Who were the biggest Celtic rivals?

According to Andover native and Boston sports fan Stephen Stapinski, it shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone that a franchise as storied as the Boston Celtics has had some of the greatest rivalries of all-time. Today, Stephen Stapinski shares his top four.

4. Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls

While most people may see Michael Jordan as the game's G.O.A.T., he certainly wasn't the greatest Celtic rival. But his Bulls in the '80s did make life difficult for Larry Bird and the Celtics as they had a number of amazing showdowns.

3. The Bad Boys

Probably the most loathed of all the Celtic rivals, the Detroit Pistons Bad Boys were rude, crude, and extremely effective. But they needed their all and more to dethrone the Celtics' dominance in the East.

2. Jerry West and the LA Lakers

In the '60s and '70s, the Lakers had the most formidable team in the league – on paper, that is. With stars such as Jerry West, Elgin Baylor, and Wilt Chamberlain, they looked sure to bag the championship for several seasons. However, Bill Russell and the Celtics would always find a way to beat them.

1. The Showtime Lakers

For an entire decade, the Showtime Lakers ruled the NBA alongside the Boston Celtics. They were dominating forces in their respective conferences and would meet no less than three times in the NBA Finals. Throughout this time, the Lakers would win five titles, and the Celtics would win three.