The Epic Rivalry: Celtics Vs Cleveland Cavaliers Timeline

The Boston Celtics and the Cleveland Cavaliers have a storied history, with a rivalry that spans over five decades. From the Houdinis to the Judases, the two teams have clashed in some of the most iconic NBA games in history. The 2016 NBA Finals, which saw the Cavaliers come back from a 3-1 deficit to win the championship, is still talked about among fans today, but the rivalry between these two teams is much deeper than that one series. In this article, we'll take a look at the Celtics Vs Cleveland Cavaliers timeline, exploring the key moments and players that have shaped their long-standing rivalry.

The rivalry began in the early 2000s, when the Cavaliers, led by Coach Mike Brown, were rising as a contender in the Eastern Conference. Meanwhile, the Celtics were coming off a 2008 championship season under Coach Doc Rivers. The two teams met in the playoffs in 2008, and it was the start of a heated and intense rivalry that would only continue to grow in the years to come.

The Early Years (2008-2012)

* The 2008 playoffs saw the Celtics take home a playoff series win over the Cavaliers, 4-3, with Paul Pierce leading the charge.

* In 2010, the Celtics again bested the Cavaliers in the first round, 4-2.

* LeBron James, who was playing for the Cavaliers at the time, famously called the Celtics a " entitled team" after being swept by them in the 2010 playoffs.

The 2011 trade that sent LeBron James to the Miami Heat began a period of turmoil for the Cavaliers, but the Celtics would not be able to capitalize on their advantage for long. The Cavaliers would go on to rebuild and experience a resurgence in the mid-2010s.

The Revenge (2015-2016)

* In 2015, the Cavaliers faced off against the Celtics in the playoffs, and despite being down 2-1 in the series, they came back to win 4-2.

* The following season, the Cavaliers faced off against the Celtics again, but this time it was the Cavaliers who were on a mission. The series was intense, with the Cavaliers coming from behind to win, 4-3, in the series. Kyrie Irving and LeBron James led the charge for the Cavs, with Irving earning the NBA Finals MVP award.

Revenge For Cleveland (2016-2018)

* The 2016 NBA Finals are still talked about in sports circles today. In an historic series, the Cavaliers came back from a 3-1 deficit to win the championship, 4-3. After years of feeling like "the landless kings" of the NBA, the Cavs finally brought home their first championship in franchise history.

* In the ensuing years, however, the Celtics would continue to pose a formidable opponent for the Cavaliers. The Celtics led by Coach Brad Stevens made it to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2017 and the Finals in 2018.