I know what you’re thinking.
Rivalry? What rivalry?
And yes, at least this year, it never has been much of a rivalry. In fact, when you think of the more notable NBA rivalries of this era and the past, the Warriors and the Lakers aren’t really the two teams who come to mind when one thinks of storied rivalries.
The rise of the Warriors to the top hasn’t really coincided with excellence from the Lakers — when one team is at its peak, the other team just happens to be toiling and languishing in the NBA’s proverbial garbage heap.