Green Monsters
Celtics' scintillating performance completes a smashing home run and a historic season
There were the 22 patient years of waiting for green-blooded Celtics fans who watched the Red Sox' resurgence and the Patriots' dominance - both in the new millennium.
There was the Len Bias tragedy, the Rick Pitino era, and the 24-win season of 2006-07 that included an 18-game losing streak.
And in one night, a historic season was completed in historic fashion and Celtic pride was restored.
The Celtics routed the Lakers, 131-92, to win their 17th NBA championship.
It was the largest margin of victory in a Finals-clinching game.
It completed the longest postseason for any team - 26 games - and a 13-1 playoff record at home.
It kept Lakers coach Phil Jackson from breaking the record of nine NBA titles he shares with late Celtics patriarch Red Auerbach.
It also was the first time since 1986 that a Boston professional sports franchise won a championship in Boston.
Ray Allen spent a good portion of the first half in the locker room after being poked in the eye by Lamar Odom. When Allen returned to the bench midway through the second quarter, his team was well on its way to a blowout.
Leading, 24-20, after the first quarter, Boston got back-to-back 3-pointers from James Posey and Eddie House for a 38-29 lead with 6:32 remaining in the half. Jackson called a timeout to slow the Celtics' run.
It didn't work. Boston ended the half on a 15-2 run to take a 58-35 lead, which was highlighted by a spectacular bank shot by Kevin Garnett while being fouled; he converted the free throw for a 3-point play.
The third and fourth quarters were for the fans who waited those 22 years. Allen, showing no ill effects from the eye poke, made six second-half 3-pointers, including three consecutive in the fourth quarter.
The lead stretched to 31 points on a Paul Pierce free throw with 4:03 in the third. It reached 43 on a reverse dunk by Tony Allen off an alley-oop with 1:22 remaining in the fourth.
With 4:01 left before a championship celebration, Celtics coach Doc Rivers took out his Big Three of Garnett, Pierce, and Ray Allen. They hugged each other and Rivers, and then Pierce doused the coach with Gatorade.
"They all said, 'Thank you,' and I said, 'Thank you' back," Rivers said.
The Celtics outrebounded the Lakers, 48-29, had 12 fewer turnovers, and 17 more assists. Perhaps the most telling stat was that Boston had a Finals-record 18 steals.
Garnett scored 26 points and grabbed 14 rebounds. Ray Allen had 26 points, including 7-of-9 shooting from beyond the arc. Rajon Rondo had by far his best game of the series with 21 points, 8 assists, 7 rebounds, and 6 steals. Led by Posey's 11, the Celtics' reserves combined for 39 points.
Pierce, in his 10th season, all with Boston, earned Finals MVP honors. He finished with 17 points and 10 assists in the clincher.
Horns were honked and people shouted and danced into the early morning, releasing years of pent-up celebration only a Celtics championship could bring.
