Boston and Philadelphia have some of the most passionate fans in the NBA and sports in general. They eat, sleep and breathe their hometown teams, so we should see an electric atmosphere at each game of this series.
So how do Philly and Beantown stack up? Check out the tale of the tape below.
Beer: Yuengling vs. Samuel Adams
Yuengling is the oldest operating brewery in the United States, having been established in 1829. Its headquarters is in Pottsville, Pa. In Philly, if you want to order a Yuengling, you simply ask for a "lager."
Sam Adams, meanwhile, has grown from small micro-brewery to the largest craft beer manufacturer in the U.S. since its reintroduction in 1985.
In 2011, Yuengling and Boston Beer Company (which makes Sam Adams) tied as the largest American-owned brewery.
Food: Cheesesteak vs. Clam Chowder
A cheesesteak includes shredded, thin-sliced steak on a long roll. Legend has it that Pat and Harry Olivier invented it in the early 1930s. Pat opened Pat's King of Steaks in South Philadelphia, which is across the street from its well-known rival, Geno's Steaks. Cheesesteaks can come with a variety of cheeses, including American, provolone or Cheez Whiz (the most popular choice). Customers order cheesesteaks "wit" or "wittout" to designate whether they want onions.
Clam chowder is cream-based chowder with clams, potatoes and onions. Maine actually tried to outlaw tomatoes in clam chowder in 1939 to prevent its evil twin, Manhattan clam chowder, from infiltrating New England.
City Halls: Philadelphia vs. Boston
Philly's is the second-tallest masonry building in the world, and it was the tallest habitable building in the world from 1901-1908. No building in Philly was to be taller than the hat on William Penn's statue atop the clock, until that gentlemen's agreement was broken in 1984 with the building of One Liberty Place. Philly then suffered a championship drought that lasted more than two decades called "The Curse of Billy Penn," which ended with the Phillies' 2008 World Series (when a miniature statue of Penn was put atop the new ballpark).
Boston's city hall was built in 1969 as an example of "brutalist" style. It's been controversial since it was unveiled, as its architecture got more unpopular as the trend turned away from modernism to old-fashioned styles late in 20th century.
Green Space: Fairmount Park vs. Boston Common
Fairmount is actually 63 parks over 9,200 acres, and it was dedicated in 1855.
The Common is the oldest city park in U.S., dating from 1634, and is 50 acres.
Bar-Themed Sitcom: It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia vs. Cheers
It's Always Sunny, which debuted in 2005, focuses on four people known as "The Gang," which runs Paddy's Pub in South Philly.
Cheers is about customers at a bar owned by fictional failed Red Sox pitcher Sam "Mayday" Malone, played by Ted Danson.
Dessert: Tastykake vs. Boston Crème Pie
Tastykake features prepackaged snacks such as Krimpets, Kandy Kakes and Kreamies. It is headquartered at Philadelphia Naval Shipyard.
Bostom crème pie is a cake filled with custard and chocolate frosting.
Boxer: Joe Frazier vs. Rocky Marciano
Frazier boxed from 1965-76 and fought three famous bouts with Muhammad Ali, including the third and final meeting in "Thrilla in Manila" on Oct. 1, 1975. Ali won and called it "the closest thing to dying I know."
Marciano was heavyweight champ from 1952-56, and he is the only champ to go undefeated his entire career. "The Brockton Blockbuster" went 49-0.
Fictional Character: Rocky Balboa vs. Will Hunting
Rocky, created by Sylvester Stallone, is a boxer who gets picked by heavyweight champ Apollo Creed to fight for the title. It won Best Picture, Best Director and Best Film Editing at the 1976 Academy Awards. It was also nominated for seven other Oscars and was the highest-grossing movie of 1976. The Celtics actually play "Going The Distance," a song from the movie, when the team jogs onto the court before home games.
Will Hunting is the title character in the 1997 movie Good Will Hunting. The film won Best Original Screenplay and Best Supporting Actor (Robin Williams), and it was nominated for seven other Oscars. The budget for the movie was $10 million, and it reportedly grossed $225 million.
Historical Landmarks: Liberty Bell vs. Plymouth Rock
The Liberty Bell is hung in a steeple at the Pennsylvania State House. It may have been one of bells rung when the Declaration of Independence was signed.
Plymouth Rock is allegedly where the Pilgrims stepped off the Mayflower.
Bridges: Benjamin Franklin Bridge vs. Leonard P. Zakim Bunker Hill Memorial Bridge
Ben Franklin Bridge is a suspension bridge that connects Philly and Camden, N.J. It was built in 1926.
The Zakim Bridge in Boston was built in 2003. It's the cable-stayed bridge that replaced the Charlestown High Bridge. It is world's widest cable-stayed bridge.
Iconic Homes: Spectrum vs. Boston Garden
Philly's Spectrum was in use from 1967-2009 before being destroyed in 2011. It was the home of the Sixers from 1967-1996, and its name was an abbreviation for "SPorts, Entertainment, Circus, Theatrical and Recreation auditoriUM." The Rocky statue lived outside the Spectrum for many years before it was moved to the Philadelphia Museum of Art in 2006. The Spectrum has since been replaced by CoreStates Center, now the Wells Fargo Center.
The Boston Garden opened in 1928 as "Boston Madison Square Garden," and it was demolished in 1997. The Bruins' rink at the Garden was undersized due to being built before the NHL had standard-sized rinks, and the Celtics' floor was uneven and had dead spots. The Boston Garden has since been replaced by FleetCenter, now TD Garden.
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