Playoff Series Meetings

Counts and weights the number of playoff series between the rival sides. More playoff meetings mean higher stakes encounters, which intensifies a rivalry. Conference Finals and Finals meetings are weighted more heavily.

49entities ranked

Used in:RII

Playoff Series Meetings Leaderboard

#	Entity	Score	Reasoning
	Celtics vs Lakers Rivalryteam_rivalry	100	12 Finals meetings, the most between any two franchises. Multiple other playoff matchups throughout history.
	LeBron vs Warriorsplayer_rivalry	95	Four consecutive NBA Finals (2015-2018); no rivalry in modern NBA has this many consecutive championship-level meetings
	Wilt vs Russell Rivalryplayer_rivalry	90	8 playoff series in 10 years (1959-1969). Among the most frequent playoff matchups in NBA history.
4	Steph vs LeBron Rivalryplayer_rivalry	85	4 consecutive Finals meetings (2015-2018). Equal to Cavs/Warriors as it is the same rivalry at individual level.
4	Reggie Miller vs Knicksplayer_rivalry	85	Five playoff series between 1993-2000; almost annual postseason matchups throughout the 90s
4	Cavs vs Warriors Rivalryteam_rivalry	85	4 consecutive NBA Finals meetings (2015-2018). Only Lakers/Celtics have more Finals meetings.
4	Pacers vs Knicks Rivalryteam_rivalry	85	Five playoff meetings in six years (1993-1999+). One of the most frequent playoff matchups of the 1990s.
8	Magic vs Bird Rivalryteam_rivalry	82	3 NBA Finals meetings (1984, 1985, 1987). Also 1979 NCAA Championship game that started it all.
8	Lakers vs Kingsteam_rivalry	82	Met in 2000, 2001, and 2002 playoffs; three consecutive years of postseason warfare
8	Celtics vs 76ers Rivalryteam_rivalry	82	Numerous playoff meetings across decades. 1960s Russell vs Wilt, 1980s Bird vs Dr J, 2010s Embiid vs Tatum.
8	Knicks vs Heat Rivalryteam_rivalry	82	Multiple playoff meetings: 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2012. One of the most frequent 90s playoff matchups.
12	Lakers vs Spurs Rivalryteam_rivalry	78	Multiple WCF meetings: 2001, 2003, 2004, 2008, 2013. Defined the Western Conference for a decade.
12	Bulls vs Pistons Rivalryteam_rivalry	78	4 consecutive playoff meetings (1988-1991). Defined the Eastern Conference for that era.
12	Heat vs Celtics Rivalryteam_rivalry	78	Multiple playoff series: 2010, 2011, 2012, 2020, 2022, 2023 ECFs. One of the most frequent modern playoff matchups.
12	Jordan vs Isiah Rivalryplayer_rivalry	78	4 consecutive playoff meetings (1988-1991). Each one was brutal and physical. Defined late 1980s NBA.
16	Pistons vs Celtics Rivalryteam_rivalry	75	1985, 1987, 1988, 1991 playoff meetings. Frequent Eastern Conference playoff opponents during the decade.
17	Spurs vs Suns Rivalryteam_rivalry	72	2005, 2007, 2008, 2010 playoff meetings. One of the most frequent Western Conference matchups of the 2000s.
17	Suns vs Lakers Rivalryteam_rivalry	72	Multiple playoff meetings across decades: 1970, 1993, 2006, 2007, 2010, 2021. Long playoff history.
17	Pierce vs LeBron Rivalryplayer_rivalry	72	2008, 2010, 2011, 2012 playoff meetings. Celtics vs LeBron (Cavs then Heat) was a defining Eastern Conference rivalry.
17	Jordan vs Reggie Rivalryplayer_rivalry	72	Multiple Eastern Conference playoff meetings in 1996, 1998. Bulls-Pacers was the key ECF matchup of the late 90s.
21	Jazz vs Rockets Rivalryteam_rivalry	70	Multiple playoff meetings in 1990s including 1994 and 1995 first round/Conference Finals. Western Conference rivals.
22	Dirk vs Duncan Rivalryplayer_rivalry	68	Multiple playoff series including 2001, 2003, 2006, 2010, 2014. Texas rivals with frequent postseason meetings.
22	Kareem vs Dr J Rivalryplayer_rivalry	68	Multiple playoff meetings including 1980 and 1982 NBA Finals. Lakers vs Sixers was the premier rivalry of the early 80s.
22	Malone vs Rodman Rivalryplayer_rivalry	68	1997 and 1998 NBA Finals Jazz vs Bulls. Rodman guarding Malone was a key matchup in both Finals.
25	Heat vs Mavs Rivalryteam_rivalry	65	2006 and 2011 NBA Finals are the two signature meetings. Limited other playoff encounters between the franchises.
25	Rockets vs Warriors Rivalryteam_rivalry	65	2015, 2018, 2019 playoff meetings. 2018 WCF went 7 games and was arguably the real Finals that year.
27	Nuggets vs Lakers Rivalryteam_rivalry	62	2009 WCF (Lakers won), 2020 WCF (Lakers won), 2023 WCF (Nuggets swept). Growing playoff history.
27	LeBron vs Durant Rivalryplayer_rivalry	62	3 playoff meetings: 2012 Finals (LeBron won), 2017-18 Finals (KD/Warriors won). Limited but high-profile.
27	Ewing vs Olajuwon Rivalryplayer_rivalry	62	1994 NBA Finals was the signature matchup. Also met in earlier playoff rounds. College rivalry at Houston vs Georgetown.
27	Blazers vs Lakers Rivalryteam_rivalry	62	Multiple playoff meetings across decades including 1991, 2000, 2001. Pacific Division rivalry.
27	Stockton vs Payton Rivalryplayer_rivalry	62	Jazz vs Sonics met multiple times in 1990s playoffs. Northwest Division rivals with frequent postseason matchups.
27	Thunder vs Warriors Rivalryteam_rivalry	62	2016 WCF is the signature meeting. Also 2012 playoff matchup and regular season battles with KD vs Steph narrative.
33	AI vs Kobe Rivalryplayer_rivalry	55	2001 NBA Finals was the signature matchup. Limited other playoff meetings between them.
33	Kobe vs Shaq Rivalryplayer_rivalry	55	Only 1 direct playoff meeting (2004 Finals) but years of internal rivalry while teammates counts differently.
35	Bucks vs Raptors Rivalryteam_rivalry	48	2017 first round and 2019 ECF are the key playoff meetings. Relatively new playoff rivalry.
35	Russ vs Beverley Rivalryplayer_rivalry	48	2013 first round (Beverley injured Westbrooks knee), 2017 first round. Limited but intense playoff encounters.
37	KG vs Duncan Rivalryplayer_rivalry	45	Limited direct playoff meetings. KG was in the Western Conference but on weaker Wolves teams for most of his prime.
38	Clippers vs Warriors Rivalryteam_rivalry	42	2014 and 2019 first round playoff meetings. Limited playoff history between the two.
38	Kidd vs Nash Rivalryplayer_rivalry	42	Limited direct playoff meetings. Suns vs Nets never met in the Finals despite both reaching Finals in the 2000s.
38	Shaq vs Ewing Rivalryplayer_rivalry	42	Limited direct playoff meetings. 1999 Eastern Conference matchup was notable. Mostly regular season center battles.
41	Nets vs Raptors Rivalryteam_rivalry	38	2014 first round series is the key meeting. Limited overall playoff history between the two franchises.
42	Wade vs Kobe Rivalryplayer_rivalry	35	No direct playoff meetings despite both being top shooting guards. Conference separation prevented postseason matchups.
42	Barkley vs Oakley Rivalryplayer_rivalry	35	Limited direct playoff meetings. Mostly regular season physical battles in the 1990s.
44	Giannis vs Harden Rivalryplayer_rivalry	30	Limited direct playoff meetings. Rivalry built around MVP voting and style-of-play debates more than postseason battles.
44	CP3 vs Deron Rivalryplayer_rivalry	30	Limited direct playoff meetings. The rivalry was more about parallel careers than direct head-to-head battles.
46	Embiid vs Jokic Rivalryplayer_rivalry	28	No direct playoff meetings. The rivalry is MVP-race driven rather than head-to-head playoff battles.
47	Doncic vs Trae Rivalryplayer_rivalry	20	No direct playoff meetings as of yet. The rivalry is built on the draft trade narrative more than on-court battles.
48	Allen Iverson vs Tyronn Lueplayer_rivalry	15	One Finals series in 2001; no other meaningful head-to-head playoff matchups
49	Jordan vs LeBronplayer_rivalry	10	Zero playoff or regular season meetings. Different eras entirely. This is a legacy/debate rivalry only.