NBA Playoffs 2011: Is Boston Celtics vs. New York Knicks a Rivalry Renewed?

There has been a lot of talk about the new look New York Knicks and their supposed rivalry with the Boston Celtics. But that is all it is…talk. 

In a recent article on NESN.com, Evans Clinchy documented the storied history between these two teams.  And while his historical jaunt down memory lane was entertaining, it was by no means evidence of a rivalry. 

Rivalry is defined as the condition of competitiveness: the condition or fact of competing with somebody or something. 

The Knicks have not been competitive with anyone since the early '90s, a period in which the Celtics struggled.  If the longest tenured Celtic and Captain Paul Pierce doesn’t find it to be a rivalry, then I am pretty sure no stats or opinions from outsiders really matter. 

"It's a rivalry?" he said. "Oh, man. You all let me in on all the new stuff all the time.” 

"I didn't even know we had a rivalry. But hey, if that's what you want it to be, if that's what'll sell more tickets and attract more viewers, then OK. You make up the rivalries, we don't."

Perhaps this is the rebirth of a storied, competitive history between two highly respected franchises. 

Perhaps, if both remain playoff caliber teams for years to come, standing in each other’s way of the final prize, then we might be able to call this a rivalry.  But first, the Celtics need to continue to prove they are a force to be reckoned with in the Eastern Conference, and the Knicks need to prove they are remotely competitive. 

Forgive me if a team that has gone 14-13 since joining three perennial All-Stars leaves me unimpressed.