C O M M E M O R A T I V E S E C T I O N
NBA FINALS Game 6
LA
92
BOS
131
photo galleries
celtics playoff video
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celtics championship discussions
- What does the Celtics' NBA title mean to you?
- How are you celebrating the Celtics's NBA title?
- Does this squad rank among all-time great Celts teams?
- Has Pierce cemented legacy as one of the C's all-time greats?
Fan-submitted photos
Your Celtics fan photos
You've been sending us your photos all playoffs, and here are some of the best! Tributes
photo/video contest
Enter our Gino tribute contest
With the saddening news that 'Gino' passed away 18 years ago, we're looking for the best tribute to the Celtics' dancing man. Record some video or snap a photo and send it to us for the chance to win an iPod shuffle.
Dancing like Gino | YouTube | Who is Gino?
Dancing like Gino | YouTube | Who is Gino?
blogs
All-access pass to a championship
From live updates, to analysis, to video blogging, we were at every game and covered every angle of the Celtics' championship run.
Seventeen, so sweet
You're damn right it's okay to call them the Big Three now. They are NBA champions, and they did it in a manner that would impress even Larry, Kevin, and the Chief.
It's a wrap
I love basketball, but enough is enough. There should be a rule: no hoop after Memorial Day. Leftover thoughts from the NBA playoffs ...
No doubt
The C's wire-to-wire dominance required a bit of tight-rope walking along the way, but ended without a second question about who the best team in the NBA is.
Rich get richer
So, that's six titles in the last six years. It's the Golden Age of Boston Sports. Don't expect it to end anytime soon.
ON TOP OF THE WORLD!
The Celtics beat LA to a pulp and ran away with championship No. 17.
playoff features
globe store
Take home history
Order "Banner 17,'' the Boston Globe's book about the championship Celtics season.
champs on your desktop
Celtics wallpaper
Celebrate the C's on your desktop with some of the best Globe photographs of the season.
boston dirt dogs
The Ghost of Most
Very high above courtside, Johnny took in all the excitement of the Celtics 17th championship.
celtics-lakers history
Bob Ryan's Celtics-Lakers Top 10
There's a lot to choose from when picking the most memorable Celtics-Lakers Finals games. The Globe's Bob Ryan lists his 10 favorites prior to 2008.
celtics playlist
Garden mix
Boston.com's Chris Forsberg runs down the songs that provided the soundtrack for the Boston Celtics' 2007-08 season. Click in and check out our iTunes iMix and view our track-by-track gallery.
Fellowship of the ring
All hail the triumvirate: Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and Ray Allen. Together they wrote history, orchestrating the NBA's greatest one-year turnaround by remaking a tottering team that staggered to a 24-58 finish the previous season into a 66-16 supershredder. (Boston Globe)
nba finals game-by-game recap
Ring it up!
After a 22-year wait that included the retirement of Larry Bird, lots of lean years, and the death of Red Auerbach, the Celtics have new legends named Pierce, Allen, and Garnett, who now can tell their stories about touching the trophy, spraying champagne, and wishing Red were here to witness it.
- game 1 Celtics 98, Lakers 88
- game 2 Celtics 108, Lakers 102
- game 3 Lakers 87, Celtics 81
- game 4 Celtics 97, Lakers 91
- game 5 Lakers 103, Celtics 98
- game 6 Celtics 131, Lakers 92
- video Ryan and Shaughnessy put it in perspective
photo gallery
(Globe Staff Photo / Barry Chin)Party of 15
Meet the world champion Celtics, each of whom brought something to the table in delivering the first world title since 1986.
Bob Ryan's all-time top 10
(Globe Staff Photo / Bill Greene)The greatest
of the green
Bob Ryan outlines his list of the best Celtics teams over the years. The 1985-86 squad (left) ranked No. 1, but the 2007-08 men in green were not too far behind.
- gallery Ryan's top 10 | Sweet 17: Celtics' title teams
the rolling rally
(Globe Staff Photo / David L. Ryan)Hoop heaven
Euphoric multitudes of cheering, chanting, cigar-chomping fans turned downtown Boston into a twisting river of emerald and white in a celebratory salute to the Celtics' first championship in 22 years. (Boston Globe)
- photos Rolling rally | Garden scene | The big picture
Big Three stuck together
Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Ray Allen sat side by side during a press conference at TD Banknorth Garden to announce their arrival in Boston July 31. The Big Three stood side by side in uniform in front of the Roman Colosseum at the beginning of training camp in October while cameras flashed and surprised tourists looked on. (Boston Globe, 6/19/08)
Title gives birth to a new generation of fans
At Mozart Park in Jamaica Plain, 15-year-old Max Ricci and 17-year-old Steven Porix did their best imitations of the Big Three, slashing to the bucket, pulling up for long-range jumpers, and posting in the paint. (Boston Globe, 6/19/08)
Grousbeck the owner of winning smile
Only a few stragglers remained at TD Banknorth Garden nearly two hours after the Celtics captured their 17th NBA title. (Boston Globe, 6/19/08)
Bob Ryan
Unbelievable? No, believable
131-92. Embrace it. Ogle it. Relish it. But, above all, believe it. The Celtics did not just win franchise championship No. 17 last night. They snatched it. They swallowed it. They demanded it.
(Boston Globe)
Fans honor Auerbach with victory cigars
From the doors of a cigar bar in downtown Boston, two friends began their pilgrimage. (Boston Globe, 6/20/08)
eastern conference finals game-by-game recap
Celtics outlast Pistons in six games
The Celtics advanced to the NBA Finals by defeating the Detroit Pistons in six games in the Eastern conference finals. They lost their first home game of the playoffs, but won two games on the road.
Eastern Conference semifinals
Truth be told
"The Truth" may be a reach, but Paul Pierce sure lived up to his Captain's title in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Cavaliers. Pierce scored 41 points as Boston fought off a 45-point effort from LeBron James to reach the East finals.
- game-by-game recap Celtics 4, Cavaliers 3
First round
Delayed takeoff
It took seven games for the Celtics to eliminate the upset-minded Hawks in the first round of the playoffs. Boston won all four home games (including Game 7 in blowout fashion) and lost all three on the road.
- game-by-game recap Celtics 4, Hawks 3
NBA Finals game by game
Game 1: Celtics 98, Lakers 88
Comeback kids
In their first Finals game since 1987, the Celtics used a smothering defense in the second half to defeat the Lakers, 98-88, in Game 1 at the Garden. Game photos | Scene photos
- Bob Ryan Remember, it's only one
- Dan Shaughnessy Strolling down Memory Lane
Game 2: Celtics 108, Lakers 102
Survivor: Boston
The Celtics nearly blew a 24-point lead in the fourth quarter before defeating the Lakers, 108-102, in Game 2 of the NBA Finals at TD Banknorth Garden. Game photos | Scene photos
- Bob Ryan 'X' marks the spot for Powe
- Dan Shaughnessy Two down, two to go
Game 3: Lakers 87, Celtics 81
Coast trip
The Celtics lost Game 3, 87-81, to the Lakers before a celebrity-laden crowd at Staples Center, and their lead in the Finals was cut to one game. Game photos | Scene photos
- Bob Ryan Out West, their game went south
- Dan Shaughnessy Wrong way in LA
Game 4: Celtics 97, Lakers 91
Comeback story
The Celtics overcame a 24-point deficit en route to a stunning 97-91 victory over the Lakers in Game 4 at Staples Center. Game photos | Scene photos | Photos of the comeback
- Bob Ryan Seeing this was believing
- Dan Shaughnessy Roaring back
Game 5: Lakers 103, Celtics 98
LA Dodgers
Despite a 38-point effort from Paul Pierce, the Celtics lost, 103-98, to the Lakers in Game 5 . Boston still holds a one-game lead in the series. Game photos | Scene photos
- Bob Ryan It was there for the taking
- Dan Shaughnessy No party on the coast
Game 6: Celtics 131, Lakers 92
Ring it up!
The Celtics finally claimed their 17th NBA title by defeating the Lakers, 131-92, in Game 6 of the NBA Finals. Game photos | Postgame celebration | Scene photos | Fan celebration
- Bob Ryan Unbelievable? No, believable
- Dan Shaughnessy Back on top
Eastern Conference Finals game by game
Game 1: Celtics 88, Pistons 79
Speeding Ticket
No NBA team was stingier defensively in the regular season than the Pistons. But KG found a recipe vs. Detroit that works. Photos
- Bob Ryan Series will be a grind all the way
- Dan Shaughnessy Allen spins his wheels, stuck in neutral
Game 2: Pistons 103, Celtics 97
Home schooled
As Paul Pierce walked off the court feeling different than he has been accustomed to at home in the playoffs, he said, "There's a lot more basketball to play."
Photos
- Bob Ryan Pistons' playoff class was on display
- Dan Shaughnessy Celtics taught a hard lesson
Game 3: Celtics 94, Pistons 80
Palace coup
After searching for a long time, the Celtics finally got back on the smooth path on which they had been accustomed to driving. The Celtics won their first road game of the playoffs, a 94-80 decision over the Pistons. Photos
- Dan Shaughnessy This performance was worth the wait
Game 4: Pistons 94, Celtics 75
All tied up
The Big Three were brought down to size. The Celtics fell, 94-75, to the Pistons in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Photos
- Bob Ryan It was an altogether disappointing performance
- Dan Shaughnessy Pistons keep on churning
Game 5: Celtics 106, Pistons 102
Leading men
The Celtics moved one win from advancing to the NBA Finals with a 106-102 victory over the Pistons in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals.
- Bob Ryan Allen acting like himself
- Dan Shaughnessy Finally, another opportunity.
Celtics 89, Pistons 81
Final blow
The Celtics advanced to the NBA Finals by defeating the Detroit Pistons, 89-81, in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals at The Palace of Auburn Hills.
- Bob Ryan No doubt about it now
- Dan Shaughnessy A green dream