You forgot about the Sonics (I know that they don't play anymore but they were rivals in the 90s). Nonetheless, I hate the Jazzholes! jsm
Jazz 3rd on my hate list. You can go to a Rockets/Jazz game (went to both this season) and it doesnt even seem like a freaking rivalry game. When you go to a Rox/Spurs or Rox/Mavs game it seems like one IMO. When the Lakers come here it seems like a damn college game...one side Rox and one side laker bandwagoners. Mavs Spurs Jazz Lakers IMO
It's only a rivalry when Les spends the money needed. It's happened once since 1995, 2009. That is the only year we had a chance. Sure, we might still hate the Jazz or Mavs, but I'm pretty sure from their eyes we are a roadblock they simply crush. And they regularly do. 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007, and 2008 along with countless losses to these franchises during the regular season. Broken Clutch City gave John Stockton the WCF, Pippen and Barkley couldn't stop Shaq and Kobe, Lakers made a footnote out of the Rockets again in 2004, Tmac and the Yao's squad had a legendary, Donaghy inspired meltdown in Dallas the next year, and the Jazz made the Rockets their woman, not once twice, back-to-back aggravated assault. Don't forget the one year when Les spent enough money, the team gave us everything they could and made us damn proud. But it wasn't enough and the team was allowed to be disbanded. It would be one thing if we really could hold a candle to the Lakers, Mavs, Spurs or :sigh: the Jazz. But we don't. Those teams own us and it's going to take a real miracle to get us back to that level. Don't expect it soon. I'm not trying to make anyone mad, I'm not responding to anyone in particular. I feel Rockets fans are owed by Les. He owes us for the last 17 worthless seasons. This is why we have an empty stadium. There is nothing to see there. No hype, no glamour, no hope. I'm Rockets for life, but seriously.. We can have rivals when we can end seasons.
Oh this is old school, but I remember the Maloney vs. Payton days in the playoffs. I hate all Dallas sports teams. The Cowboys and Mavs can both suck it. As for the Rangers, my hate for them will grow as we will be seeing them more often in the AL West.
For me #1: Jazz #1a: Clippers #3: Mavs #4: Lakers #5: Spurs I realize we arent rivals withe the Clippers, but I REALLY hate them!
Jazz and Mavs then Lakers ... don't mind the Spurs at all. Most Spurs fans I know don't mind the Rockets at all either..Although they hate the Mavs
Jazz, Mavs, Lakers. I don't really see any animosity between us and SA. It was fun mocking them a little after Tmac's outburst, and I'm sure you older folk had a pretty swell time after Hakeem's dominance over Robinson. Besides that, I root for them whenever they happen to represent the West. Plus they hate the Mavs as much as we do. That's never a bad thing.
The Mavs & Cuban have surpassed the Jazz as my most hated rival, now that Sloan, Malone & Stockton are gone. They are followed by the LA's Fakers & Flop City.
I've been a fan of both the Rockets and Spurs since I was a kid (Hakeem #1, Duncan #2) I don't have a problem with the Mavs. I hate everything about the Utah Jazz and LA Lakers.
I agree that Rockets/Jazz games aren't very intense anymore, but I still despise the Jazz more than any other team. I feel they have historically played the dirtiest, floppiest basketball. The Spurs, I hate, but in a respectful way. I hate SA as a city, but as a franchise the Spurs get it done, without being in your face, dirty (-Bowen), or dominant.
I hate the Jazz. But Sloan is gone and all their douchey, flopping players left. So I hate the Dallas Mavericks more.
+1 Prior to '97 I merely disliked the Jazz. They were more an annoying inconvenience than the real roadblock the Sonics were at that time. However, after the Malone bear-hug of '97 my dislike became hate and that hate is indelible. I dislike the Mavs because, well, they're from Dallas....and Jason Terry is an annoying little twit. Derrick Fisher is gone from the Lakers so that disdain has cooled a bit. 78 games of the year the Spurs are okay with me. I actually respect the franchise they've built.
a lot of people say dallas, did anyone actually root FOR miami last year in the finals? i find that unreal
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