NBA Rivalry Index: Western Conference.

Steve Nash and Robert Horry get into a confrontation after Horrry checked Nash in the 2007 WC Semifinals

In light of the Knicks-Celtics rivalry debate, I decided to make an NBA rivalry index. I divided Eastern Conference, Western Conference and Interconference rivalries into 3 categories. These categories are circumstantial and are certainly not set in stone. A  rivalry can change their status in as little as one season.

Active: Still fierce, and for the most part their meetings have a great deal of significance. Usually many or all of the rivalry's most significant constituents are still playing.

On Hiatus: Was once fierce and significant, but has fizzled out generally due to one or both teams declining. These rivalries have either died out and been revived in the past or have the potential to be revived. Might still have some of the players who began the rivalry or had revived it before.

Defunct: Was once significant but now completely dead, with little to no prospect of revival. None of the rivaly's significant players are playing for one or both of the teams.

This is a three-part post. Today will be the Western Conference rivalries. Tomorrow I will be posting the Eastern Conference, followed by the Interconference rivalries. 

Active

Derek Fisher hits a buzzer beater with .04 seconds left to eliminate the Spurs in 2004

Los Angeles Lakers v. San Antonio Spurs- The debate between best team of the last decade has been between L.A. and San Antonio. They account for 9 of the 12 championships of the post-Jordan Era and 2006 was the only year either the Spurs or Lakers did not appear in the Finals. They have met in the play-offs 5 times, with L.A. leading 3-2 their last meeting was the 2008 Conference Finals with the Lakers winning in 5, and this season another play-off encounter is probable.

Kobe Bryant hits a buzzer beater in overtime to sink the Suns and tie the series.

Los Angeles Lakers v. Phoenix Suns- This rivalry began in 2006 when Kobe Bryant in his best individual season carried the Lakers through a hard fought seven games before bowing out to the heavily favored suns. They would meet again the following year but the Suns would easily dispose of them. Kobe finally exacted his revenge in last seasons Conference Finals.

The aftermath of Horry and Nash's confrontation

San Antonio Spurs v. Phoenix Suns- This is one of the more intense rivalries over the last decade even though it was totally one sided in the Spurs favor until the Suns swept them in the second round last season. Win or lose, the Spurs always manage to get a good shot at Steve Nash. 

Dirk Nowitzski and Tim Duncan are two of the greatest power forwards of all time and squared off in the play-offs on five separate occasions.

San Antonio Spurs v. Dallas Mavericks- During the mid-2000s these two Texas titans would battle it out for Western Conference Supremacy, the Spurs having the 3-2 lead in play-off series and most recently the 2. seeded Mavericks were upset by the 7th seeded Spurs in the first round.

Steve Nash and Dirk Nowitzski sign with Dalls in 1998

Dallas Mavericks v. Phoenix Suns- These rivalry was born when Steve Nash was essentially discarded by the Mavs and was traded to the Suns. Phoenix went on to win 61 games and Nash won his first of two MVP trophies. Their first meeting Nash made sure the Mavericks paid for their mistake, eliminating them with a 39 point Game 6 performance. The following season they would meet in the WC Finals, this time Dallas beat the Amare-less Suns in route to the NBA Finals.

On Hiatus

Kobe's alley-oop to Shaq in Game 7 of the 2000 WC Finals is the signature play of their dynasty.

Los Angeles Lakers v. Portland Trail Blazers- This was probably the fiercest rivalry of the early 2000s. It began in 2000 when Portland blew a 15 point lead in the 4th quarter in Game 7 of the WC Finals. This was a completely one sided rivalry but it was inflamed by the Blazers "bad boys" persona with personalities such as Rasheed Wallace and Ruben Patterson, the self proclaimed "Kobe Stopper" who was proclaimed by the Judicial system to be a sex offender. The Blazers have the talent to revive this rivalry in the final years of Kobe's dynasty, provided they don't rely on Greg Oden to stop Pau.

"I think Jesus would have trouble covering him."-George Karl

Los Angeles Lakers v. Denver Nuggets- The Lakers and Nuggets met in the play-offs a few times in the 1980s including a WC Finals match-up in 1985, the Lakers always getting the best of Alex English and the Denver Nuggets. The rivalry was renewed for a single season in 2009 when Kobe Bryant and Carmelo Anthony went head-to-head, unfortunately for the Nuggets, Kobe Bryant always wins head-to-head match ups. After the effort by Denver in 2009 many thought they would challenge and even beat the Lakers. If Melo stays this rivalry could be renewed, but the Nuggets are slipping and Melo is all but signed to New York in 2011.

Hakeem Olajuwon and David Robinson were the '94 and '95 MVPs and competed for bragging rights as the top center in the West.

San Antonio Spurs v. Houston Rockets- The most notable series of this rivalry is when David Robinson and Hakeem Olajuwon met in the 1995 WC Finals. The lower seeded Rockets defeated the Spurs in 6 games en route to their second NBA title. In 2004 Tracy McGrady scored 13 points in 35 seconds capped-off by a buzzer beating 3 to snap the Spurs 8 game winning streak against Houston. The only reason this rivalry is on a hiatus and not defunct is because of their proximity. It is known as the I-10 rivalry, and although they rarely play in a play-off series, they always play for state pride.

Defunct

Stockton's buzzer-beating 3 in Game 6 of the WC Finals lifted the Jazz to their first of two Finals appearances.

Utah Jazz v. Houston Rockets- This feud was born in the 1985, the rookie season of Utah's John Stockton and Houston's Hakeem Olajuwon. They met 5 times from 1985-1998. Although Utah won 3 of the 5 play-off series, it can be argued Houston won the series overall considering their two wins ('94 and '95) allowed them to win back-to-back titles during the Jordan-retirement window. Many believe the rivalry was renewed in 2007-2008, but it wasn't. The rivalry was between the Stockton-Malone Jazz, and the Olajuwon Rockets, and those players have been retired and enshrined in Springfield.

The 2002 Kings were the greatest threat to the Kobe-Shaq dynasty.

Los Angeles Lakers v. Sacramento Kings- Although the Lakers easily disposed of the Kings 2000 and 2001, the 2002 WC Finals went 7 games and is regarded as one of the greatest play-off series of all time. The Lakers eventually winning Game 7 in overtime at Arco Arena . After this series the Kings fell into a decline and their key players (Webber, Divac, Turkoglu, Bibby, Peja) left Sacromento one-by-one.