The Best Rivalries in NBA History
The National Basketball Association (NBA) is one of the most popular and exciting leagues on the planet. Over the years, the league has seen countless rivalries that have shaped its identity and thrilled fans around the globe. Such rivalries have not only provided excitement on the court but have also helped create legends of the sport. One of the most legendary, if not the best, of all the rivalries in NBA history is that between the Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers, both teams with a number of NBA title wins. It began in the 1960s and has lasted through the years.
The Celtics, led by superstars such as Bill Russell and Larry Bird, have won 17 championship rings, the same number as the Lakers, who have been led by superstars such as Magic Johnson, Kobe Bryant, and occasionally LeBron James. As a statistical fact, to put these legendary teams in context, they have faced each other up to 13 times in the NBA Finals in each season, making them the most frequent matchup in the league's American history. The 1980s and early 1990s saw the emergence of another fierce rivalry in the NBA the Chicago Bulls versus the Detroit Pistons.
Boston Celtics vs Los Angeles Lakers
The Pistons, the Bad Boys, could characterized by their physical, aggressive play based on tenacious defense, while the Bulls, led by Michael Jordan, waited for their turn to reach the top by playing intelligent, fast paced basketball, partly due to Phil Jackson's triangle offense. The meetings between these teams in the Eastern Conference Finals of 1989 and 1990 became highly anticipated events. In both years, the Pistons managed to stop Jordan with hard fouls, which generated an intense.
Finally, the Bulls routed the Pistons 4-0 in the 1991 Conference Finals, beginning the process of what would become the first of six NBA titles won by Jordan's Bulls, an achievement that places him, in the opinion of most experts, among the greatest players in the history of the American league. The last decade has seen the NBA continue with another rivalry between the Golden State Warriors and the Cleveland Cavaliers, who have dominated the history of modern day champions.
Chicago Bulls vs Detroit Pistons
The Warriors, with a starting five that included four All-Stars, including Klay Thompson, a top-level shooter, and Stephen Curry, the team's all-around leader and one of the best point guards in league history, have transformed themselves into one of the most dominant franchises in recent NBA history, to the point of achieving 73 regular season wins in 2016. On the other hand, the Cavaliers, led by a historic player in LeBron James, were the team to beat in the Eastern Conference.
The back-to-back Finals meetings between these teams in 2015, 2016, and 2017 have been some of the most exciting moments in recent NBA history. The Warriors won two titles, but the Cleveland Cavaliers reclaimed their first title as a franchise in 2016 in a game that will remembered for LeBron James historic comeback. The Cavaliers were the only team to win a championship ring after trailing 3-1 in a championship game.
Impact on the Championships
NBA rivalries have not only been exciting for American fans but have also had a significant impact on promoting NBA content around the world, with media and audience coverage across the globe. These brutal NBA Finals matchups between rivals, each with some of the best players in the world on their rosters, have been watched by millions of people and have helped expand the league's audience and cement its reputation as one of the world's premier sports competitions. There's nothing better for a rivalry than facing off twice in a row in the Finals.
The Warriors and Cavaliers have done it and are currently the best teams in the NBA. A repeat of the Finals, if nothing goes wrong, is in sight. Furthermore, this duel has been elevated by the rivalry between Stephen Curry and LeBron James. The 2015 ring went to Curry, who totals two MVPs to four for James, who won the 2016 championship first for the city of Cleveland. The rivalry between the Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers is as old as the NBA. From 1959 through 2012, the two franchises have reached 12 Finals with a 9-3 record in favor of the Massachusetts franchise.
Conclusion
The confrontations between the two teams reached their peak in the 1980s with the duels between Larry Bird and Magic Johnson, which placed the NBA at the center of American attention. This rivalry was renewed with Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Paul Pierce for the Celtics; and Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, and Derek Fisher for the Lakers. These players competed in two Finals, each winning one. The Big Apple versus the Windy City. A rivalry that had its moment of greatness in the early 1990s. From 1989 to 1996, the Knicks and Bulls met seven times in the playoffs, with Chicago winning six times.
With Ewing, Oakley and Starks, the fans of the Big Apple dreamed of recovering past glories with an aggressive, physical and tough game against the Bulls, but Jordan always had other plans with performances as superb as his 55 points in Madison upon his return from retirement. The Knick Killer. That was Reggie Miller's nickname after his exhibitions against the New York Knicks during the playoffs and the Regular Season, earning the ire of the New York fans. In addition, the pique on the court with Spike Lee will always be remembered, including the legendary extra motivation.
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