Potential Rivalries for this Upcoming Season 2019

What matchups are you most looking forward to this season, and do you have any predictions of budding rivalries?

I remember reading that a true rivalry is born out of meeting in the playoffs. With that in mind, I used to feel our true rivals were the Grizzlies, Thunder, Rockets, and the Warriors (for a time).

The league has always seemed to want the Blazers to be rivals with us, but I’ve never fully felt that...

Obviously, the Lakers are our #1 right now. I’m also thinking that the Jazz, Rockets, and Nuggets are in the right positions to become rivals.

Any thoughts or other teams you’d throw in the mix?

If we meet them in the NBA Finals, I think that Philadelphia, with their size, gives us problems.

Warriors and Lakers are the big ones, but I think Houston is pretty close. Especially with that locker room feud a few years ago and Austin being on the team

I think Kawhi Leonard and Paul George nullify James Harden and Russell Westbrook. Add in Patrick Beverley to help.

What does Houston have left? And their defense with Harden and Westbrook certainly isn't going to slow anyone.

That's what I think is so cool about this upcoming season. Our rivals are our current hallway rivals. The only other time that you could say that was the case was for the first 2 seasons of Lob City. The Lakers were in the playoffs as well in the lockout season and actually advanced to the 2nd round just like us. I remember the Kings, Lakers and Clippers all being 2nd round lower seeds meaning they all had to play home games at the same time so scheduling was a nightmare.

The Warriors made for a decent rival being that it was a Nocal/Socal thing.

But with arguably the 2 best teams in the league being the two LA teams, this is about as good as the rivalry will get and makes them our top rival for sure.

I think the media will create a false narrative between Westbrook and Paul George. That narrative might drive both teams to a rivalry.But I still think the biggest rivalry will be the Lakers, that is as big as it gets.

It'll be interesting with the Lakers. As long as they have LeBron and AD on the court at the same time, they'll be competitive.

But what happens when one of them needs rest? Lakers revert to last year's Lakers.

Clippers will always have some combination of Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, Lou Williams, Montrezl Harrell, Patrick Beverley and Landry Shamet out there.

Lakers have Dwight Howard, Kyle Kuzma, Danny Green, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, JaVale McGee and Avery Bradley.

Not the same if you ask me.

It's only the Lakers. Houston is not a rival. Once they dumped CP3, it was over. Warriors were a rival but after a starless Clippers squad got them to 6 games in the playoffs, they showed a ton of respect. Once we dumped our three, it was over. It is ONLY the Lakers for obvious reasons. Kawhi "dissing" the Jester ( James)and his court. Paul George dissing the Lakers by not meeting with them during FA. Jeanie Buss calling Ballmer, "ballz".

While most say rivalries are created in the playoffs, I disagree. Animosity can start a rivalry. A rough situation can start a rivalry. 2 players from different teams can start a rivalry. Playing in the same building can start a rivalry. Lakers and Clippers has all of the above. IMO, Lakers fans have more animosity towards the Clippers than Clippers fans have towards the Lakers.

It will be the Clippers against the world just like GSW.

It will be the Clippers against the world just like GSW. It won't be dissing the team like the BG era it will be terror.To quote one of my favorite philosophers, Hawk from the Road Warriors (RIP)

https://www.bing.com/th?id=OIP.Afsn7-FMBpvbdzAmMWXhLQHaHa&w=169&h=160&c=7&o=5&dpr=1.75&pid=1.7

WHAT A RUSH!

I want it to be the Lakers, I really do. They're just not good enough. LeBron is not old, but he is certainly over the hill so-to-speak (has been for about 4 years). LeBron needs to play 65% or fewer regular season games to keep him healthy.

The team they built is dependent on LeBron, it's a 30-win supporting cast. The ancillary pieces of that roster can't create anything for themselves. Lakers will not get 50 wins this year, and they won't be a rival.

It will be like 2018-19 GSW. They lost some games, didn't get to 60 wins, and there was no true rival. Teams will be chasing us, and they'll pound their chests in the regular season, but we won't care. Our team is too smart with too much experience. We'll turn it on in April/May and it will be a bloodbath.