Boston Celtics: The 25 Most Hated Opponents

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PONTIAC, MI – CIRCA 1987: Isiah Thomas #11 of the Detroit Pistons looks on with head coach Chuck Daly whiles there’s a break in the action during an NBA basketball game circa 1987 at The Pontiac Silverdome in Pontiac, Michigan . Thomas played for the Pistons from 1981-94. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /

11. Bad Boy Pistons

In between the era of Bird and Magic, and Michael Jordan’s ascendancy to the top of the NBA pyramid, the Bad Boy Pistons of Detroit raged throughout the NBA. Isiah Thomas was the crybaby poster child of this team that ended the Celtics’ run of dominance in the Eastern Conference at the end of the 1980s. Boston never faced Thomas, Laimbeer, Rodman, Vinnie Johnson and Friends with its original Big Three in its prime.

Bird’s memorable steal of Thomas’ inbounds pass boosted the Celtics in the 1987 Conference Finals. After that series loss, Thomas famously said if Bird were black he ”would be just another good guy” instead of being considered among the NBA’s best. He later said he was “joking.” The Pistons would eliminate Boston the following spring. These Pistons were indeed Nasty Boys. And they were often too much for the aging Celtics to handle.

Next: No. 10 -- Kareem

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