It can be past or present; playoffs or regular season. Please give your reasons why.
Ready? Begin........................
2007-07-07 13:41:18 · 24 answers · asked by chaba 6 in Sports ➔ Basketball
In the history of the NBA, there are two rivalries that forever will be remembered and all other rivalries will be measured against them. First, and the best rivalry of all is Bill Russell vs Wilt Chamberlain. Chamberlain had about 4-5 inches and around 50 pounds on Russell, but Russell used psychology and his determination to get the best of Wilt. Wilt may have outscored and outrebounded him, but Russell always found a way to beat him. And it is not because Russell had better teammates. Wilt had teammates just as talented, he just didn't know how to use his teammates strengths to his advantage. Bill Russell never played with players in the same magnitude of Jerry West and Elgin Baylor, the best players he played with are Havlicek and Cousy. And what made this rivalry stand out from all other rivalries is that these two matched up against each other on offense and on defense. Russell and Wilt met 142 times during the 10 years of their rivalry. 142 times! Russell's teams won 85 times while Wilt's won 57. And that average of more than 14 meetings a year does not include exhibitions against each other. Wilt averaged 28.7 points and 28.7 rebounds in those 142 games, Russell 14.5 points and 23.7 rebounds. Pretty one-sided? Only in indivudal stats. Russell won nine championships in the 10 years of their rivalry while Wilt won just one.
The 2nd-best rivalry is Larry Bird versus Magic Johnson. Bird was a forward, while Magic was a point guard, which is why they seldomed guarded each other. Each won 3 MVP's, while Magic won 5 titles against Bird's 3. Magic once said, "When the new schedule would come out each year, I'd grab it and circle the Boston games. To me it was THE TWO and the other 80." Bird counters, "The first thing I would do every morning was look at the box scores to see what Magic did. I didn't care about anything else."
As for team rivalries, I'd say there are also two that come to mind. One, Celtics versus Lakers, started during the 1960s when West and Baylor frequently led the Lakers to the Finals only to lose to the Celtics. This rivalry was rekindled during the 80s, by Bird and Magic.
The other team rivalry would be the Celtics versus the Sixers. This also started during the 1960s, when Wilt was playing for the Sixers. Their 1967 team ended the Celtics' reign of terror. This rivalry was rekindled during the early 80s, when Julius Erving was the Sixers' leader.
2007-07-07 22:16:59 · answer #1 · answered by celticpal 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The Bulls and Knicks had a huge rivalry in the 90's.
The Heat and Knicks had a couple brawls
The Celtics and Lakers had an unbelievable best of 3 finals series. (3 different years facing each other)
The Lakers and Blazers put together quite a few interesting series in the early 2000's
MY PICK- CELTICS & LAKERS
reason- it was like a heavyweight title fight, Bird vs Magic, they even went back and forth getting league MVP awards too.
2007-07-07 14:58:23 · answer #2 · answered by Dee 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
BIRD vs MAGIC.
they are born to be great; they hate to lose; they have a "team-first and team-last" mentality; the most unselfish players of all-time; considered the greatest passers in history; and ultimate competitors.
either Magic or Bird said "everytime the NBA will release the season schedule, they will encircle the Celtics/Lakers game. the rest is just other team."
sub plot: Celtics vs Lakers
notables: Russell-Chamberlain & Celtics vs Lakers
forgotten rivalry: Jerry West vs Oscar Robertson
2007-07-07 16:30:24 · answer #3 · answered by schnooks17 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
1.mavs-spurs: a lot of intensity in this matchup. the fundamental stocking the mavs until '06 when we finally beat them. the dirk saving the mavs in game 7.the avery leaving the spurs and coached the mavs. avery's team now too good for the spurs. 07 season series:mavs 3-1. tough matchup!!
2. mavs-suns:it's all about nash leaving the mavs then burning them the following season. then it was dirk splashing the suns the nest season. that 50-point game was awesome. then comes nash getting 2 mvps. then comes the double overtime game on march 14, 2007. then comes dirk getting the mvp. result:the last 2 mvps were dirk and nash. nash being no.2 for mvp. the two most talented teams. exciting matchup!!!
3.mavs-warriors:now this is exciting. the nellie retiring from dallas and now lecturing the warriors. the impact of stephen jackson. GSW's 3-0 record in '07 regular season. the nellie teaching avery a lesson. the davis killing the mavs. and finally:THE HISTORICAL UPSET. this is all so interesting and i have seen a lot of emotions in this rivalry.(p.s. i creamed the warriors 85-53 on my nba2k7 today!!!)
2007-07-07 15:42:01 · answer #4 · answered by kobefanforlife24 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Bulls and Knicks in the 90s.
Reggie Miller the Knick Killer and the Knicks in the 90s.
Dennis Rodman and Karl Malone in the Finals.
Mike and the Pistons in the 80s and early 90s.
Scottie Pippen and Charles Barkley while Scottie was with the Rockets and after.
2007-07-07 13:57:02 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Celtics Lakers
Byrd Johnson
2007-07-07 13:49:19 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Lakers & Celtics in the 80's
Bulls & Pistons in the late 80's / early 90's
Spurs & Lakers in the late 90's / early 2000
2007-07-11 00:18:50 · answer #7 · answered by JR 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In my opinion, which my be slanted because I am from Phoenix, would be the Suns and Lakers. I know I hate those guys more than I could ever hate the Spurs...which by the way is saying ALOT!!! I hate Kobe Bryant to my core being!
2007-07-07 16:33:04 · answer #8 · answered by Jellicle Cat 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
whilst lakers and celtics conflict, it truly is like international warfare 2 and international warfare a million blended. hi a simile! the lakers and celtics had this form of great form of battles in the 1980's! however the contention ended whilst larry chicken and magic johnson retired. in 2008, the contention became renewed, they met for the 1st time in 21 or 20... or twenty something... years. kobe and gasol vs. the great 3... in 2009, it truly is kobe,gasol, AND bynum vs.... the forbidden names to assert...
2016-10-20 05:40:59 · answer #9 · answered by clam 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Give the best answer to csaddler, he's on point. Everyone always forgets Russell and Chamberlain. On any question they are always overlooked. Chamberlain's scoring made MJ look like a high schooler, and Russell was arguably the greatest player ever (along with Earl "the pearl" Monroe)
2007-07-07 15:00:26 · answer #10 · answered by Matthew S 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋