Any NBA fan will tell you the best rivalry in the game is Boston Celtics vs. Los Angeles Lakers. Anyone who argues against it is a disgrace and knows nothing about the history of the game.This rivalry is now dead but it was alive from the 50's through the 80's. That's three decades!
Magic Johnson and Larry Bird first met in the NCAA Finals (Michigan vs. Indiana) and resulted in the highest ratings in college basketball history. A record to this day not touched. They were the two top players in the country on the two best teams. They then went to the NBA and the individual rivalry continued as the two best players in the league played on the two best teams. They seemed to meet almost every year in the Finals during the 80' s. It was perfect since this individual rivalry added to the historic rivalry between their two teams.
This rivalry was a marketers dream and consumed the NBA headlines and attracted new fans to the game. Today, rivalries are often claimed when not present. Any circumstance that has potential does not last.
I could die a happy man if the Lakers and the Celtics rivalry reemerged. It is possible. The Celtics are now a title contender and the Lakers, despite popular belief, are not too far off. But it doesn't have to be these two teams. Lebron James and Carmelo Anthony came into the league together and have potential for a future rivalry.
But it seems the rivalries and bitter competitition that makes this game so great are fading away. Today, all the stars of the league are "buddy buddy' and kick it on the weekends.Back in the day, you had teams that hated eachother. Such as the New York Knicks and the Indiana Pacers. This was so fun to watch. Every play their was a chance someone gets in a fight or thrown to the ground. Now that is how the NBA should be! Come on David Stern grow some cajones and let 'em play!
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