Houston Rockets

===Rivalries===
{{main|Rockets–Spurs rivalry|Jazz–Rockets rivalry}}
The Rockets have developed many rivalries within the Western Conference ever since the team returned there in 1980. Two are intrastate rivalries, with the San Antonio Spurs, who moved along with the Rockets after four years with them in the Eastern Conference,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.beaumontenterprise.com/news/slideshow/Rockets-Spurs-rivalry-039-s-top-moments-107132.php|title=Rockets-Spurs rivalry's top moments|date=April 11, 2015|work=Beaumont Enterprise|access-date=June 30, 2015}}</ref> and the Dallas Mavericks, introduced that very season.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://espn.go.com/blog/dallas-mavericks/post/_/id/4705134/series-sets-up-mavs-rockets-to-be-a-real-rivalry|title=Series sets up Dallas Mavericks-Houston Rockets to be a real rivalry – Dallas Mavericks Blog |date=April 16, 2015|work=ESPN|access-date=June 30, 2015}}</ref> Houston has faced both Texas teams in the playoffs since 1980, beating the Spurs three times and losing once. The Rockets lost twice to the Mavericks, while beating them once.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://basketball.realgm.com/nba/teams/Houston-Rockets/10/Playoff-History|title=Houston Rockets Playoff History|publisher=RealGM|access-date=June 30, 2015}}</ref> Other famed rivalries were with the [[Los Angeles Lakers]], who in the 1980s [[Showtime (basketball)|Showtime]] era only missed the NBA Finals when beaten by the Rockets,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blog.chron.com/ultimaterockets/2013/04/photos-key-moments-from-rockets-lakers-rivalry/|title=Photos: Key moments from Rockets-Lakers rivalry|work=Ultimate Rockets|date=April 17, 2013|access-date=June 30, 2015}}</ref> and the Utah Jazz, who the Rockets beat in both championship seasons but were defeated by Utah in five other occasions.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://bleacherreport.com/articles/144354-the-best-unknown-rilvalry-in-the-west-the-houston-rockets-and-the-utah-jazz|title=Rockets-Jazz: The Best Rivalry You Haven't Heard Of|author=Diana Allen|work=Bleacher Report|access-date=June 30, 2015}}</ref>