Finally, we get to the meat and potatoes of NBA rivalries: the Celtics and the Lakers, a Historical links aside, though, the Lakers and Bucks are two of the best teams in the NBA right now and their matchups against one another have given us the treat of seeing James and Giannis Antetokounmpo on the floor as foes. Next year, there should finally be some equal footing for these two basketball teams, as Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving will help the Nets get back to the level where the Sixers have been for several years. 1. The NBA is a players league and for as much structure as there is around team rivalries it is often the rivalries between individual players that drive the narrative. Most people attribute this series loss as the tipping point that led James to join up with the Miami Heat in Free Agency later that year. By using LINES, you accept our. This season, the Bucks and Raps are the favorites to win the Eastern Conference once again and could meet for the crown for a second straight season. That didnt happen after the Clippers fell to the Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference semifinals, but their first-ever playoff meeting is looming. The 2020-2021 season opener features a lot of good matchups. And when the Clippers visit the Lakers, they travel 38 feet from the home bench to the away bench at Staples Center. He has written for Sports Illustrated, HERO Sports, Bleacher Report, and SB Nation. This year, the Warriors will not be in the playoffs to interfere with the Rockets, but the ghosts of previous failures against Golden State could haunt Houston when it counts this time around. After the beef with Beverly and George last week, Lillard came out and played one of his best games against the Philadelphia 76ers, scoring 51 points for the Trail Blazers. In baseball, Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez continue to be the subject of great debate despite having been teammates for eight seasons now. The Rockets won 65 regular-season games and another 17 playoff games in 2017-18 alone. Results aside, it's clear that these two teams do not like each other very much. For the Lakers, it was the first of 17 trips to San Diego and the first of 34 total meetings, the other 17 of which were played at The Forum in Inglewood. As both of these teams look to break into the upper echelon of the Western Conference, we can all look forward to them entertaining us with Texas-style shootouts on the basketball court. College Basketball Coaching Changes Tracker & Grades, 11 Candidates to Replace Larry Krystkowiak as Utah Head Coach, March Madness Betting Tips / Betting Guide, NCAA Tournament: Teams With Most Quadrant 1 Wins, BetMGM Launches Mobile Sports Betting in Virginia, BetMGM To Launch Mobile Sports Betting In Tennessee On Nov. 1, BetMGM Launches Mobile Sports Betting In Pennsylvania, Our Predictions for the 2021 World Series, Bracketology: Projecting the 2021 NCAA Tournament Field. Together, they would combine for 33 out of the 72 Larry OBrien trophies handed out by the NBA. Excludes Michigan Disassociated Persons. In the deepest division in the NBA, all eyes are on the three Atlantic Division teams who finished five, 10.5, and 15 games behind the expectation-shattering Toronto Raptors. Wilt Chamberlain Vs Bill Russell2. Harden came out and said that the Greek Freak's only real skill is being big and being able to get to the basket without using many steps. While both Harden and Giannis possess incredibly fun styles of play, there is nothing wrong with being wildly entertained when they do decide to take verbal shots at one another. 2020 NBA Playoffs, 2019 NBA Playoffs, 2018 NBA Playoffs, 2017 NBA Playoffs, Playoffs They say that everything is bigger in Texas, and that applies to the point totals put up by the Dallas Mavericks and Rockets as well. Giannis Antetokounmpo and Kevin Durant rarely meet. Los Angeles Lakers vs. Los Angeles Clippers. Interconference rivalries comprise games between opponents in different conferences. In my opinion, here are the five biggest rivalries till date in the NBA.1. The NBAs Important Rivalries for the 2020-21 Season. 10 NBA Players Who Could Get Dealt Before the Trade Deadline, We Built an Entire Starting Lineup Using Russell Westbrook's 2021 Salary, The Perfect Team Pairings for NBA Players on the Trade Block, Ranking the 5 Best LaMarcus Aldridge Trade Destinations, Warriors Reportedly Promised to Take LaMelo Ball With No. But he managed to get under Kevin Durants skin during an in-game exchange in the 2018-19 season that foreshadowed Durant's departure to Brooklyn. Related: Top 10 Best Young NBA Players in 2021 Ready to Explode. Green is a player who enjoys speaking his mind, telling players, coaches and officials exactly what he thinks whenever he is on the court. Magic Johnson Vs Larry Bird3. The Houston Rockets, meanwhile, have been close to defeating them in the playoffs on multiple occasions. NBA players go head-to-head in 1st 'NBA 2K Players Tournament' Kia NBA Tip-Off 2020: By the numbers. The Dallas Mavericks won 67 total games from 2016-18. Dont miss an opportunity to bet on in-game lines, futures, and more at BetMGM. Other important rivalries for the 2020-21 NBA season: When two players arent in the same conference and dont meet in the NBA Finals, they rarely meet. In their sixth game in franchise history, the Buffalo Braves lost to the Los Angeles Lakers on Oct. 30, 1970. One element of this rivalry that is especially interesting is how the Raptors are uniquely equipped to deal with Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Boston Celtics are the winningest team in the league with a total of 17 NBA titles won. Greatest players rivalries in sports history by Pete M.D. KG is set to join the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2020 and it won't be long before Carter joins him in Springfield. With Durant in the Eastern Conference for the first time in his career, this is the start of a potentially epic rivalry between the superstars. These two towns feature teams that compete in the same division in the NFL, MLB and NBA, with both sides having success over the other in each sport. August 1, 2020 written by Pete M.D. They both reached the conference semifinals for the first time since 2011-12 and just the third time since the Buffalo Braves were founded 50 years ago. In what could become the best rivalry in this era of the NBAs history, the Lakers and Clippers are currently the top rivalry in the league today. Lillard sent George home in the first round of the playoffs while George was a member of the Oklahoma City Thunder, winning that series with a shot from near midcourt before waving goodbye to the Thunder bench. Follow him on Twitter: @adoughty88. Visit BetMGM.com for Terms and Conditions. In an overtime contest, they combined for over 300 total points, with the Rockets winning that contest. One of the main criticisms you will hear about the current generation of the NBA is that the players get along too well. The Lakers and Clippers have the best NBA Championship odds in online sports betting of any Western Conference teams, ranking first and fourth overall, respectively, among all NBA teams. Since Giannis entered the league in 2013, hes played against Durant only 10 times. But James ability to drag his teammates to the title in 2016, and the hostilities in that series, made for a memorable rivalry that is poised to continue to this day. These teams showed exactly what they were capable of when they battled during the early portion of the Orlando seeding round. Coach Nick Nurse has done a great job of walling off the space that Giannis likes to get into in the paint, and the Raptors have enough big bodies to challenge him at the paint if he manages to breach that initial wall. You can simply feel the heat in terms of fighting, fearless attitude, match intensity, breathtaking performances of the players. Indiana Pacers Miller was a showman whose performance in games Please Gamble Responsibly. Even better than the Rockets-Warriors hatred is the rivalry between LeBron James and Golden State. Despite the Bulls-Pistons and Celtics-76ers rivalries being stronger and more intense historically, the Warriors-Cavs rivalry edges them out mostly on a recency bias. The Los Angeles Lakers and Milwaukee Bucks have some historical ties to one another, with both teams having been home to one of the greatest players of all-time in Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. George has since become a member of the Los Angeles Clippers, and the baggage between these two All-Stars has come with him to the West Coast. The Rockets won 65 The travel distance shrunk again when the Clippers moved to Los Angeles in 1984 and played home games at Los Angeles Sports Arena, just seven miles from The Forum. And with a potential 2020 NBA Finals matchup on the horizon, there is a chance that there could be some real stakes behind their next games. Entering the 2020-21 season, both the Los Angeles Clippers and Los Angeles Lakers are relevant. Drama, thrilling rivalries and unique personalities headline the first week of the 2020-21 season. The NBAs Important Rivalries for the 2020-21 Season Giannis Antetokounmpo vs. Kevin Durant. 2 Pick in 2020 NBA Draft, Ranking the 5 Worst Referee Calls in 2021 So Far. The Los Angeles Lakers are second with a total of 16. Flexibility. Compared to the 1990s, where the play on the court often resembled a wrestling match, the NBA has certainly dialed down the violence in the present day. On an individual level, the personal rivalry that is budding between Paul George and Damian Lillard is fascinating. But that does not mean that there are not some heated rivalries to enjoy in the Association. That led to an All-Star Game confrontation, where Giannis acknowledged that his teams plan was to simply attack whoever Harden was defending each possession. As legends like Dirk Nowitzki and Dwyane Wade have wrapped up their careers and others like Chris Paul and LeBron James inch closer to their end, the NBA is And while KD missed the season due to an Achilles injury, the basketball world is waiting with great anticipation to see how Green and Durant will interact with one another when they are facing off next season. Harden and Antetokounmpo have never played a game against each other in the 3. Bulls-Knicks Rivalry. In the first half of the 2019-20 NBA season, weve seen the rekindling of immense rivalries along with the rise of teams that many thought were going back to the lottery as championship contenders.Weve also seen Luka Doncic take a massive leap and Zion Williamson bully every defender in his path. So when they play each other in a competitive setting, there is some real significance behind those meetings. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. The Bulls-Knicks rivalry is one of the biggest NBA rivalries of all-time. 2019 NBA Playoff Rivalries That Will Stick in 2020 Golden State Warriors vs. Los Angeles Clippers. Each team has two dynamic duos in James and Anthony Davis for the Lakers and Kawhi Leonard and George for the Clippers. And the intra-arena rivalry is the most important team or player rivalry in the NBA this season. Russell Westbrook vs. Patrick Beverley isnt the only NBA beef these days. Lakers-Heat 2020 NBA Finals: The incredible rivalries and subplots who can command more attention from the box than the players on the floor. First This site uses cookies to provide you with a great user experience. CO, IA, IN, MI, NJ, PA, TN, VA or WV only. If Toronto can use that plan effectively again in the NBA bubble, they might be able to claim a second straight championship. Durant did leave the team after the 2019 Finals, choosing to join the Brooklyn Nets. Since the 200405 NBA season, there are 30 teams in six divisions of 5 teams each. Celtics vs. Heat. When two players arent in the same conference and dont meet in the NBA Finals, Mavericks-Rockets. Pacers and Knicks both had incredible players who made headlines during their peak in the NBAMiller and Ewing. In what could become the best rivalry in this era of the NBAs history, 2. People in world football often believe that football is a game of Tactics and Strategies. But the Rockets have fallen short of that goal, thanks to some poorly timed injuries and a Game 7 in which Mike DAntonis team missed an unfathomable 27 straight three-point attempts. The 2020-2021 NBA regular season starts in a few hours and teams are already preparing for their season opener. The Warriors won three of those series, cementing their status as one of the greatest teams in NBA history. Call 1-800-522-4700 (CO & VA), 1-800-270-7117 for confidential help (MI), 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ, PA & WV), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), Call or Text the Tennessee REDLINE: 800-889-9789 (TN), If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN). Dallas responded with a 20-2 run, capped by Dirk Nowitzkis go-ahead 3 with 26.7 seconds left. Yup, we're talking about rivalries. This is the most storied of all-NBA rivalries. Two years later, after more than five years of dominance by the Rockets, this rivalry is moving in the other direction, which makes it highly important. Wives and girlfriends have involved themselves in the recent social media beef, making this mini-rivalry one worth keeping an eye on in and out of the bubble. In the 2010 Playoffs, James met the Celtics big three in the Eastern Conference semi-finals, where LeBron and co. were dispatched in 6 games. Harden and Antetokounmpo have never played a game against each other in the playoffs, but their dislike for each other has been made clear in the press. Please allow the boundaries of the traditional two-team rivalry to be stretched because with Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving leading a title-contending Brooklyn Nets team, Jayson Tatum and Co. back in Boston, and the 76ers in position to contend for the elusive division title, there are three potential 45-win teams in one division. And with both teams playing in a major media market in the same arena, they both receive a large share of the spotlight that the league generates. James and Giannis have been recent captains of All-Star Games against one another, as these two players have been deemed the faces of the NBA. Both of these Texas teams boast dynamic offenses, led by the two best scoring guards in the game today in Luka Doncic and James Harden. Every sport has rivalries between players. Allen Iverson. Luka Doni and the Mavericks have an opportunity to flip this rivalry, regain control of the Southwest Division, and shoot up NBA odds throughout the season. Some of the greatest NBA rivalries are Bulls-Knicks, Lakers-Spurs, Knicks-Heats, Celtics-Lakers. Kobe vs. Shaq. NBA fans across the world are crossing their fingers to see these two teams play for the Western Conference title, to decide which LA team reigns supreme in the first chapter of this budding rivalry. The Braves made the nearly 3,000-mile trek to Los Angeles as part of a four-game, three-city West Coast road trip. With the Trail Blazers repeatedly underachieving, Oklahoma City Thunder embarking on a massive rebuild, and the Minnesota Timberwolves doing nothing, these two young stars will headline what could be the closest division race in the NBA. James Harden vs. Giannis Antetokounmpo. Lakers-Heat 2020 NBA Finals: The incredible rivalries and subplots. And after securing the Western Conferences top two seeds in the 2020 playoffs, they were on a collision course to meet in the playoffs for the first time. Since 1999, both teams have won 40 games in the same season only five times, and both teams have reached the playoffs in the same season only four times. With at least four All-Stars set to take part in this rivalry next year unless the Sixers decide to trade Embiid or Ben Simmons this rivalry could be higher on our list of great present day rivalries next season. Intradivisional rivalries comprise games between opponents in the same division. As short-lived as this rivalry was, boy was it intense. Chris Paul was one of the players Smith claimed viewed Curry as being soft and overrated. LOS ANGELES LAKERS/BOSTON CELTICS (1959-1969, 1984-1988) Ah, how refreshing. And while theyve recorded similar stats in the 10 meetings, Durant is dominating the win-loss column, going 8-2 against the Bucks while playing for the Oklahoma City Thunder and Golden State Warriors.