Do we have a rival?

[horaceworthy]

It's tough to say that any 24 win team has rivals. Like my old high school football coach used to say about a team that was close to us location-wise but we whupped every time we played them, "It's not a rivalry until they win one"(with the Wolves being "they" in this situation). We had rivalries with Denver and a burgeoning one with Portland during KG's last couple years here, but most everybody we had back then is gone now, coach and FO included.

Our rivalries will be developed in the next couple years, while we're on our way up the totem pole (hopefully). The most likely candidates are Portland, OKC, and Denver, and a little pissing match with Boston as long as KG's there and Al's here.

[IcemanMN]

A rival is a team that gets you pissed off when you think about games your team has played against them. Using this definition, I think the Wolves' rival is the Lakers. Every time I think about the Wolves' playoff series against them, I remember Kobe's smug face and I get pissed off all over again. Plus, I think Rambis will place a little extra emphasis on trying to beat his former team.

[Worm Guts]

A rival is a team that gets you pissed off when you think about games your team has played against them. Using this definition, I think the Wolves' rival is the Lakers. Every time I think about the Wolves' playoff series against them, I remember Kobe's smug face and I get pissed off all over again. Plus, I think Rambis will place a little extra emphasis on trying to beat his former team.

A rivalry has to go both ways, otherwise it's just an ass kicking.