Garnett, Allen and Pierce celebrate their championship(Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE/Getty Images)
The power is back in the East as the Celtics claim their 17th NBA title with a 131-92 demolition job over the Lakers. Celtics fans knew this was coming and so did Kobe Bryant. As for the C's Big 3, winning the championship was finally a reality.
Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen and Paul Pierce didn't disappoint. From a team with only 24 wins last season transformed into champions in 2008. And what a year it was for Pierce. Playing for 10 seasons with the Celtics, Pierce was at a crossroads ended up being trade bait at the start of the 2008 season. Then KG and Ray Ray came along. Things were looking up for Paul Pierce and that was the beginning of their road to their NBA Championship. And the rest was history.
The support from their fans were overwhelming chants of "Beat LA" were all over the TD Banknorth Garden. It was like the old days for many Celtics fans. Taunts from the rowdy Celtics crowd somehow got into the heads of the Lakers. It proved to be costly for the Lake show.
Bryant was held to 3 measly points in the 2nd quarter, all of which were from the free throw line. His efforts were in vain as he finished with 22 points. Kobe was definitely seeing green everywhere.
When the lead was 58-35, the Celtics never looked back and toyed with the Lakers in the 2nd half. The Big 3 were all in double figures. Kevin Garnett racked up 26 points and 16 boards, Ray Allen also had 26 points and made a record setting 22 3-pointers in NBA Finals finals history and Paul Pierce exploded with 33 points that earned him the Finals MVP trophy. The Celtics dominated every step of the way. Not even Kobe could stop the C's scoring rampage.
Celtics guard Rajon Rondo defense was the one that sparked the scoring run as he made key steals in the 1st quarter. He scored a career high of 21 points, 6 steals and dropped 8 dimes. The rest of the team followed. The Celtics bench started contributing. James Posey lead the bench scoring with 11 points and was 3-3 from beyond the arc. Eddie House added 9 points while Leon Powe and Veteran PJ Brown chipped in 8 and 6 points respectively.
Defense does win championships after all.
Rookie forward Glen "Big Baby" Davis made his first NBA Finals appearance scored 3 points and 4 rebounds. Tony Allen scored his only bucket in the when he made a reverse two-handed dunk in transition late in the closing minutes of the game.
The Celtics defense were all over Bryant. So was Pau Gasol despite chalking up 11 points in the game. Whether Kobe was gonna drive into the lane or pull-up a shot, 2 or 3 Celtic defenders were right in front of him. Things looked bleak for the guys in purple and gold.
The Lakers never won single game in Boston during the finals. Their chances of making history by climbing back from a 3-1 deficit in the finals series will remain a pipe dream.
The Celtics have another historical moment with their 39 point win surpassed the NBA record of the largest margin of victory in a championship clincher since the 1965 NBA Finals. Ironically, It was in that same year of the NBA Finals, the Celtics won 129-96 over the Lakers in Game 5.
The celebration already started when Doc Rivers pulled the big 3 back in the bench with 4:01 left in the 4th quarter for a well deserved rest letting the Celtics reserves finish the rest of the game. Paul Pierce was hugging coach Rivers in sideline. KG was very emotional walking back to bench so did Ray Allen. Pierce doused Rivers with a cooler of red Gatorade on him with only a minute left in the game sensing the NBA title is already at hand.
Kobe Bryant could only sit back and watch as his team was schooled by the Celtics bench mob. The rest of Lakers have long faces from the sideline just waiting for the final horn to sound. Phil Jackson's attempt of winning 10 championships will perhaps have to wait another year. They have a lot to ponder on during the summer break. The only consolation Kobe has is his regular season MVP trophy. All their efforts where just thrown out of the window and hopefully make new start next season.
When the horn has sounded, the celebration was now in full force. After his interview with ABC reporter Michelle Tafoya, Kevin Garnett gave NBA Hall of Famer Bill Russell, who was in attendance, a great big hug and said "I got my own. I got my own. I hope we made you proud."
"You sure did," Russell replied. It was a Kodak moment indeed for KG.
Paul Pierce is in cloud 9 right now. Who can blame him? He truly deserves it and was rewarded gratefully for his hard work as the Finals MVP. The Celtics' Executive Director of Basketball Operations Danny Ainge couldn't be more happier. He was the one who pulled off the blockbuster deals of getting Garnett from Minnesota and Ray Allen from Seattle.
It was like a fairy tale ending in Beantown. After their grueling playoff run against the Atlanta Hawks and the Cleveland Cavaliers in the East, took them to the limit in a couple of Game 7's. The C's long journey to win the NBA Championship was indeed a fruitful one and the new generation Big 3 has lived up to the hype and delivered. When it was all said and done, the Celtics are now sitting on top of the world.
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