2008 NBA Championship

Lore & Background

The Celtics made their first NBA Finals appearance since a six-game loss to the Lakers in 1987. Over the next 20 years the Celtics endured lean years, not making the playoffs in nine of those years. Following the dissolution of the team's original 'Big Three' through the retirements of Larry Bird and Kevin McHale and the departure of Robert Parish, the Celtics suffered through several tragedies such as the passing of Reggie Lewis in 1993; a franchise-worst 15-win 1996–97 season; the ill-fated hiring of head coach Rick Pitino; and the deaths of franchise patriarch Red Auerbach and former player Dennis Johnson, which culminated in a 24-win 2006–07 season, highlighted by a franchise-worst 18 straight losses. Nevertheless, the 2007 off-season saw Celtics general manager Danny Ainge acquire Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett to join franchise star Paul Pierce. This new formation became regarded as the most talented Boston Celtics team since the duo of Antoine Walker and Paul Pierce in the early 2000s. 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 perennial Eastern Conference powerhouse Detroit Pistons, earning their first finals berth since 1987.

In Their Own Story

The arena hums with electricity as the final seconds tick away on Game Six. Paul Pierce stands at the free-throw line, the weight of twenty-two years resting on his shoulders. He sinks the shot, and TD Garden erupts. Green confetti rains down from the rafters as teammates swarm the hardwood. In that moment, the noise fades into a roar of pure relief and triumph. The banner is raised, not just for the players, but for every fan who kept the faith through the lean years.

Reader's Guide

The Celtics won both games in the regular season series. On December 30, 2007, the Celtics routed the Lakers at the Staples Center on throwback jersey night by a score of 110–91. The Lakers also played the first half in throwback shorts, but went back to their regular shorts at halftime after they were down big. With the win, the Celtics also prevented Lakers coach Phil Jackson from surpassing Red Auerbach for seventh all-time in coaching wins. With it being the first time the Celtics Big 3 visited the Lakers as a unit and it being throwback jersey night, there was a lot of emotion in the building; as such, there were seven technical fouls assessed to both teams in the game. The Celtics moved to 26–3, which continued one of their best starts in franchise history. The game was also a harbinger of things to come in the 2008 Finals. Bryant scored 22 points, but did so inefficiently, going 6-for-25. This would be a theme in the Finals, as Bryant still was able to score 25.7 PPG, but shot just 40 percent from the field. On the other end, Paul Pierce scored 33 points and Kevin Garnett shut down the Lakers' big men, two things that continued in the Finals. A little over one month after this game, the Lakers traded for Memphis Grizzlies star forward Pau Gasol, largely in part to match-up with Garnett.

Did You Know?

• Rodd Houston narrated the Boston Celtics' championship season documentary on NBA Entertainment. The made-for-TV version of this documentary is narrated by Kevin Harlan.
• The Celtics would not win another championship until 2024.
• Paul Pierce admitted during coverage of the 2019 NBA Finals that he just had to use the bathroom after being taken off in a wheelchair in Game 1.