Lakers vs Celtics

The defining rivalry of the NBA, responsible for saving the league from near-bankruptcy in the 1980s. Magic Johnson vs Larry Bird revived interest in basketball: the 1984 Finals averaged 19.9 million viewers — the highest in NBA history at that time. The two franchises have met 12 times in the Finals (Celtics lead 9-3) and have combined for 34 NBA championships. The rivalry represents everything: East Coast vs West Coast, discipline vs showtime, blue-collar vs Hollywood. The 2010 Finals (Lakers won in 7 games) was the last time both teams were simultaneously elite, and it drew 28 million viewers for Game 7.