The NBA season in underway and teams are looking to get better this off-season. The 2013-14 season should be fun to watch because now its a rivalry. Now there’s teams trying to earn that respect and that chip over their hated NBA team. It starts with on court and off the court rivalries. Here is a look at the most anticipated rivalries going into the 2013-2014 basketball season.
5. Houston Rockets vs. Golden State Warriors
The Houston Rockets and The Golden State Warriors could have started a rivalry this off-season. The young and talented Rockets have only gotten better by adding the best center in the league in Dwight Howard. With James Harden, Chandler Parsons, and Jeremy Lin, the Rockets are now a legit contender to reach the NBA finals.
The Warriors made a nice run in the 2013 playoffs, defeating the Denver Nuggets in the 1st round but failing to get pass the Western Conference champs, The San Antonio Spurs. With Stephen Curry, who is now an elite point guard, the Warriors looks to add pieces around him. Stephen Curry averaged 22.9 ppg, 6.9 apg, and 4.0 rpg. With the help of young stars Klay Thompson, David Lee, and Harrison Barnes, this team could be dangerous in the near future.
These two teams don’t have playoff history against each other but this is a match-up the fans would love to see in the Western Conference playoffs. Simply because of the young talent both teams have and the future looks very bright for these two teams. Harden and Curry are young incoming stars in this league. Don’t be surprised of these two teams play with a chip on their shoulder. Remember, Howard was considering signing with the Warriors but instead chose to sign a 4 yr deal with the Rockets.
4. New York Knicks vs Brooklyn Nets
Who will be the best in NY? The Knicks were that team last year but this year things could change.
The Brooklyn Nets have added Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, Jason Terry, and Andrei Kirilenko to their team. With Deron Williams leading the way and one of the best centers in the league in Brook Lopez, the Nets is now a contender in the Eastern Conference. The Nets were eliminated in the first round last year against the Chicago Bulls and looks to turn things around entering the 2013 season. Former Knicks guard, Jason Kidd, will now be running the show as the head coach for the Nets.
The Knicks on the other hand still thinks that they’re the team to beat in NY. These two teams had some battles last season. Carmelo Anthony and Garnett had some off the court and on the court tension last season. You can tell that these two all stars don’t like playing against each other. The Knicks have added Metta World Peace, Andrea Bargnani and resigned J.R. Smith.
Entering the 2013-14 season, this match-up is defiantly a must watch. A rivalry has just started between these two teams and we’re looking forward to see who runs New York.
3. Oklahoma City Thunder vs San Antonio Spurs
Remember the 2012 NBA playoffs when The Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs went at it? The Spurs went up 2-0 and looked liked the favorites to reach the NBA finals that year. Things turned around once Kevin Durant and the Thunder knew the challenge they were facing. The Thunder ended up beating the Spurs that year to get to the NBA finals.
The 2013 playoffs, the Thunder lost to the Memphis Grizzlies in the 2nd round. With an injured Russell Westbrook, Durant and the Thunder couldn’t reach the finals. On the other hand, the Spurs reached the finals. Sweeping the Los Angeles Lakers, beating the Golden State Warriors and the Grizzlies, the Spurs were Western Conference champs.
Entering the 2013-2014 season, these two teams will be the favorites to reach the NBA finals. Westbrook looks to bounce back from his injury and Tim Duncan wants to add another ring under his belt. This match-up will be a battle during the season and during the playoffs if these two teams meet.
2. Miami Heat vs Indiana Pacers
When two physical teams play against each other, it isn’t a good sight. Usually brawls, trash talk, and dirty play is what you get from physical teams. Well that’s what you get when the Miami Heat and Indiana Pacers go at it.
It all started in the 2012 playoffs when these two teams met. The Pacers was the team Miami struggled with because of their physical play. The Heat always struggled against teams that can rebound. Miami ended up winning that series 4-2 after being down 1-2 in the series. Entering the 2012-2013 series, the Pacers had that in the back of their mind. The Pacers won majority of their games with the Heat in the regular season and ended up meeting again in the 2013 playoffs.
The 2013 Eastern Conference finals was one of the best match-ups in years. These two teams with back and forth all series long. Forcing a game 7, the Pacers came short against the former NBA champs. The Pacers didn’t go out without a battle. They made sure that Lebron James and the Heat knew who they were going against.
Going into the 2013 season, Paul George and the Pacers has one thing on their mind. That is beat the Heat!
1. Miami Heat vs Chicago Bulls
The Chicago Bulls absolutely hate the Miami Heat. Joakim Noah calls the Heat Hollywood. The first time the rivalry started was in the 2011 NBA playoffs. These two teams met and Derrick Rose was the NBA MVP. Rose vs Lebron James was a must watched series. The Bulls were the number 1 seed and the Heat was number 2. Both teams felt as if they were the best teams in that conference.
The Heat ended up beating the Bulls 4-1 but it wasn’t easy. The Bulls gave them a physical battle. Every time these two teams meet, it is a fight or pushing and shoving going on.
Last season, Rose didn’t play because of an ACL injury. The Heat beat the Bulls in the 2013 playoffs without Rose but every game these two played, it was a war. With Rose coming back this season, this rivalry has just kicked it up a notch.
This off season, Rose said that he was the best player in the NBA right now. He believes that he will comeback healthy and more dangerous than he was before. If that’s the case, then watch out Miami.
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