Five great NBA playoff rivalries of all time

2. Celtics and the Philadelphia 76ers

This rivalry spread over a span of more than 6 decades, has seen the most number of play-off encounters between any two teams in the NBA. The two franchises have played against each other 19 times, with the Celtics winning 12 of the encounters.

Dr J v/s the enigmatic Larry Bird.

Ever since their first play-off encounter in the year 1953, the rivalry witnessed some of the most intense and keenly contested battles of all time. The encounters between the two franchises in the sixties saw the indomitable Wilt Chamberlain vying against the imperious Bill Russell. The 70’s saw the Sixers drafting in the legendary Julius Erving and the Celtics drafting the transcendent superstar Larry Bird. These two players were locked up in many an intriguing contests, and changing the face of the league forever with their enterprising and mesmerizing play.

The most recent edition of the rivalry saw both teams facing up against each other in the Eastern Conference Finals of 2012. The series lived up to its famed history with the young and enterprising Sixers pushing the veteran Celtics to the maximum and forcing a game 7. The veteran Celtics reigned supreme in game 7, drawing inspiration from the play of their high-flying point guard rondo.

The Celtics though, fighting their way through the conference semi-finals came up short against the Miami Heat. However, with both teams proving to be play-off contenders, the veteran Celtics and the young and exciting 76ers are primed for several more duels and the future holds much promise for this rivalry.