Celtics vs. 76ers -- Ready to battle again

Russell vs. Chamberlain.

Bird vs. Dr. J.

Pierce vs. Iverson?

They're baaaaack.

The Boston Celtics have returned to where they rightfully belong -- the NBA playoffs -- and who better to re-baptize them in the 21st century then their 20th century rival, the Philadelphia 76ers?

If you're a basketball fan the idea of this once bitter series being renewed has got to have your blood pumping.

The rivalry goes back to the 1950s when the -- then -- Syracuse Nationals and the Boston Celtics matched up annually in the spring.

Five straight years from 1953 to 1957, the two teams battled in the playoffs. They were bitter, bitter rivals. To this day, it is rumored there are still hard feelings between players on those squads.

The Nationals usually got the better of those early matchups, winning three of those five series.

Bob Cousy once scored 50 points in a 1953 playoff game against the Nationals. Once the big fella, Russell, showed up though, the series swung to the side of the Celtics, with the green winning the series in '57, '59 and '61.

Then, the Nationals moved to Philadelphia in 1963 and became the 76ers, and the spring ritual continued.

Celtics vs. 76ers. 1965 was the year of "Havlicek stole the ball."

Each series seemed to go to the limit, and each time the 76ers seemed ready to break through, but the Celtics would find a way to break their hearts.

Finally in 1967, the 76ers did break through. After storming through the league with a 68-13 record, they finally defeated the Celtics four games to one.

In 1968, however, it was back to usual as the Celtics beat the Sixers, four games to three.

The teams didn't meet again in the playoffs until 1977.

Then, it was another seven games series, with Philadelphia winning this one, 4-3.

The Sixers by this time had Julius Erving leading a talented cast.

In 1979, the Celtics added Larry Bird, and the teams met in the playoffs in 1980, with the Sixers winning that series four4 games to one.

The next year the Sixers took a three games to one lead in their playoff series, and looked to close out the Celtics for the second straight year. Then, during game 5, Cedric Maxwell of the Celtics went into the stands after a fan that had been abusive and the tide of the series turned. The Celtics stormed back to take the next three games to win the series.

In 1982, the teams met once again, and again the Sixers took a 3-1 lead. Again the Celtics came back and forced a deciding game 7 at the fabled Boston Garden.

A group of fans dressed in white sheets and proclaiming themselves "The Ghosts of Celtics past" paraded past the court and at least one Sixer thought at first glance that it was the Ku Klux Klan.

The game however, belonged to Philadelphia, who dominated from start to finish. During the last few minutes of the game, the Boston fans chanted "Beat L.A...Beat L.A.," a tribute and encouragement to the 76ers, who were next to face the almost equally hated Los Angeles Lakers.

The teams met one last time in 1985, and the Celtics won that series, four games to one, with Bird taking the ball from Andrew Toney in the closing seconds to seal the win.

This weekend will mark the 15th time these two franchises have met in the postseason.

The Sixers have been in the playoffs the last few years, including an appearance in the NBA finals last June. The Celtics, on the otherhand, are making their first playoff appearance since 1995, the last year of the Boston Garden.

The inexperience of the Celtics could work against them, as this is probably the worst, and toughest, matchup for them among any of the Eastern Conference playoff teams.

Allen Iverson has missed the last few weeks with a broken hand, but count on him playing in the series, and going, as he always does, all out.

Eric Snow has been a Celtic killer over the last couple seasons. He cannot make a jump shot to save his life against every other opponent, but generally shoots lights out against the Celtics when they leave him to double Iverson.

It will be fascinating to see how the young Celtic co-captains -- Antoine Walker and Paul Pierce -- react to this increased spotlight of making their first NBA playoff series.

If they know the playoff history between these two teams, they will realize that they have a lot to live up to.