The 1980s saw the rivalry intensify, as Magic Johnson of the Lakers and Larry Bird of the Celtics clashed repeatedly in the finals. The cross-country rivals are tied with the most championship wins (17) in league history. The most famous NBA rivalry, however, goes to the two oldest teams in professional basketball-the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics. After the Pistons won back-to-back championships in 19, Michael Jordan and the Bulls went on to win the next three championships in a row, finishing out the decade with a staggering six championships. Their dominance in the 1990s sparked a number of rivalries between the Chicago Bulls and other NBA teams, including the New York Knicks and the Detroit Pistons. When certain teams come face-to-face, the emotion heats up and the competition is fierce-and professional basketball is no exception. Biggest Rivalries in the NBAĮvery sport has their share of notable rivalries.

Every year, new and experienced bettors jump into NBA playoff betting, and carry that anticipation through to the NBA Finals in June-when the league’s top two teams battle it out for the championship trophy. Adding to their enthusiasm is the ability to bet on odds for the NBA playoff title.

Few events bring greater excitement to basketball fans than the high-stakes, drama-filled, best-of-seven postseason tournament: the NBA playoffs.

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