NBA Rivalry Index: Eastern Conference

This photo Larry Bird and Julius Erving depicts the animosity between the Eastern Conference's greatest rivalry.

Eastern Conference

Active

"It's just God disguised as Michael Jordan." -Larry Bird

Boston Celtics v. Chicago Bulls- Larry Bird and the Boston Celtics were responsible for knocking off a young Jordan and Chicago before the Pistons assumed that role in the late '80's. In 1986, Michael Jordan scored a play-off record 63 points in an overtime loss to the 67 win Celtics. The Celtics would sweep the Bulls in back-to-back seasons and the rivalry would fall due to the decline of the Celtics. However in 2009 it was renewed in what some will call the greatest first round play-off series of all time (averaged 1 overtime per game). With the Bulls among the East elite, the Rose-Rondo comparisons and the bad blood between Garnett and Noah this rivalry is stronger than ever.

In 2008 LeBron nearly carried Cleveland past the eventual champion Celtics, but came up short in Game 7 at the Garden.

Boston Celtics v. LeBron James- LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers began a fierce rivalry 2008 EC Semi-Finals with the eventual Champion Boston winning in 7 then upsetting them in the second round of 2010. This rivalry has moved (along with LeBron's talents), to South Beach with Boston having the 2-0 series lead.

Cleveland takes their landmark LeBron Witness banner down after the decision. 

Cleveland v. LeBron James- I honestly believe that this is the greatest collective display of animosity toward one player that sports on all levels will ever see.

Dwight Howard finally has real competition in the Southeast division. 

Orlando Magic v. Miami Heat- This intrastate rivalry is at it's peak now. These two Orange State power houses will battle each season for Southeast division and maybe even in EC Finals to come.

Alonzo Mourning and Larry Johnson throw down at the end of a '98 play-off game.

New York Knicks v. Miami Heat- This rivalry seemed to have a relatively short shelf-life. During the late 90's these two teams were lead by two of the top centers in the league. The Heat lead by Alonzo Mourning and Knicks lead by Patrick Ewing would first meet in the '97 EC Semifinals. The Heat winning in 7 for the right to be a sacrificial lamb to the basketball God that is Michael Jordan. They would meet the following three seasons. The Knicks winning each series, including 2000 when the 8th seeded Knicks knocked-off the no. 1 Heat en route to a Finals appearance. A year ago, I would have put this in the defunct category, but The Decision has given it new life. With Melo coming in 2012 (a rival of LeBron's) they could be dueling for the EC Championship next season. The central figure of the rivalry, Pat Riley who coached both teams in during the 90's, remains in Miami's front and might return to the helm. I believe this has the potential to be one of the greatest rivalries of our time. 

On Hiatus

Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain is one of sports most storied player rivalries.

Boston Celtics v. Philadelphia 76ers - The Sixers-Celtics probably the second greatest rivalry in NBA history. They have met 18 times in the play-offs, the Celtics leading 11-7. This is a unique rivalry because it began with a different franchise. From'59-'62 the Philly Warriors and the Celtics threw down in the play-offs, then the Warriors moved to San Francisco, where they faced Boston in the 1964 Finals, the Celtics winning that series. The central focus of the rivalry were Wilt Chamberlain, and Bill Russell  (without question, the two best players of that era). The early 1980's and the arrival of Bird gave this rivalry a whole new life. These two teams me tin the 1980, '81, '82 and '85 EC Finals, they split the series 2-2. The rivalry was revived in 2002 with a 5 game first round series (back then, the first round was 5 games, not 7) Paul Pierce and Antoine Walker defeating Allen Iverson and the defending EC Champs. Even though Bird and Dr. J are long gone and Allen Iverson decided to take his talents to the Middle-East, theres too much bad blood between these two franchises for this rivalry to be totally defunct.

Larry Bird and Bill Laimbeer have had several physical altercations.

Boston Celtics v. Detroit Pistons- Isiah Thomas and the "bad-boy" Pistons were the Bird-era Celtics most formidable opponent in the East. After the Celtics won a  6 game semifinal in 1985, and a 7 game EC Final in 1987, the Pistons won the the next three series in '88 '89 and '91. The Pistons antagonized the Celtics with personalties like Dennis Rodman and All-NBA Asshole Bill Lambeir, who was ejected along with Bird in game 3 for fighting, game in which the Pistons would cruise to victory. Bird would get revenge two games later in Boston with his famous interception of an Isiah Thomas inbound and assist to Dennis Johnson to take a 1 point lead and win the game. The rivalry was renewed in the 2000's when the Celtics rolled past the Pistons 4-1 in the 2002 Semifinals and beat them in 6 in the 2008 EC Championship. Since the Pistons blew up their roster in 2009 it hasn't been much of a rivalry but two great franchises like these are bound to meet in the play-offs again.

Defunct:

Michael Jordan's dunk on Ewing after beating a double team is widely regarded as the greatest dunk of all time.

Chicago Bulls vs. New York Knicks- During the Jordan Era the Bulls and Knicks would meet six times in the play-offs. Ewings Knicks may have put up a fight, but they were never able to take down Jordan's Bulls. They were able to take advantage of Jordan's hiatus and took down the Bulls in a 7-game EC Semifinal, but that victory is usually credited to the worst foul call in NBA history. The foul was on Scottie Pippen and gave Hue Hollins two free throws allowing the Knicks pull ahead by one and win the game. As we all know, Jordan will ultimately return and the Bulls would roll over the Knicks in the '96 EC Finals adding Patrick Ewing to the long list of legends His Airness would not allow a ring.

Reggie Miller taunts Madison Square Garden after burying the Knicks.

Indiana Pacers vs. New York Knicks- Despite Jordan's dominance over NY during the 1990's, it was Reggie Miller who earned the nickname "The Knick Killer." After he would torch them, Miller would often taunt unofficial Knick mascot Spike Lee (which is awesome). Miller's signature performance was scoring 8 points in the final 16.4 seconds in Game 1 of the '95 EC Semifinals to win 107-105, and eventually win the series. The Knicks and Pacers were perennial play-off teams during the 90's and although each team went through one another en route to a Finals appearance at least once, neither team won a title.