What is the best rivalry in the NBA today?

[layupdrill]

Spurs/Suns
Cavs/Wizards (before the Wizards sucked)
Spurs/Mavs
Celtics/Hawks
Celtics/Cavs
Jazz/Rockets

I agree with some of these, but the Wizards never beat the Cavs when it counted, so how is that really a rivalry?

The Wizards remind me of an annoying little brother that keeps trying to play with the big boys, but never quite makes the cut.

[IronMexican]

I still hat the Kings a lot more than I ever hated the Spurs.

[BlackBellamy]

I still hat the Kings a lot more than I ever hated the Spurs.

Believe me, the Kings still hate you too.
Classic rivalries:
Lakers/Celtics
Lakers/Kings
Detroit/Chicago
Spurs/Mavs
I also loved our (Spurs') games against the Blazers in the 90's.

This Year:
Spurs/Lakers
Celtics/Cavs

At least those are the two that seem to matter. Seems (thus far) to set the finals up which ever team gets which out of the play-offs.

[SpursDynasty]

Watching NBA TV a couple days ago, I overheard one of the analysts talking about the Cavs vs. Celtics game tonight, saying this is now "the best rivalry" in the NBA. I don't truly agree, because like the Suns vs. Spurs, a rivalry isn't a rivalry if one team is dominating.

What do you guys think is the best rivalry in the league today?

Spurs vs. Mavericks, hands down....We beat them in the playoffs in 2001 and 2003, they beat us in 2006, and every game since then has been a down-to-the-wire intense match up. Cavs vs. Celtics is barely a rivalry. Celtics have barely become a real basketball team in the last year...this hasn't had a chance to develop into anything other than Boston beating Cleveland in 7 games last year. Doesn't make it a rivalry. As stated, a rivalry isn't a rivalry if one team is dominating. Boston dominates Cleveland and LeBron isn't on the level of the defending champs. The fact that Dallas is a third-tier West team while S.A. is still a West superpower as usual kind of takes away from this rivalry though.

[endrity]

Spurs vs. Mavericks, hands down....We beat them in the playoffs in 2001 and 2003, they beat us in 2006, and every game since then has been a down-to-the-wire intense match up. Cavs vs. Celtics is barely a rivalry. Celtics have barely become a real basketball team in the last year...this hasn't had a chance to develop into anything other than Boston beating Cleveland in 7 games last year. Doesn't make it a rivalry. As stated, a rivalry isn't a rivalry if one team is dominating. Boston dominates Cleveland and LeBron isn't on the level of the defending champs. The fact that Dallas is a third-tier West team while S.A. is still a West superpower as usual kind of takes away from this rivalry though.

See, when you try you can make 1/2 of an argument that actually makes sense!

[JamStone]

Officials v. Crabs

[BlackBellamy]

Spurs vs. Mavericks, hands down....We beat them in the playoffs in 2001 and 2003, they beat us in 2006, and every game since then has been a down-to-the-wire intense match up. Cavs vs. Celtics is barely a rivalry. Celtics have barely become a real basketball team in the last year...this hasn't had a chance to develop into anything other than Boston beating Cleveland in 7 games last year. Doesn't make it a rivalry. As stated, a rivalry isn't a rivalry if one team is dominating. Boston dominates Cleveland and LeBron isn't on the level of the defending champs. The fact that Dallas is a third-tier West team while S.A. is still a West superpower as usual kind of takes away from this rivalry though.

I think the intensity that needs to be showcased in order for a team to win is what creates rivalry (along with fan's hatred (fear) of one another's team/city/fans) not the final stat of winning percentage. The Kings didn't have much luck against the Lakeshow, Detroit didn't have much luck against MJ's Bulls, Suns don't show up in the W's against us (Spurs) but they are all pretty classic rivalries. My point is, it doesn't always take winning for rivalry to exist, sometimes it's about bringing the fear to the other team and just closely competing.

[DrHouse]

To me Spurs vs. Mavs never disappoints.

But you just can't top Lakers vs. Celtics. The history behind that one is what makes it great.

[td4mvp21]

I always like to watch Suns-Lakers games, although I'm not sure if that is a rivalry or even the best one in the league.

[JamStone]

In the history of the game, that's true. Thing is the question was about "today's" NBA, not franchise rivalries over the entire history of the NBA.