Well, Shaq is gone and the forming of a rivalry between us and the Lakers died in its infancy. You can still argue the Rudy vs JVG thing, but the national flavor is no longer there. T-Mac vs Kobe might be interesting, and we'll have to see what will happen this season. Are we a rival with Orlando after the trade? Not really, since we are contending and they are rebuilding, and we are in the west and there are in the east. Are we a rival with Miami now? The storyline is there, Yao vs Shaq + the coaching brothers, but again, they are in the east, and we are in the west. Meeting twice a year won't make us rivals. Are we still a rival with Phoenix? The Amare vs Yao storyline is there, but only generating local interests. Marbury and Francis are both gone, so nothing will happen in that regard. Plus, we are contending for the title (supposely), and they are fighting to make the playoffs (supposely as well). Are we still a rival with Dallas? San Antonio? Utah? Or were we a rival with them at all in the past? I don't know. So, do we actually have a rival in the NBA right now, whom we hate with all our heart, and we are their public emeny number one as well? The Rockets fans surely hate the Lakers and the Jazz, but the feeling is not reciprocated.
I just can't call a team, who we only play twice a year, a true rival. Although, the Celtics/Rockets of the early/mid 80s could probably be called that. In my eyes, the Spurs will always be our biggest rival. As long as both teams are always competitive, that will probably never change.
A rivalry to me is defined by defined by its importance when teams are not in the playoff hunt. Look at the Packer/Bears rivalry. The players and fans don't care if the teams have won a single game so far. That game is important by itself. The same could be said for UT/A&M. The closest thing the Rockets have to a rivalry is San Antonio.
The Nuggets? I don't think they are anything special to us, both their history and current team don't make me interested. I'd put the Kings and Wolves before the Nuggets.
I think they would be way down the list. There is no real history between the two teams. They don't play in the same division. And geographically, there are 3 or 4 teams that are closer.
The Nuggets and Rockets are the league's future and they will be at each others' necks starting next season. We're talking about a new rivalry that won't have the rug swept from under them anytime soon because the young core is committed long-term. Historically, the Spurs, but I think the Nuggets will be the start of something new.
I still don't see it Sane. I mean, you can apply that to other up and coming young teams like Cleveland also. IMO, rivalries are based on the following criteria: 1) Geography (Red Sox and Yankees will always be a hot rivaly, even if both teams weren't competitive) 2) History (Celtics v. Lakers .....Oilers v. Steelers) 3) Competitive standing (i.e. are both teams anually competing against each other for a playoff spot every year?) I think #3 could apply to the Nuggets and Rockets. It could also apply to us the other 14 teams in our conference. The point is though, its highly subjective, depending on season to season, while the first two aren't. SA should always be our biggest rival, since a win or loss means much more than a move up or down in the standings. Its about bragging rights and adding to one team's perceived legacy over the others. I can possibly see Dallas becoming our biggest rival, if SA were to fall oout of contention for a period of years and Dallas didn't.
I see your point, however, the Denver Nuggets fans consider their biggest rival their cross-mountain counterpart -- the Utah Jazz, and the feeling is very reciprocated. Last two years, they were in very similar situation, and even made similar moves. Last year, they were neck to neck in competing for the last playoff spot. Then they were both way under the cap and targeted similar FAs, Denver got Martin, and the Jazz got Boozer, both young stud PFs. They are both young and upcoming teams. If you visit their fan forums, you'll see the trash-talking between their fans are rampant. Yes, you can consider Denver a rival, but if they don't care about us, it won't matter. I think the vast majority of the Rockets fans don't consider Denver a rival either.
Spurs will always be our #1 rival for being the only other team to be successful (rings) in Texas. Don't they have 2 or is it 3? Theres marguee Big Men in Duncan and Yao. They have the Manu, Parker, and Barry Triple threat, while we have the TMac, Tracy, and McGrady Triple threat . Its gonna be on like Donkey Kong...
You forgot, Boki is better than Barry and JJ is ten times better than Manu. I think Lue will own Parker as well. If you throw the T-Mac into the mix, it's over. BTW, Howard is a wash with Duncan, and Yao surely dominates Rasho. Oh, Pop can only hope to become JVG's assistant. Plus, the power dancers are mistresses of the Spurs cow-girls.
Denver. 2 super talented young teams whom will be the dominant Powers of the west for Years to come. reminds me of the Lakers V Blazers rivalries of the early 90's.
While Denver will probably become rivals in the coming years, the Spurs have our number right now. They swept us last season and I just hate the Spurs.
Spurs in the runaway winner? I thought being a rivalry, you have to actually have wins and losses. They way they owned us in the past couple years (1-7, I think) makes us their %^##@$s, not rivals.
Spurs probably got the runaway vote because of all the aforementioned reasons (geography, division, etc ...) and probably becuase of the similarity in style of play. That's all i see separating them and the Mavs, the fact that both the rockets and the spurs play a slowed defense first game. Also, Dallas is a mess right now and i doubt even Cuban knows what he's doing, otherwise, you could probably make an offense vs. defense case for a Mavs rivalry.
I hope San Antonio will be our rival again. San Antonio have had our number for the last 4-5 years, but we do have a lot of history with the Spurs. Remember, Hakeem and David in the playoffs in 1995. Goliath (Hakeem) distroying David after not winning the MVP. We need to rejuvenate the I-10 Texas Shootout.
I would have said the Spurs, but I think part of a rivalry stems from actually being disgusted or hating your opponent. I just can't bring myself to hate SA because of Tim Duncan (and before him Dave Robinson). They have always been too nice. As for the Lakers and Jazz, I have had no problem disliking them. I started hating the Suns long ago because of Danny Ainge. To me, we have had more epic battles with the Lakers than any other team. So I picked them. One of my favorite Rocket's memories is of Ralph Sampson's tip to win the playoff series against the Lakeshow.
