You’ll never guess who the NBA thinks is the Cavs rival

The NBA's "Rivals Week," featuring 11 matchups from January 20-24, is criticized as one of the league's most contrived gimmicks under Adam Silver. The article argues that genuine NBA rivalries are rare due to frequent player movement and the lack of meaningful divisions that create regional animosity like in other sports. Most perceived rivalries are simply star-driven matchups fans want to see, making the task of identifying true rivalry games difficult.

The matchup between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Charlotte Hornets is highlighted as particularly forced. The NBA's justification centers on the Ball brothers (Lonzo and LaMelo), but this is deemed insufficient since they are not twins or both starters like other NBA siblings. Beyond this connection, there's little to generate interest, as the franchises haven't played a meaningful game against each other in the 21st century, with the most memorable recent encounter being infamous for an officiating error.

The article contends this game lacks competitive appeal, projecting the Hornets as a weak team unlikely to improve significantly. It won't showcase contrasting styles or be a potential future playoff preview. Better rivals for the Cavaliers are suggested, such as the Boston Celtics (due to multiple recent playoff meetings and shared conference standing) or the Atlanta Hawks (who outperformed the Cavs last season, improved, and faced them in the 2022 Play-In game).

Ultimately, the Cavaliers vs. Hornets matchup is dismissed as bland and forgettable, with the hope that the Ball brothers providing a few highlights being the only potential saving grace.