NBA - Top 5 rivalries in the coming season

After years of being at the top of this category it’s time for the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics to take a back seat.

We all know the Heat vs Knicks, Heat vs Pacers are rivalries which would continue this season, however with numerous team jumping into the fray as title contenders, there are a few rivalries which have emerged heading into this season.

In some cases, public snipping has created bad enemies while in others the bad blood comes from past heated Playoff series and in some instances two teams are just simply on a collision course.

Here’s how my list looks :-

5. Playoff rivals: Los Angeles Clippers vs Memphis Grizzlies

The Clippers and Grizzlies would be looking to gain an upper hand in the season series heading into the Playoffs.

Splitting the two meetings, the Clippers and Grizzlies have met twice in two years in the first round of the Playoffs.

In the 2012 Playoffs, the Clippers battled the Grizzlies in a hard fought series, including making a crazy 26-1 run in the fourth quarter to steal game 1 of the series at the Fedex Forum. It was a bitter, physical 7 game series in which the Clippers ended on the winning side.

The following year, the Clippers took the first two home games leaving the Grizzlies trailing 0-2 in the series. However a determined Grizzlies team avenged their last year’s loss by advancing to the second round of the Playoffs, beating the Clippers 4-2. Meanwhile the Clippers claim they were shorthanded due to Blake Griffin’s injury.

Keeping in mind the history of these two teams over the past couple of years, their meetings in the regular season would be closely watched.