserve his FTs. "But DM, DM...Durant and Westbrook got a bunch too!" Yeah, I realize that guys, but they weren't getting the same ticky tack fouls that involved defenders bodying him up (sometimes even before the fact) before a whistle was blown. Not trying to take away from Dirk's performance (don't care for him at all personally) but he really didn't deserve most of his FTs, plain and simple.
Every Warriors fan I know who can name someone beyond Ellis or Curry absolutely despises the Lakers. It's not only about whether or not the two teams have a rivalry; it's also one's view of the organization in general, from the management to the players and their fanbase. Having to deal with the innumerable Laker bandwagon "fans" in California does nothing but fuel the hate if you have any semblance of loyalty or passion for sports in general. Shutting the bandwagoners up is reason enough to root against them, lest we never hear the end of the phrase "threepeat". I personally find the entire Lakers organization difficult to like. I think Kobe, Gasol, Bynum, Fisher, Barnes and the majority of that team are punks, talented as they may be. I feel their recent championships are tainted by the lopsided deal for Gasol, and our 2009 series with them is still fresh in my mind. The Fisher elbow to Scola. The blood-drawing no call elbow to Battier. The "I'm frustrated by your defense so I'll knee you as I'm getting up" no call from Kobe. Andrew Bynum, period. That's why I could never root for the Lakers, and I'm sure many Californian fans agree. Similarly, many feel that Dallas is a classless organization and our 2005 series with them still leaves a bitter taste. That being said, if you genuinely like the organization for your own personal reasons, I think it's perfectly fine to root for them once your team's out of the playoffs. There are some no-no's when it comes to the general consensus of a fanbase--for example, the Utah Jazz in relation to Rockets fans--but I don't think Dallas has quite reached that level of scorn. People rooting for OKC should remember that their inherited franchise, the Sonics, were a frequent playoff nemesis in the 90's, knocking us out multiple times. Dallas, by comparison, knocked us out once in '87 and again in '05 in our only two playoff matchups.
for some reason, even though I remember watching 2 really annoying playoff series losses to them (88 & 05) and Cuban is purposefully annoying - it's hard to well up hatred for the Mavs, I don't know why. I still resent Utah the most. What burns me about Utah this morning is that they're arguably already ahead of the Rockets in rebuilding - for the second time in 10 years. They basically tore down their Malone-Stockton 90's team 4 AFTER the Rockets tried to reboot in 99, built it up faster, became a contender, beating the Rockets 2x in the process, tore it down AGAIN, and are now drafting in the high lottery with a chance to build a foundation again - meanwhile the Rockets have been waiting on Yao Ming to succeed Hakeem for 10 years. Jesus.
i guess by definition San Antonio and Dallas have to be rivals because they're in-state but it sure doesn't feel that way to me. LA and Utah are the two i can't stand, though with both of them getting new coaches and LA coming back down to earth, that might get scaled back a bit. but just a bit.
I don't care at this point - my rabid hatred for the Heat trumps everything else. I will root for any team that's up against the Heat. And yes, I think I'm in love with Dirk's jumpshot. Hate all you want.
I just don't have the same hate for Dallas that I have for Utah, Seattle, LA and Boston. I just hate Utah period. Dallas was just not relevant for so long that it's just hard for me to see them as our true rivals. I know that OKC is the same as Seattle but they just don't elicit the same feelings of hate that they did before they moved.
I dislike (ok... maybe its hate) Dallas, and i really don't want them to win. But i respect the hell outta what Dirk's been doing in these playoffs. Straight ballin.
Dallas is not our rival, I've been rooting for them in every series and will continue to do so. Btw, Dirk is unguardable by OKC. That's why they tried 5 different guys on him. Stop blaming the refs, he woulda scored on most of those possessions anyway.
If this was the 90's our rivals are the Utah j*zz, but since it's not who cares. I root for Houston then whoever I feel. I was going for Memph but since they lost I'm all for Dallas
