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NBA Rivalries: Clippers-Warriors and the Top 10 Most Heated Feuds Today

By Maxwell Ogden

Apr 25, 2014; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Wizards forward Nene (42) scuffles with Chicago Bulls guard Jimmy Butler (21) in the fourth quarter in game three of the first round of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at Verizon Center. Nene received two technical fouls and was ejected. The Bulls won 100-97. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 25, 2014; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Wizards forward Nene (42) scuffles with Chicago Bulls guard Jimmy Butler (21) in the fourth quarter in game three of the first round of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at Verizon Center. Nene received two technical fouls and was ejected. The Bulls won 100-97. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 7, 2014; Dallas, TX, USA; Dallas Mavericks forward Chandler Parsons (25) is fouled on the shot by Houston Rockets forward Trevor Ariza (1) at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 7, 2014; Dallas, TX, USA; Dallas Mavericks forward Chandler Parsons (25) is fouled on the shot by Houston Rockets forward Trevor Ariza (1) at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports /

79. Final. 10. 169. #

Expect this one to rise up the rankings after what will be a heated and physical 2014-15 campaign.

The Dallas Mavericks and Houston Rockets, in-state rivals already, have two key storylines that highlight the upcoming season. The primary one has to do with a significant player spurning one squad for the other, while the second is about the front offices.

It starts with Chandler Parsons leaving Houston to play in Dallas; that and Parsons calling the city of Houston, “Dirty.”

Houston responded:

That chant was made at a preseason game.

While this may not impact what happens on the court, Mavericks owner Mark Cuban and Rockets general manager Daryl Morey have made their dislike for one another public. Both are outspoken and commonly in the media, which only adds to the allure of this feud.

In an interview with Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports, Morey responded to Cuban’s claim that the Rockets’ front man doesn’t care about player chemistry.

"In Cuban’s most recent baiting of the Rockets, he proclaimed that Morey had little regard for player chemistry, relying largely on the merits of math. Morey seethed over the premise and fired back to Yahoo Sports: “I completely reject it.” “Our teams have had great chemistry, and it’s something we believe in. Hey, if Mark believed so much in chemistry, he wouldn’t have busted up a title team for cap room. He’s trying to reunite a lot of those people now, bringing back the center [Tyson Chandler] from that title team. Maybe he’s got some chemistry religion recently."

Both make reasonable points, but this isn’t about picking sides.

Playing in the same state as another team automatically creates some form of a rivalry. The fact that Dallas and Houston are both big spenders who’ve made this feud personal, however, makes it something more.

Who’s ready for some Texas-sized basketball?