Category: Boston Celtics Blog

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June 8: Celtics 108, Lakers 102

The AP reports: Trailing Boston by 24 points with less than 8 minutes left, the Lakers got within two before losing 108-102 on Sunday night to the Boston Celtics, who are heading out West feeling a little lucky to have a 2-0 lead in the NBA finals… Only three teams—Boston in 1969, Portland in 1977 and Miami in 2006—have overcome an 0-2 deficit to win the title… Paul Pierce darted around the parquet floor with ease to score 28 points and unknown Leon Powe added 21 as the Celtics held serve at home in these trip-down-memory-lane finals. But coasting to a blowout win, the Celtics nearly blew up… The Lakers trailed 95-71 with 7:55 remaining but used a 31-9 run to pull to 104-102 on two free throws by Bryant with 38.4 seconds left. Pierce, though, made two free throws, then blocked a 3-pointer by Sasha Vujacic, and James Posey made two free throws with 12.6 seconds left to ice it for Boston, which improved to 12-1 at home in the postseason.

Ticker reports: Ray Allen scored 17 points and Kevin Garnett added 17 and 14 rebounds for the Celtics, who are now just two wins from their league-best 17th title… Bryant fought early foul trouble but still managed a game-high 30 points and Pau Gasol added 17 for the Lakers, who head home down 2-0 in the best-of-seven matchup, with Game Three set for Tuesday night at Staples Center in Los Angeles… Bryant and the Lakers ran into serious foul trouble in the second. Bryant picked up his third personal with 1:53 remaining in the first half, and his backcourt teammate Derek Fisher followed with his third infraction with 23.9 seconds remaining.

InsideHoops.com Stat Notes: The Celtics shot 52.9%, the Lakers 49.4%. The Celtics shot an amazing 9-of-14 three-pointers (Pierce 4-of-4, Ray Allen 3-of-6, James Posey 2-of-3), the Lakers a terrific 47.6% (Sasha Vujacic 2-of-3), Jordan Farmar 3-of-4). Huge: The Celtics had 38 free throw attempts (hitting 27), the Lakers just 10 attempts (hitting all 10). Boston dished 31 assists, L.A. 13.

For the Celtics, Pierce (9-of-16) had 28 points, 4 rebounds and 8 assists (plus 5 turnovers). Leon Powe (6-of-7, 9-of-13 free throws) had 21 points off the bench. Garnett (7-of-19) had 17 points and 14 rebounds. Ray Allen (6-of-11) scored 17. Rajon Rondo only scored 4 but dished 16 assists (just 2 turnovers) plus 2 steals.

For the Lakers, Bryant (11-of-23) had 30 points, 4 rebounds, 8 assists and 3 steals. Pau Gasol (8-of-12) had 17 points, 10 rebounds and 4 assists. Vladimir Radmanovic (5-of-12) had 13 points and 10 rebounds. Lamar Odom (5-of-11) was contained all night and had 10 points, 8 rebounds and not much else. Derek Fisher needed 8 shots for his 9 points and 3 steals. Farmar scored 9. Vujacic scored 8.

June 5: Celtics 98, Lakers 88

The AP reports: Paul Pierce, who as a kid growing up in Los Angeles used to sneak into Lakers games, returned from a knee injury to inspire and lead Boston to an emotional and tense 98-88 victory on Thursday night in Game 1 of these tradition-soaked NBA finals… Kevin Garnett scored 24 points, Pierce finished with 22—11 after going down—and Ray Allen, the third member of Boston’s Big Three, added 19 for the Celtics, who are chasing a 17th NBA championship. The trio was making its first finals appearance, and for a short time it appeared only two of them would finish their long-awaited debut. With 6:49 left in the third quarter, Pierce was deep in the lane when teammate Kendrick Perkins crashed into him from behind, crumpling Boston’s No. 34 to the court. The 10-year veteran, who last summer thought his days with Boston might be nearing an end, had to be carried from the court in extreme pain and was taken to Boston’s locker room in a wheelchair… Kobe Bryant led the Lakers with 24 points, but the regular-season MVP was just 9-of-26 from the field as the league’s top defensive team kept close tabs on him. Bryant, attempting to win a fourth NBA title—and first without Shaquille O’Neal—had numerous shots rattle out and spent most of his 42 minutes in the game searching for a rhythm.

Ticker reports: And it was most evident late in the first half, when Bryant – who is known for hoisting up shots in bunches – passed up a wide-open 3-pointer, drew Garnett out to him and dished off to Gasol, who was fouled. The ensuing two free throws gave Los Angeles a 49-44 lead with 1:36 left before halftime, when the Lakers held a 51-46 lead. But Bryant, who scored 24 points on 9-of-26 shooting, was forced to be a one-man show by the Celtics’ defense in the second half. “We got a little stagnant,” Bryant said. “I think our rhythm wasn’t there, wasn’t what we like it to be. Still, we played well enough to almost steal the game – some balls bounced their way tonight. They scrapped and they clawed their way to this victory.” Boston also was buoyed by Allen, who scored 19 points to help his team to its fourth straight Game One victory this postseason.

InsideHoops.com Stat Notes: Both teams shot around 42%, and both struggled from three-point range, but Boston fared a bit better from outside. The Celtics also hit 28-of-35 free throws, the Lakers 21-of-28. The Celtics won the rebounds category, 46-33. Assists were close. The Celtics committed 7 more turnovers.

For the Celtics, Kevin Garnett (just 9-of-22) had 24 points and 13 rebounds. Paul Pierce (7-of-10, 3 threes) had 22 points and not too much else. Ray Allen on 13 shots had 19 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists (but 4 turnovers). Rajon Rondo had 15 points, 5 rebounds and 7 assists. Off the bench, James Posey and PJ Brown combined for 2-of-10 shooting.

For the Lakers, Kobe Bryant (just 9-of-26) had 24 points, just 3 rebounds, 6 assists but 4 turnovers. Derek Fisher on just 9 shots had 15 points, 4 rebounds, 6 assists and 3 steals. Pau gasol (6-of-11) had 15 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists. Lamar Odom (6-of-11) had 14 points, just 6 rebounds, and little else. No other Lakers were particularly good.

Game 2 is Sunday in Boston. The next three games (if Game 5 happens) are in los Angeles. Games 6 and 7, if they happen, are in Boston.

Useful Finals notes

Phil Jackson-coached teams are 41-0 when winning Game 1 of a playoff series. Overall, Jackson’s 190 playoff victories make him the winningest coach in NBA postseason history. Jackson’s nine titles (in 10 Finals appearances) as a coach, tie him with Boston’s legendary Red Auerbach for most all-time.
During the 2007-08 season, the Celtics swept the season series with the Lakers 2-0. Both games, however, were played in December prior to the Lakers dealing for Pau Gasol.

This is the 11th time the Celtics and Lakers are meeting in The Finals, the most time two teams have met in the championship series. (The second-most meetings belong to the Lakers and 76ers, who have met in The Finals six times.) Below are the outcomes of the Celtics and Lakers’ previous 10 meetings and each team’s leading scorer in the series.

1958-1959: Boston Celtics defeat Minneapolis Lakers 4-0. Leading scorers: BOS – Tom Heinsohn 24.3 ppg; MIN – Elgin Baylor 22.8 ppg.
1961-1962: Boston Celtics defeat Los Angeles Lakers 4-3. Leading scorers: BOS – Bill Russell 22.9 ppg; L.A. Elgin Baylor 40.6 ppg.
1962-1963: Boston Celtics defeat Los Angeles Lakers 4-2. Leading scorers: BOS – Sam Jones 24.7 ppg; L.A. Elgin Baylor 33.8 ppg.
1964-1965: Boston Celtics defeat Los Angeles Lakers 4-1. Leading scorers: BOS – Sam Jones 27.8 ppg; L.A. Jerry West 33.8 ppg.
1965-1966: Boston Celtics defeat Los Angeles Lakers 4-3. Leading scorers: BOS – Bill Russell 23.6 ppg; L.A. Jerry West 33.9 ppg.
1967-1968: Boston Celtics defeat Los Angeles Lakers 4-2. Leading scorers: BOS – John Havlicek 27.3 ppg; L.A. – Jerry West 31.3 ppg.
1968-1969: Boston Celtics defeat Los Angeles Lakers 4-3. Leading scorers: BOS – John Havlicek 28.3 ppg; L.A. – Jerry West 37.9 ppg.
1983-1984: Boston Celtics defeat Los Angeles Lakers 4-3. Leading scorers: BOS – Larry Bird 27.4 ppg; L.A. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 26.6 ppg.
1984-1985: Los Angeles Lakers defeat Boston Celtics 4-2. Leading scorers: L.A. – Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 25.7 ppg; BOS – Kevin Mc Hale 26.0 ppg.
1986-1987: Los Angeles Lakers defeat Boston Celtics 4-2. Leading scorers: L.A. ? Magic Johnson 26.2 ppg; BOS ? Larry Bird 24.2 ppg.

The last time these two storied franchises met in The Finals was 1987. Finals MVP Magic Johnson’s 16-point, 19-assist, eight-rebound effort helped the Lakers claim their fourth title of the decade with a 106-93 Game 6 win over the Celtics.

All time in The Finals, the Celtics are 70-46 (.603); the Lakers are 79-82 (.491). The Celtics have won 16 of 19 championship series; the Lakers 14 of 28.
Click here for significant dates from previous Celtics-Lakers Finals.

The Celtics are only the 11th team — the first since the Nets in 2001-02 — to advance to The Finals a season after missing the playoffs:

1948-49 Washington Capitols
1955-56 Philadelphia Warriors*
1958-59 Minneapolis Lakers
1963-64 San Francisco Warriors
1966-67 San Francisco Warriors
1974-75 Golden State Warriors*
1975-76 Phoenix Suns
1976-77 Portland Trail Blazers*
1977-78 Seattle SuperSonics
2001-02 New Jersey Nets
2007-08 Boston Celtics
* Indicates teams that won title

All time in The Finals, the Celtics are 70-46 (.603); the Lakers are 79-82 (.491). The Celtics have won 16 of 19 championship series; the Lakers 14 of 28.

– NBA News

Lakers bring Finals TV ratings

The AP reports: The NBA finals’ television ratings for the last eight years fall into two unmistakable categories: series with the Los Angeles Lakers, and series without them. The four times that the Lakers—with their large market, big stars and storied tradition—reached the sport’s grandest stage, the finals’ average rating was never lower than a 10.2. The four times they weren’t involved, the number was never above an 8.5. But none of the Lakers’ opponents during that span had the fan base, history and star power to rival their own. That changes this week, as ABC gets a glamour matchup overflowing with story lines when Los Angeles faces its old nemesis, the Boston Celtics.

Celtics defensive credit goes to Tom Thibodeau

The Boston Globe (Christopher L. Gasper) reports: When Kevin Garnett was recognized as the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year, Celtics coach Doc Rivers commented that Garnett had changed the team’s culture when it came to defense. The same can be said of Tom Thibodeau. The first-year assistant coach and former Salem State player is the Celtics’ defensive coordinator and the man charged with molding a plan that will help them slow down league MVP Kobe Bryant and the Lakers in the NBA Finals. Rivers hired Thibodeau last summer as associate head coach and promptly turned over control of the defense to the longtime NBA assistant. And Thibodeau transformed the Celtics into the best defensive team in the league. During the regular season, Boston led the league in fewest points allowed per game (90.1), field goal percentage allowed (41.9), and 3-point field goal percentage allowed (31.6). Last season, Boston ranked 24th in field goal percentage allowed (46.8), 18th in points allowed (99.2), and allowed opponents to shoot 35 percent from beyond the arc.

Origin of `Beat L.A.` chants

The Los Angeles Daily News (Elliott Teaford) reports:  For what it’s worth, the “Beat L.A.” chant started in Boston Garden near the end of the Philadelphia 76ers’ victory over the Celtics in the 1982 Eastern Conference finals. The Celtics crowd urged the Sixers to beat the Lakers in the Finals. Philadelphia would lose to the Lakers in six games, but that didn’t stop the chant from spreading around the nation like a plague without a cure. It was even heard in the Meadowlands when the Ducks, who play in Anaheim, not L.A., faced the New Jersey Devils in the 2003 Stanley Cup Finals. “The fortunate but unfortunate part about the “Beat L.A.” (chant) is that it’s so unoriginal,” Derek Fisher said, breaking into a wry smile when asked if he was looking forward to hearing it from the Boston crowd.

Kareem used to be Celtics fan

The AP reports: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar rooted for the Celtics during his high school days in New York. Honest. He would later be involved in one of the most intense rivalries in sports, going against Boston three times in the NBA finals as a Lakers star in the 1980s. Now, that’s simply a part of his past. “I saw my first Celtics-Lakers rivalry game in 1969,” Abdul-Jabbar recalled Sunday, referring to a matchup in the NBA finals a few months after he completed his college career at UCLA. “I never had a hatred for them. When I was in high school, I was a Celtics fan. I got to meet (then-Boston stars) Bill Russell, (John) Havlicek, (Bob) Cousy, those guys, when I was in ninth grade.”  … “After he retired (in 1987), Bill Walton and I didn’t speak for a couple years,” Abdul-Jabbar said. “We laugh about that now. Nowadays, when I get to Boston, I get stopped by people talking about how the game was played at such a high level (in the 1980s). They miss that.”

Why the Celtics reached the Finals

NBA.com writes: “5) They finally figured out how to win on the road. After failing to do so against Cleveland and Atlanta, Boston managed to pull off two victories in Detroit against one of the best home teams in basketball. 4) Outside of a disappointing Game 2, the C’s stayed strong at home. Boston went undefeated on its homecourt in its first two series and didn’t blink after dropping one at the Garden. 3) After having a rough postseason, Ray Allen finally awoke for big performances in Games 5 and 6. The “Big Three” was starting to look more like a dynamic duo, but Allen pulled himself together in the final two games of the series, erupting for 29 points in Game 5 and posting 17 on Friday. 2) The Celtics figured out how to disrupt every aspect of Tayshaun Prince’s game. Boston held him to 6.3 points per game over the prior three contests and didn’t stop in Game 6. He struggled, going 3-of-10 from the field on Friday. Even after coming up with a crucial steal in the final minutes, he reverted back to his abnormal form as James Posey came from behind, swiping the ball straight out of his hands and dashing Detroit’s final hopes. The staple of Pistons’ basketball looked anything but against Boston. 1) Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett. When you combine the “Truth” with the “Big Ticket” and put them against the Pistons in the Eastern Conference Finals, you get 44 points per game and a 4-2 series victory.”

May 30: Celtics 89, Pistons 81

The AP reports: Paul Pierce scored 27 points, Ray Allen had 17 and Kevin Garnett added 16 to lift the Boston Celtics to an 89-81 victory over the Detroit Pistons on Friday night in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals… After playing two Game 7s, the Celtics will get a needed break before hosting Kobe Bryant and the Lakers on Thursday night… The Pistons blew a 10-point lead in the fourth quarter and lost in Game 6 of the conference finals for the third straight year. They were eliminated on their home court for the first time during a six-year run that included a trip to the conference finals each year and the 2004 title… Chauncey Billups played well and Richard Hamilton scored 21, but the rest of their teammates had lackluster efforts—especially Rasheed Wallace… Wallace scored just four points on 2-of-12 shooting and had three turnovers in what might’ve been his last game as a Piston and could’ve been Flip Saunders’ last as Detroit’s coach. President of basketball operations Joe Dumars will likely make some sort of moves on the bench, the court or both.

Ticker reports: The Celtics, who avoided a third straight Game Seven this postseason, outscored the Pistons 29-13 in the final period to secure the victory. Boston used a powerful 23-6 run to seal the win… After Jason Maxiell gave Detroit a 74-72 edge with a fadeaway jumper, Pierce sliced through the lane and completed a three-point play to give the Celtics the lead for good with 5:25 remaining… Billups scored 29 points for Detroit, which lost in the Eastern Conference finals for the third straight season. The defeat already has raised questions about the job security of coach Flip Saunders.

InsideHoops.com Stat Notes: The Celtics shot 44.4%, the Pistons 42.0%. Both teams were awful from three-point range. The Celtics hit 20-of-27 free throws, the Pistons 17-of-21. Rebounding was close. The Pistons had 19 assists, the Celtics just 14.

For the Celtics, Pierce (8-of-12, 10-of-13 free throws) had 27 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals. Ray Allen (6-of-12, 3-of-8 threes) was alive with 17 points and 6 rebounds. Kevin Garnett (just 7-of-16 with a mere 4 free throw attempts) had 16 points and just 6 rebounds with 4 assists. Kendrick Perkins had 7 points and 7 rebounds. Rajon Rondo needed 13 shots for his 11 points and 4 rebounds. James Posey had 4 rebounds and two steals.

For the Pistons, Billups (9-of-20) had 29 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists. Richard Hamilton (9-of-14) had 21 points and 2 blocks. But then, a severe dropoff: Tayshaun Prince (3-of-10) had 10 points and 4 rebounds. Jason Maxiell (3-of-4) had 7 with 2 steals off the bench. Antonio McDyess (2-of-3) had just 6 points and 6 rebounds. Rasheed Wallace (awful 2-of-12) had 4 points and 10 rebounds. Rodney Stuckey (just 1-of-4) scored 4.