Trying to guess who a future rival for the Golden State Warriors will be in the years to come is much akin to guessing which restaurant is best when traveling in a foreign country.
You can try to go by the picture on the menu, but it doesn’t all pan out.
Believe me I know. I just got back from Seoul and Tokyo.
Thank god for my new Korean family and Japanese friends.
In the fast-evolving NBA Western Conference, looking at “last years menu picture” is much the same.
If I had told you two years ago that the Warriors and Los Angeles Clippers would be possible highlighted rivals, you would have thought there was something funky in my Bulgolgi.
That in mind, please take this projected future Warriors rivals blog with a grain of salt.
DENVER NUGGETS
Accusations of dirty play by both teams were thrown around after a stunning Warriors upset in last years first round playoff series.
Then the GM left for greener pastures.
Then coach of the year, George Karl, resigned.
Topping it off was the Warriors signing of their best asset in Andre Iguodala during the off-season.
Seriously, could there be any organization and fan-base that hates the Warriors more right now?
Games in Oakland and at the Pepsi Center should be vicious for years to come.
HOUSTON ROCKETS
Much like the old cold-war days of yesteryear between the USA and U.S.S.R, the Warriors and Rockets staged a mini arms race during this past off-season.
The Rockets barely out faught the Warriors to win the Dwight Howard sweepstakes.
The Warriors countered with the Andre Iguodala signing.
Even beyond this it seems like these two franchises are intertwined and headed for a rivalry showdown at some point.
The Rockets have fan favorite Jeremy Lin.
The Warriors used to have fan favorite Jeremy Lin.
The Rockets like to kill you with a neck-breaking pace and a barrage of 3-point shooting.
The Warriors like to kill you with an even more neck-breaking pace and a barrage of 3-point shooting.
Ok, maybe I still hold resentment from the fact that Rick Barry ended his career in a Rockets uniform.
Either way, there was bad blood between these two teams last season prior to their current battle for the “new darlings of the west” tag.
I can’t wait to see these two teams battle it out next season. I imagine Rockets fans feel the same.
LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS
There’s just something about Northern California – Southern California rivalries.
San Francisco Giants vs. Los Angeles Dodgers.
San Jose Sharks vs. Los Angeles Kings
Oakland Raiders vs. San Diego Chargers.
When these teams meet, you wonder if it would be safer to be on the field of play rather than test fate in the stands where the hatred among fan bases really brews.
Years ago, it was Sacramento Kings vs. Los Angeles Lakers.
I hated both teams, so that rivalry did nothing for me.
I dreamed of a day when the Laker fans would despise my Warriors just ast much as I despised the purple & gold instead of indifference.
Although that still seems worlds away, this season might be the closest I’ve ever felt to that.
Yet, the more reasonable rivalry emerging is: Dubs-Clips.
Why?
Both have been bad for so long and have fan bases that have been waiting to explode.
Both have rising stars and solid nucleous’s.
Chris Paul – Blake Griffin – DeAndre Jordan vs Stephen Curry – Andre Iguodala – Andrew Bogut.
Both have defensive-minded coaches in Doc Rivers and Mark Jackson.
Last season, these two teams took turns blowing each other out on their own home courts with a side-order of “off and on the court chirping” to boot.
What was once laughable is now probable.
Warriors vs. Clippers. It still sounds funny.
That’s about to change. Now.
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