The National Basketball Association (NBA) has several fierce rivalries. What follows is a summary of just some of the high-profile rivalries in the NBA.
Perhaps the highest-profile rivalry in NBA history, this rivalry hit its peak in the 1980s with superstars Magic Johnson of the Lakers and Larry Bird of the Celtics led their teams to win a combined eight NBA titles in the decade, with the Lakers winning five and the Celtics winning three. Moreover, the two teams met each other in the NBA Finals on three separate occasions (1984, 1985, and 1987).
During the late 1980s, the Lakers and the Pistons met twice in the NBA Finals. The defending champion Lakers met the darkhorse Pistons in the 1988 Finals. It was the Hollywood Showtime style of L.A. against the blue collar brute force tactics of the Bad Boys from Detroit. The Pistons were not expected to perform well in this seemingly mismatched series. In fact, most pundits expected the Lakers to sweep the Finals and become the first team since the Bill Russell led 1968-69 Boston Celtics to successfully defend their championship. Yet, the resilient Pistons quickly set the tone of the series with a game one shocker in which they grounded the high flying champs with a stunning 105-93 victory at the Forum in Los Angeles. The series battled back and forth and featured a heroic Game 6 effort by Isiah Thomas, who with a badly sprained ankle exploded for 22 points in the 3rd quarter. The Lakers were pushed to the brink by the surprising Pistons, but managed to avoid elimination by winning game 6 (103-102) and game 7 (108-105) of the series in L.A. It should be noted that game 6 ended with a controversial call of a foul by Bill Laimbeer on Kareem Abdul-Jabbar with about two seconds left in the bitterly fought contest, with the Pistons leading 102-101. The legend calmly sunk both free throws to provide the final score.
The Pistons dedicated themselves the following season to meeting their new rivals in the 1989 Finals and beating them. The Pistons honed their craft and became the most unstoppable team in the league, posting a league-best 63-19. Despite the first signs of aging and the impending retirement of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the Lakers remained the best team in the Western Conference with a 57-25 record. The Lakers swept through the Western Conference with an astonishing 11-0 playoff record, with sweeps of the Portland Trailblazers (3-0) in the first round; the Seattle Supersonics (4-0) in the Conference semi-finals and capped off with a sweep of the up and rising Phoenix Suns in the Western Conference Finals (4-0). Predictably the Lakers and the Pistons met in the finals. Once again the Lakers were favored to win this series based on their outstanding unprecedented performance in the Western Conference playoffs; however, the Lakers ran into a buzzsaw and were absolutely no match for the determined Pistons. Handicapped by the absence of starting shooting guard Byron Scott as well as the game 2 injury of point guard and future Hall of Famer Earvin "Magic" Johnson, the Lakers dynasty finally came to a crashing finale with the four game sweep concluding in L.A. Initially, the Lakers looked like they were going to win game 4 of this series and stave off elimination by racing out to a 35-23 first quarter lead; however, the Pistons clawed back methodically and won 105-97 in Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's final game in the NBA. The Pistons found redemption and sent the legendary Abdul-Jabbar into retirement.
A whole new generation of Pistons and Lakers met in the 2004 finals. Both teams fought uphill battles to make it to the championship as the Pistons were seen as too young and the Lakers considered too old. The Lakers were coached by the Zen master Phil Jackson, who possessed an undefeated 9-0 record in previous NBA Finals. The Pistons were coached by the wandering Larry Brown, a coach known for getting the best out of the players on his team. The all-star complexion of the Laker team and the seemingly immortal "Coach Philip" made them an early favorite to win, possibly even sweep, the series. Phil Jackson was the coach of the Lakers when the Lakers defeated Coach Brown's old team the Philadelphia 76ers in the 2001 NBA Finals. But as it was in the late 1980's, this new 2004 Pistons team's commitment to defense and its deeper bench proved surprisingly insurmountable. It didn't help the Lakers' cause that gunner Kobe Bryant, who shot 38 percent for the series, and Shaquille O'Neal were feuding during the series of who was the important preson to the team. After splitting the first two games in LA, when the Pistons blew an eight point lead late in the fourth quarter of game 2, which led to Lakers' only win in this series, the Pistons easily swept the next three in Detroit; bringing another official end to another Lakers dynasty.
Los Angeles Lakers vs. Sacramento Kings
In 2000 the Lakers were the best team in the league and poised for a triumphant franchise return to the Finals. But the eighth seeded Sacramento Kings surprised everyone by pushing the Lakers to the brink of elimination in the first round. Though the Kings would lose game 5 and the Lakers would go on to win the championship, a rivarly had begun. A better equipped Kings met the still-superior Lakers in the semi-finals the next year in 2001 but were swept by the confident champs who would go on to defend their title. The two teams met once more the following year for the 2002 Western Finals. This time the Kings were the favored team, having posted an unstoppable 61-21 league best record. A team seemingly designed to overthrow the champs, the Lakers nevertheless battled the Kings to a game seven. Once again the Lakers triumphed and went on to win their third straight title.
During the 1990s, both the Knicks and the Pacers were perennial playoff teams. The Knicks, led by All-Star center Patrick Ewing, met with the Reggie Miller-led Pacers in the playoffs six times from 1993 to 2000, fueling a rivalry epitomized by the enmity between Miller and prominent Knicks fan Spike Lee. Miller's clutch performances were frequently followed by jabs at Lee, adding fuel to the greater team rivalry. However, neither team was able to win the NBA championship, with the Knicks reaching the NBA Finals after the Chicago Bulls [Michael Jordan]'s first and second retirements in 1994 and 1999, respectively, the Knicks were defeated in a grueling seven game series to Houston and an uneventful five game series to San Antonio, respectively. The playoff battles between these two franchises led to some of the greatest moments in NBA playoff history, such as Larry Johnson's 4-point play in the waning seconds of Game 3 of 1999 Eastern Conference Finals, Miller's 25 points in the 4th quarter of Game 5 of 1994 Eastern Conference Finals, and Miller's 8 points in the last 16 seconds to win Game 1 of the 1995 Eastern Conference Semifinals.
When the Detroit Pistons drafted guard Isiah Thomas in 1981, it was in hopes that he would turn the team around and grow to be a threat to Boston's dominance in the East. It took three years but finally in 1985, Thomas led the Pistons to the semi-finals against the defending champion Celtics. After immediately falling behind 0-2 in the series, Thomas and the Pistons rallied toegether back in Detroit to tie the series. Though Larry Bird led the Celtics to a 4-2 victory and eventually on to another Conference title, another historic rivalrly was developed in the name of Eastern Dominance.
Knowing that no team could contend with the Celtics grasp on fundamentally perfect play, coach Chuck Daly allowed his team to experiment with a more aggresive type of play. Nicknamed the "Bad Boys" for their rough and aggresive style of play, the Pistons aimed to take this style to the Celtics...and break them. By upsetting the athletic 2nd place Atlanta Hawks, the Pistons took their style to the 1987 Eastern Finals. Again meeting the defending champion Celtics, this time the Pistons pushed Bird and his team even harder. If not for a game winning steal and assist by Bird in Game 5, the Pistons may very well have won the series, but after 7 tense games, the Celtics proved they were still the better team. And while the Celtics would celebrate their fourth straight conference title, the Pistons would re-calibrate and come back more aggresive the next year.
The two teams were on a practical date with destiny as they met for the Eastern Finals. Once again the Pistons were the underdogs to the Celtics who by now were considered a given to win, rather than just a team that does. Detroit set the tone early and proved that they were done being a mere team on the rise. They upset the aging Celtics 4-2. This marked the Pistons first conference title and the beginning of their reign in the East as well as the fall of the Celtics dynasty.
The 1989 first round reunion of the two teams was little more than a sadly ironic statement. A show of just how quickly great teams can succumb to age, injury and defeat. With Larry Bird injured and sidelined for the season, the Celtics limped into the eighth seed to face the Pistons, who now had the best record in the league. The Pistons swept the Celtics three games to none, showing just how badly they had broken this team. The Pistons would win their first title that year against the other NBA superpower, the Ls Angeles Lakers and would go on to win another the following year against a more talented POrtland Trailblazer team. Meanwhile the Celtics would rebuild and invest in some younger more atheltic starters like Reggie Lewis.
By the 1991 season, the two-time champion Pistons were a team starting to show their age. Earning a 3rd seed in the Eastern conference, they went into the semi-finals against a recharged Celtics, who now held the 2nd best record in the East. Eager to show that they were still the dominant team come playoffs time, the Pistons contested Boston, overcoming a 2-1 series deficit beating thebanged up Celtics 4-2. Though they themselves would finally be swept by their bitter rival Chicago Bulls in the next round, the Pistons ended the Boston rivalry in their own favor. After this series, both teams would suffer the pains of Bird and Thomas's retirement, the pre-mature death of Reggie Lewis, and the general withering away that eventually befalls all great teams.
This rivalry was hallmarked by Thomas's offhand comments that Larry Bird would not receive as much accolades as he does if he was not white. These words had for a long time lit the competitive spirit in Bird and sparked a bitter grudge between the two men that continues to this day. Years later the Indiana Pacers would hire Bird as the President of Basketball Operations and he would use this station to fire Thomas who was the then-coach of the team.
The rivalry between the New York Knickabockers and the Miami Heat was a result of their history-making brutally physical four consecutive playoff series from 1997 to 2000, where each series went to the maximum number of games. The rivalry was heightened by a feud sparking between Pat Riley initially the coach of the Knicks from 1991 to 1995, and head coach of the Miami Heat from 1996-present and Riley's successor Knick's head coach Jeff van Gundy, a faithful servant of Riley's in New York. Brother Stan van Gundy, a person who bares an uncanny resemblence to internationally famous film star Ron Jeremy was an assistant for the legendary Pat Riley in Miami. The first two years were marked by physical violence during the series, with suspensions to players that ultimately determined the outcome.
In recent years, this once bitter rivalry has greatly sofetened, with the recent struggles of the Knicks franchise and the turnover of the Miami Heat to a new crop of players. However, in its prime this rivalry was bitter and marked by players on both teams giving their best efforts in every game. Although the more talented Knicks won most of the contests between these teams, both teams were almost evenly matched.
This rivalry began its peak in the 2004 Eastern Conference Finals. After splitting the first four games, the Pistons took Game 5 in a blowout, and narrowly won Game 6 and the Eastern Conference Finals. On Friday, November 19, 2004, at the Palace of Auburn Hills, with less than a minute left in the game, Indiana led 97-82. As Pistons center Ben Wallace went up for a layup, Indiana's Ron Artest fouled him hard over the back. In retaliation, Wallace shoved Artest and a timeout was called to cool down the players. Artest stretched out on the scorer's table when he was suddenly hit in the chest by a cup of ice thrown by a fan. Artest went into the crowd and began fist-fighting with several fans. Four other Pacers, Jermaine O'Neal, Stephen Jackson, David Harrison, and Anthony Johnson also fought with fans. All were suspended for varying lengths, with Artest carrying the longest penalty: the entire season. From the Pistons, Chauncey Billups, Derrick Coleman, Elden Campbell and Ben Wallace were suspended also. The Pacers battled through the suspensions and the two teams went on to meet in the playoffs for the second year in a row, this time in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. The Pistons went on to win the series in six games.
The two greatest duos in the NBA met in back to back Finals in 1997 and 1998. Throughout the decade, the Utah Jazz as led by John Stockton and Karl Malone struggled unsuccesfully to win a conference title while the Chicago Bulls led by Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen had already won 4. In '97, despite a widespread belief that Jordan should have won the MVP title, Malone was heralded as the leagues Most Valuable Player. Though Malone led his Jazz to the best record in the West, second best record in the league (behind Chicago), and to a conference championship, Utah's appearance in the finals against the defending champion Bulls was considered little more than a formality. After dropping the first two games to Chicago, the Jazz made a strong comeback in games 3 and 4. With Jordan suffering a stomach virus in game 5, the Jazz seemed poised to take a series lead, but instead were treated to a legendary Jordan performance as he fought the flu and the Jazz to regain the series lead. A game winning shot from Steve Kerr in game 6 gave the Bulls their much-expected 5th title. Jordan redeemed his MVP loss with the Finals MVP trophy.
The Jazz energized themselves to square off against the Bulls for the following finals. The Jazz now matched the Bulls for the best record in the 1998 season, but showed their improvement by beating Chicago in both of their regular season match-ups. In the second game, the Jazz overcame an early 41-17 deficit and beat the Bulls in Salt Lake City. In a year where Malone was the more obviously deserving of the MVP award, he lost it to Jordan. A complete reversal of the MVP situation of a year prior, the Jazz looked forward to a reversal of the results in the Finals as the series got underway. With the homecourt advantage, the Jazz immediately made a dramatic statement by beating the Bulls 88-85 in overtime in game one. This was the first time a home team won an NBA Finals game since the Boston Celtics won game two against the Los Angeles Lakers by the same thre epoint margin 124-121 at the old Boston Garden parquet floor in 1984.
Yet that was the best the series would look for the Jazz as the Bulls surged back by winning the next three games and taking a commanding 3-1 series lead. Game two will always be remembered by the "Rebound" as Steve Kerr rebounded his own miss and fed a streaking Jordan on a layup late in the fourth quarter. Michael was fouled on the play, converted the three point play to give the Bulls a two point lead that they never relinquished in stealing this pivotal game, 93-88. This surge included an embarassing game 3 for the Jazz in which after 4 quarters, Utah scored only 54 points (including only a Finals' low 9 points in the fourth quarter) in a 42 point loss, suffering the worst beating in a NBA Finals game, 96-54. Though making a stand at the United Center in game 5 to avoid elimination 83-81. Karl Malone scored a game high 38 points, helping the Jazz overcome a 36-30 halftime deficit. In the end, it would be Jordan who would bring the rivalry, Utah's title hopes, and the Bulls dynasty to an end in Game 6. The incomparable Jordan made a play on the defensive end, making the game winning steal from Malone and making the game winning shot 17 foot jumper over Bryon Russell at the other end with 5.1 seconds left in the game. Stockton could not leave Steve Kerr to double MJ as he remembered when Kerr made a straight-on 18 foot jumper in the 1997 NBA Finals. This play quieted one of the loudest arenas in the NBA at that time. When John Stockton's three point jumper was partially grazed by Ron Harper and bounced off the front of the rim, MJ held aloft the five fingers of his right hand and the forefinger of his left hand signifying the sixth title the Bulls had won.
The rivalry started in the 1988 Eastern Conference Semi-Finals. The aggresive Bad Boy Pistons were a team on the rise. Michael Jordan was the league MVP and Defensive Player of the Year and the ultimate challenge for Detroit's rugged, top-notch defense. Despite Jordan's individual talents (or perhaps because of them) the Bulls lacked the talent and physical and mental toughness to beat the Pistons who ravaged the Bulls in only five games. The Pistons would go on to upset the Boston Celtics and win their first conference title since they moved from Fort Wayne.
In 1989 the Pistons were stronger than ever, posting the league's best record of 63-19. The sixth seeded Bulls (47-35 won loss record) had surprising success in the playoffs by beating the superior Cleveland Cavaliers (57-25 won-loss record) 3 games to 2 with "the Shot", a crushing buzzer beater that propelled Jordan to superstardom and sent a championship calibre Cleveland team into a history as a "what if". The Bulls upset tougher New York Knicks, coached by the incomparable Rick Pitino, 4 games to 2. It should be noted that during the 1988-89 season, the Knicks had swept the regular season series with the Detroit Pistons 4-0. The Bulls then squared off to meet the team that was to become their greatest rival, the Detroit Pistons, in the Eastern Conference Finals. The Bulls miraculous success seemed to continue as they took a early 2-1 lead over the Pistons. But the Pistons clamped down and employed the supposed "Jordan Rules" which worked so well for them the year prior. The rules? Target Jordan. The Pistons took a stand and won three straight and would go on to win their first NBA title in the next round.
For the following 1989-90 season under new coach Phil Jackson the Bulls sought to subvert the "Jordan Rules" by focusing on the triangle offense or triple post offense refined by assistant coach Tex Winter. By sharing responsibility rather than shouldering it, Jordan led the Bulls to the second best record in the East at 55-27...behind the ever-tough defending champion Pistons who finished 59-23. In a pre-destined Eastern Conference Finals rematch, the Bulls pushed the Pistons like never before by forcing the series to seven games. But the Pistons showed their dominance by winning a brutal game 7 at home by a score of 93-74. The tough Pistons regrouped after a poor first two games performance won their second straight title 4 games to 1 over the Portland Trailblazers by sweeping all three road games at Portland.
These growing pains resulted in a stronger than ever Bulls the following season in 1990-91. With a greater concentration on teamwork, the Bulls posted the best record in the Eastern Conference with a 61-21 won-less record (the Western Conference Portland Trailblazers had the NBA best record of 63-19, but were upset by the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference Finals 4-2) and Jordan regained the MVP award after years of being accused of being a selfish player. At the same time the Piston's armor was starting to crack by old age and injury. After their upset of the Atlantic Division champ Boston Celtics 4 games to 2 in the Conference semi-finals, it was now the Pistons with something to prove as they met a title poised Chicago. Still, some doubted the Bulls and maintained that the Pistons psychological edge and bench strength would loom over the series. But three years of aches and bruises allotted the Bulls a drive that not only inspired the greatness necessary to defeat the Pistons, but the greatness necessary to conquer a decade. Proving their growth, the Bulls swept the Pistons 4 games to none and ended the rivalry on a triumphant note. Isiah Thomas, Bill Laimbeer and Mark Aguirre of the Pistons, in their last show of defiance, walked off the court with :04 left on the clock so as not to congratulate the new Eastern Conference Champions. The Bulls eventually defeated Magic Johnson and the Lakers to capture their first NBA crown. The Pistons incidentally continued to deteriorate over the years while the Bulls were just beginning their dominance of the decade. In 1991-92, the Pistons were done as contenders as the Pat Riley coached New York Knicks defeated the Pistons 3 games to 2 in an ugly, brutal first round playoff series. Head Coach Chuck Daly retired and was replaced by Ron Rothstein.
The rivalry started in the 1989 Eastern Semi-finals when the Atlantic division champion New York Knicks were upset by the talented Michael Jordan and his Chicago Bulls in six games. Bolstered by their win, Chicago improved over the years. Degraded by their loss, the Knicks went on a downward spiral.
A rematch in 1991 proved embarassing for the Knicks, who as the eighth seed were swept by the top seeded Bulls 3-0 in the first round. The Bulls would go on to win their first title that year.
Under the leadership of coach Pat Riley, the Knicks got tough and scored the fourth best record in the east for the 1992 season. Meeting the Bulls for the semi-finals, the Knicks aimed to upset the the champs just as they had been upset in '89. Things looked good when the Knicks shocked the Bulls with a game one victory. Despite a Bulls turnaround, the Knicks showed they were serious and took a cue from the Bulls old rival, the Detroit Pistons by implementing aggresive play to break Chicago. But after a tough seven game series, the Bulls survived and went on to win their second straight NBA title.
The Knicks honed their act and returned for the 1993 season by besting the aging Bulls for the best record in the East. On a collision course for one another in the Eastern Finals, the Knicks showed their dominance by beating the Bulls in the first two games in New York. But in one of the greatest comebacks in NBA history, Michael Jordan led the Bulls to four straight wins to once again defeat the New York Knicks. The Bulls would go on to win their third straight title while the Knicks would spend their summer wondering how they would beat Michael Jordan.
As it turned out they wouldnt have to. With Jordan's unexpected retirement prior to the '94 season, the Bulls started to weaken. Seizing the opportunity, the Knicks held on to the best record in the east and another fated rematch with Chicago in the semi-finals. But the Scottie Pippen led Bulls aimed to prove that it was the team, not Jordan that continually beat the Knicks. Nearly proving their point by forcing a game 7, the Knicks nevertheless finally overpowered the Bulls and brought their dynasty to a seeming end. The Knicks would go on to win their first conference title in many years.
A nostalgiac rematch occured in the 1996 semi-finals when the rejuvinated Michael Jordan returned for his first full season back with the Bulls. By this time the Knicks had weakened into a moderately tough team with the 4th best record in the East. They were no match for the Jordan led Bulls who had not only the best record in the league, but the best record of all-time (72-10). The Bulls avenged their '94 loss and beat the Knicks 4-1, and go on to reclaim the NBA title. Over the next couple of years the Knicks would wallow in mediocrity while the Bulls continued their championship run.
The Cleveland Cavaliers met MVP Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls in the 1988 first round playoffs. No one expected the Cavs to push Jordan and the Bulls as hard as they did as they forced a deciding fifth game. Though the Cavs lost that fifth game, a new rivalry was born between two teams eager to be next in line as one of the best teams in the East.
Bolstered by their performance, the talented Cavs worked their routine for the '89 season to attain the second best record in the east. And with the fracturing of the talented but selfish team ethic of the Bulls, the Cavs seemed poised to avenge their re-match with Chicago in the first round. True to form, the series went to a deciding fifth game. But with three seconds left on the clock Jordan scored what is probably the most famous game winning shot in basketball history. While the Cavs would rebuild and recover over the next 3 years, the Bulls would go on to championship status before their next meeting.
In 1992 the 2nd seeded Cavs met the top seeded champion Bulls in the Eastern Finals. Though putting on another tough effort, the Bulls beat the Cavs 4-2 and went on to win their second NBA title.
The two teams met again in the 1993 semi-finals but the underdog Cavs were swept by Jordan and the Bulls on the way to their third NBA title. Jordan's game winning shot in Game 4 only went further to prove that the Cavs seemed cursed never to defeat number 23.
With Jordan's unexpected retirement prior to the '94 season, the Cavs readied themselves to finally end the Chicago curse. Meeting once again in the first round play-offs, the Cavs would once again face defeat. Though Jordan was gone, Scottie Pippen would lead Chicago to a 3-0 sweep over Cleveland, and prove that it was the team, not Jordan, who beat the Cavs. The Cavs would remain an unremarkable team throughout the rest of the decade while the Bulls would go on to win three more championships.