Boston Celtics: The 25 Most Hated Opponents

Basketball: NBA Finals: Boston Celtics Bob Cousy (14) in action, layup vs St. Louis Hawks Bob Pettit (9). Boston, MA 3/30/1957--4/13/1957 CREDIT: Richard Meek (Photo by Richard Meek /Sports Illustrated/Getty Images) (Set Number: X4483 F18 )
Basketball: NBA Finals: Boston Celtics Bob Cousy (14) in action, layup vs St. Louis Hawks Bob Pettit (9). Boston, MA 3/30/1957--4/13/1957 CREDIT: Richard Meek (Photo by Richard Meek /Sports Illustrated/Getty Images) (Set Number: X4483 F18 ) /
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23. The Milwaukee Bucks

The Milwaukee Bucks in the 1970s boasted stars like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Oscar Robertson. The Bucks rose in the Western Conference at a time when a slew of talented players were in the ABA. The Bucks and Celtics met in the 1974 NBA Finals with the smaller and quicker Celtics poised for another title. The series featured six future Naismith Pro Basketball Hall of Fame players, a future Hall of Fame coach and two would-be Hall of Fame referees. Boston won Game 7 in Milwaukee. The Bucks have yet to appear in the NBA Finals since. The rivalry remained steady into the early and mid 1980s, with the Bucks

The series featured six future Naismith Pro Basketball Hall of Fame players, a future Hall of Fame coach and two would-be Hall of Fame referees. Boston won Game 7 in Milwaukee. The Bucks have yet to appear in the NBA Finals since. The rivalry remained steady into the early and mid 1980s, with the Bucks being the only team to ever sweep Larry Bird in a playoff series in 1983. Boston would return the favor with victories over Milwaukee in the 1984 and ’86 Eastern Conference finals and conference semifinals win in ’87.

Next: No. 22 -- The Refs