Boston Celtics and New York Knicks - A Rivalry Is Reborn (or so ESPN would like to believe...)

In the run-up to this past evening's Boston Celtics/New York Knicks game, all that was talked about on ESPN was the debate of whether or not this is a rivalry, as both teams had come in winners of at least 8 straight. Even when a player or analyst disregarded the claim, an anchor or reporter would follow-up with, "Well, when then do you think this will become a rivalry?" or "What defines a rivalry?"

Let's get some things straight here...

Over the past three plus seasons, the Boston Celtics have been to two finals, winning the title once and in the regular season, combining to go 198-72 (.733), while the Knicks have failed to make the playoffs for the past five years, last winning a playoff series in 2000 and posting a 100-167 (.375) record in the past three plus seasons.

Also, including this past evening's game, which the Celtics won in the final seconds, Boston has won 14 of the last 16 games (.875) against New York.

Currently, this is as much of a rivalry as the New York Yankees and Chicago Cubs are or even worse, the Minnesota Timberwolves and Wisconsin Badgers. They don't play each other, you say? Exactly.