The number of Western Conference NBA teams I dislike continues to grow. While it would be easy to right that off as me growing older and grumpier, it's not a general condition, it's very specific and I believe justified.
In chronological order:
LAL: Always hated them, always will. No explanation necessary.
SEA/OKC: When they were in Seattle there was a natural rivalry. Their assent to contender status during mid-1990s with Kemp and Payton directly coincided with the Blazers descent. I moved to Portland in 1989 and attended over 40 games (counting preseason and playoffs) before I saw the Blazers lose a game live. That first loss was to the Kemp/Payton Sonics. Still, it wasn't so much hate back then as it was a strong, but respectful, dislike. It wasn't until the current lying, hillbilly, cheapskate owners stole the team from Seattle, moved them to cow town, and left the Blazers on an island in the PNW with no other team in their division in the same time zone that the hatred began. Combine that with the fact that I can't stand that cocky shit Westbrick and love to see him fail, especially in the playoffs, and I find it very easy and natural to root against them.
HOU: Asshat fans. HATE the flopping. It's a disgrace and a perversion of the game. When your game plan depends heavily on deception, you've earned my scorn. There is nothing more boring and simultaneously infuriating than watching James Harden flop his way to 20+ FTs. I've also enjoyed watching their cocky, baby-faced GM get his comeuppance this year.
LAC: They were impossible to hate during the Donald Sterling years due to irrelevance and ineptitude, but man how times have changed. Once they started winning, the bandwagon hoards deserted the Lakers and brought their lofty sense of entitlement to their previously hapless brethren. It was like watching some spoiled, rich, prep school, trust fund douchebag lose his inheritance to his younger bastard step-brother because he got caught one too many times with cocaine and hookers. Now they are even easier to hate than the Lakers. How in the fuck is that even possible? It's like I'm living in some bizarro alternate universe. Doc Rivers is hands down, the most hate-able coach in the history of professional sports. He road the coattails of KG, Pierce and Ray Allen to a single championship and now thinks he's a fucking genius. Hey Doc, you're J.B. Bickerstaff with a better roster and a whinier disposition. He starts bitching about EVERY call at the opening tipoff and never lets up - and he gets away with it because he lucked into a ring 8 years ago on the other side of the continent. He's always hoarse, because he never shuts the fuck up. Not letting C.J. play due to a clerical error and yelling at Stotts for getting on the refs makes him even more detestable. Love CP3's talent, but HATE his attitude. Whiniest little bitch in the game playing for the whiniest coach. Yeah, they's made it VERY easy to hate the once downtrodden Clippers. I would enjoy upsetting them even more than beating HOU two years ago.
SAS: This was the team I used to root for after the Blazers were eliminated. I liked watching them beat the Pistons and especially the Lakers. I like Pop's old school approach and the way he can get any player, even superstars, to buy into his philosophy. It's his way or the highway and it's so rare in the NBA these days that the coach is calling the shots, and not some prima donna superstar that hasn't won shit. But, then there's the whole LaMarcus Aldridge thing. I don't hate him as passionately as many here in this forum, but I would find it painful to see someone who said he wanted to retire as the greatest Blazer ever hoisting the Larry O'Brian trophy in another uniform.
GSW: Loved watching them win it all last year. It was nice to see a long suffering, passionate fan base rewarded for their continued support during the lean decades since their only previous championship. I loved watching them beat the Rockets in the WCF and the Cavs in the finals last year. Steph Curry is a transcendent talent. He is revolutionizing the game and his skill as a shooter amazes me. And Steve Kerr is an immensely likable coach (the anti-Doc) But, with their success has come arrogance - especially Klay Thompson. Still, out of all the contenders in the West, they would be my second choice, after my beloved, over achieving Blazers, to go all the way. Still, it won't be the same feel good story as it was last year. And, if they win it all again, the arrogance will probably continue to grow.
BNM
