Rivalries Are Thinning In Today’s NBA.
As the league continues to thrive off individual talents, the once great popularity of any type of rivalry is slipping. With the evolving growth of the league and constant fluidity of star players entering the league, the need for hatred has been abated.
Whether both teams are preparing for their future (Lakers-Celtics), reeling from the loss of their stars (Heat-Pacers) or suffering from a certain midseason crisis (Mavericks-Spurs), there is only one rivalry left in what has been an unusual but salivating season.
The Los Angeles Clippers and Golden State Warriors were once dueling for biggest laughingstock in all of sports. With both franchises muddled with ownership issues, befuddling trades and frustrating draft choices, the Clippers and the Warriors seemed destined to lay at the bottom of the Pacific division.
But finally, under new ownership and direction, both franchises have become persistent playoff contenders over the last few seasons under the helm of big name coaches and superstar players. Chris Paul and Stephen Curry command the newfound vision of both franchises, both of which yearning for the chance at their first title.
The Clippers and Warriors have faced off 207 times in their infamous history, with the Warriors winning 118 of those games. Up until the Mark Jackson era, those hundreds of games played rarely mattered for anything but divisional standings, which in both teams’ cases meant even less.
Now, with both teams atop the Pacific division with a newfound reality of an NBA championship in sight, the two teams have cemented themselves as the only true rivalry left standing in the NBA. The Warriors are 49-12 after deflating their Southern California rival 106-98 at Oracle on Sunday afternoon as the no love lost between both continues.
Chris Paul, the once christened point guard of the NBA is now victim to the growing, almost mythological progression of Stephen Curry. Blake Griffin, acting and commercials aside, is one of the best forwards in the game and holds a distinct distaste for Draymond Green. Doc Rivers, coaching against former players such as Mark Jackson and Steve Kerr, is a well-known personality.
Once the Lakers, the Clippers now hold the title of the best team in Los Angeles, and the Warriors share similar resentment. Joe Lacob and Steve Ballmer are battling each other for liveliest new owner. Former Warriors’ Matt Barnes and Jamal Crawford continue to share key roles for the Clippers. And possibly more than all, the Clippers constant, exhausting need to plead for calls.
For these reasons, as well as their seven-game playoff series last season – albeit without Andrew Bogut – which was highlighted by a peculiar no-call in Game 3 at Oracle Arena, keeps this matchup as must-see television. On Sunday, the Clippers were without Blake Griffin and Jamal Crawford, but the names on the front of the jerseys didn’t lose meaning.
Even with Curry only netting 12 points on 3-for-9 shooting and four assists, the Warriors won handily in a game not evident in its final score. Draymond Green led the way on the floor with 23 points in 28 minutes, six assists and three rebounds. Off the floor, after Dahntay Jones purposely bumped into him during his postgame interview, Green had – as usual – ether that Nas would be proud of.
“I think he wanted a reaction from me,” Green said. “But he don’t play. Me getting suspended and him getting suspended is different. When you don’t play, that’s probably his role on that team. I’ve had that role once in my career a couple years ago. I can’t afford to feed into that, where I get into it with him after the game, get fined, get suspended and hurt my team. If he gets suspended, they might not even notice.”
The Clippers and Warriors meet once more during the regular season in another nationally televised clash in Los Angeles later this month. The Warriors lead the season series 2-1, and as the regular season comes to a close that game will certainly have playoff seeding implications.
Whether these teams meet again in the playoffs is an unknown, but what is known is the continued animosity between both isn’t ending anytime soon. Whether it’s Curry shaking off Paul in the second quarter, Jones brushing shoulders with Green after the game or the final result, Sunday’s game was another chapter in the best and only rivalry left in the NBA.
Is it March 31st yet?