Suns Biggest Rival?

[HooverDam]

So on Suns.com there is a poll about who is the Suns biggest rival. I was surprised to see the Mavericks leading the vote by a huge margin. I really can't understand that, it seems to me like the Lakers are obviously the Suns biggest rival. Until the last few years the Mavs were terrible, so there was no real rivalry. The Suns have been battling the Lakers until 1968, having a lot of great series' with them. I even think the cities are somewhat rival cities (with Phoenix mostly hating LA, and LA ignoring Phoenix). I mean, for years Suns fans have chanted "Beat LA", how could you vote for anyone other than LA?


So what say you, who's the Suns biggest rival?

 

[CaptainInsano]

As far as dallas maybe if we get to the WCF this year again than yes it could be but for now not even close to our rivalry with the lakers.

 

[mathbzh]

Oups I voted before i have read your post.
I voted SA because I think it is our biggest rival... to win it all this season.
But as far as guts rivalry is involved... I chose LA.

 

[Louis]

I also voted LA.

Especially after reading that article posted in another thread by me.

 

[slinslin]

I don't see LA... they are just not that good and if they lose again nobody can talk about a rivalry until the next time they beat us.

 

[mathbzh]

They are more NYK rivals

 

[nathan]

Suns do have a rivalry with Los Angeles after beating both teams in the playoffs last year, but until the Lakers beat the Suns in a playoff series, they'll remain

The Mavs are the Suns' biggest rival right now.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

The Mavs are the biggest rival, because it is the best rivalry.

SA is not a rivalry, until we find a way to beat them, and the same with LA and us. LA hasn't beaten us in a playoff series in a long, long time.

 

[D-Dogg]

Suns do have a rivalry with Los Angeles after beating both teams in the playoffs last year, but until the Lakers beat the Suns in a playoff series, they'll remain

The Mavs are the Suns' biggest rival right now.

? The Lakers and Suns have met in the playoffs several times...what's that series record between us?

A rivalry isn't made in a year or two (sorry to tell you, kings fans). It's made over time. You beat us last year, but the Lakers still haven't lost enough series to you to make us hate you like we do the Celts (who we lost several titles to). But it's getting close. This year we likely get bounced by you again..if it happens again NEXT year, the Lakers fans will hate you tremendously (instead of you just hating on us) and the rivalry will be on.

You got us one year back in the Showtime era though...one that still stings, 90 I think. Then we almost upset you in 93. We are working on a rivalry, but it just isn't there yet. At least you've beat us in a series, which Kings fans can't hang their hat on in their one-way rivalry.

 

[jenna2891]

overall? lakers. right now, mavs.

edit: from the suns fan perspective, that is.

 

[D-Dogg]

The Mavs are the biggest rival, because it is the best rivalry.

SA is not a rivalry, until we find a way to beat them, and the same with LA and us. LA hasn't beaten us in a playoff series in a long, long time.

2000, but that's not our fault. You guys lost to San Antonio the year Marbury pooped on the court, or else we would have had the opportunity to beat you more recently.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

2000, but that's not our fault. You guys lost to San Antonio the year Marbury pooped on the court, or else we would have had the opportunity to beat you more recently.

Eh, rivalries come and go, and that series was more than forgetable for Suns fans. We also beat SA that year too before getting walloped by LA.

 

[elindholm]

The biggest rivalries are formed when championships are on the line. The Suns, it seems, often get eliminated by the eventual champion. That's happened with the Spurs once or twice recently, so I guess they'd be the current biggest rivalry.

Overall, however, it's definitely the Lakers. Or maybe "nemesis" is a better term.

 

[Chaplin]

Right now, the Suns biggest rival by far are Suns FANS.

 

[msdundee]

Right now, the Suns biggest rival by far are Suns FANS.

Not the ones who live here. You could add a couple of qualifying adjectives before the "Suns FANS" and keeping the "" might be appropriate too.

Disclaimer: not to include the many out-of-state fans, just the professional rippers.

 

[D-Dogg]

Eh, rivalries come and go, and that series was more than forgetable for Suns fans. We also beat SA that year too before getting walloped by LA.

True rivalries never die away. I would love for Boston to get Oden so the possibility would exist for the Lakers and Celts to battle once again. That hatred never goes away...

Rivalries don't come and go...they just take a nap for a little bit but they are always there, under the surface. I'm tellling you, I still hold a bit of anger at the Suns for that series in 90. The Suns may not own a good series record against the Lakers, but the ones they have won have hurt (upset us in 90, then held us off from upsetting you by putting on stunning comebacks in 93 and 06). I'd say there is a rivalry a'brewing.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

True rivalries never die away. I would love for Boston to get Oden so the possibility would exist for the Lakers and Celts to battle once again. That hatred never goes away...

Rivalries don't come and go...they just take a nap for a little bit but they are always there, under the surface. I'm tellling you, I still hold a bit of anger at the Suns for that series in 90. The Suns may not own a good series record against the Lakers, but the ones they have won have hurt (upset us in 90, then held us off from upsetting you by putting on stunning comebacks in 93 and 06). I'd say there is a rivalry a'brewing.

Rivalries for the Suns do come and go. We don't have rivalries like the Lakers/Celtics, as we don't have any titles yet.

 

[wsupkid]

overall? lakers. right now, mavs.

edit: from the suns fan perspective, that is.

Agree

 

[PHXSportsFan4]

The Fakers are our biggest rival IMO.

 

[Chris_Sanders]

? The Lakers and Suns have met in the playoffs several times...what's that series record between us?

A rivalry isn't made in a year or two (sorry to tell you, kings fans). It's made over time. You beat us last year, but the Lakers still haven't lost enough series to you to make us hate you like we do the Celts (who we lost several titles to). But it's getting close. This year we likely get bounced by you again..if it happens again NEXT year, the Lakers fans will hate you tremendously (instead of you just hating on us) and the rivalry will be on.

You got us one year back in the Showtime era though...one that still stings, 90 I think. Then we almost upset you in 93. We are working on a rivalry, but it just isn't there yet. At least you've beat us in a series, which Kings fans can't hang their hat on in their one-way rivalry.

Absolutely the Suns and the Lakers are a historic rivarly. Sometimes the Lakers set the bar, sometimes we do. Plus they are in our division.

Dallas is a two year wonder. They aren't the premier rivalry for us

 

[TheFallen49]

Phoenix and L.A makes the most sense, especially after last year which they took you to 7 games and the huge history attached (and being in the same division meaning more games).

Just because Dallas and Phoenix have the two leading MVP's (and so many storylines to go with it) and the two best records in the league doesn't make them rivals yet. The rivalry isn't even close to what Dallas has with San Antonio, if we see you in the playoffs this year and its as intense as everyone thinks it will be then it could possibly a change of biggest rivals for both teams.

 

[Phxchris1989]

Lakers, but the Mavs are a growing hatred.

 

[Diawsome]

IMO Dallas is the biggest rivaly. They are both championship contenders and have knocked each other out in the previous two postseasons. Also the Suns and Mavs have used each other to get where they are today. From the Kidd/Finley trade to Nash for the draft pick that became Marion to the Suns going out and bringing Nash back.

We might have more of a hatred for the Lakers but when is the last time the Suns and Lakers have squared off when both were legitimate championship contenders. The only time I can remember where the two teams were on an even level was the late 80s when the Showtime Lakers were dying out and the KJ led Suns starting to surface but other then that the series between these two teams have generally been one-sided.

• Suns < Showtime Lakers
• Barkley's Suns > Lakers
• Kidd's Suns < Shaq/Kobe Lakers
• Nash's Suns > Kobe's Lakers

 

[F-Dog]

I vote Dallas--right now, the Mavericks' (and their fans') interest in the Suns' failure rivals their interest in their own success. The teams are 12-11 over the last three years, and Mark Cuban goes out of his way to publicly repudiate Nash and everything the Suns stand for.

Dallas fans like to say that the Spurs are their biggest rival, but if the Suns and Spurs play in the second round, 95% of the Mavs fans will be rooting for San Antonio.


Of course, I'll be rooting for Houston in the second round myself, which is not something I expected to do for a while.