2008 NBA Championship Win

Lore & Background

The Celtics made their first NBA Finals appearance since a six-game loss to the Lakers in 1987. The 2007 off-season saw Celtics general manager Danny Ainge acquire Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett to join franchise star Paul Pierce. The newly formed 'Big Three,' joined by second year point guard and future all star Rajon Rondo, led the Celtics to a dramatic 42-game turnaround, finishing with 66 wins. In the playoffs, the Celtics were pushed to the brink by the Atlanta Hawks and Cleveland Cavaliers, and despite not winning on the road, managed to prevail in a pair of Game 7s on their home court. The Celtics would finally break their road woes in a six-game win against the Detroit Pistons, earning their first finals berth since 1987. The Celtics won Game 1 98–88. The series ended with the Celtics winning in six games.

Reader's Guide

The Celtics won both regular season games. On December 30, 2007, the Celtics routed the Lakers at the Staples Center 110–91. In Game 1, Paul Pierce was injured in the third quarter after a collision with Kendrick Perkins, but returned and scored 15 points in the third quarter. The Celtics won 98–88. Game 2 saw the Lakers establish an early 15–8 lead, but Boston responded with Leon Powe drawing fouls. The series concluded with the Celtics winning in six games.

Did You Know?

• Kevin Harlan narrated the Boston Celtics' championship season documentary on NBA Entertainment.
• The Celtics would not win another championship until 2024.
• The 2008 Finals was the eleventh Finals meeting in the history of the Celtics–Lakers rivalry.