Best Celtics Moments of the Decade
By: Dan Massar, YawkeyTalkies Staff Writer
It was an incredible rollercoaster ride. That would be a good way to describe this decade for the Boston Celtics. The decade had plenty of ups and downs. From the title in 2008 to the end of the failed Rick Pitino era in 2001. This decade had it all for the Celts. While a list of memorable moments from this past decade for Team Green would have some unpleasant memories for fans, it’s not too hard to come up with the 10 best moments of the decade either. Most come from the last couple of years, but a few are pre-KG. So here it is, the Top 10 Celtics Moments from the 2000’s in order of greatness from #10 to the top moment at #1.
10.Trading for Rajon Rondo in 2006 NBA Draft- This trade took some time to love, but now it has to be considered one of the best of the decade in the NBA. Rondo has turned into one of the best point guards in the league. He’s already won one title and could be an even bigger reason for another parade in 2010. Rondo may turn out to be the Celtics “player of the decade” in the next ten years, as the Big Three get older. Acquiring Rondo was a tremendous move by Danny Ainge. Well don esir.
9. Big Baby Buzzer Beater in Orlando- The Celtics lost the 2nd Round series in 2009 against the Orlando Magic. But Glen Davis’ game winning buzzer beater in game 4 was an awesome moment. Boston was down 2 games to 1 and trailing by 1 with about 10 seconds left in the game. Paul Pierce found an open Davis who rolled open after setting a screen for Pierce and Big Baby nailed a jumper with no time left. Baby’s reaction was priceless. He ran down the court with emotion dripping off his face. His push of a kid sitting courtside just adds to the legend of the play. The Celtics lost the series in 7 but this moment will forever bring a smile to Celtics fan’s faces.
8. 2003 1st round upset of the Pacers- The Celtics were the 6 seed in the 2003 playoffs. They were coming off of a surprising run to the Eastern Conference Finals a year earlier. But now they were underdogs against the 3 seed Indiana Pacers. The Celtics would upset the Pacers, winning in 6 games. This series holds special meaning to me as I was at the game 6 clincher. The Celts would get swept out of the playoff in the next round by the Nets, but the upset win in the 1st round gave Boston back to back 2nd round appearances for the first time since 1992.
7. The Comeback- The 2001-2002 season was a magical year for the Celtics, but the signature win of the season was also the last win of the year. The Celtics came back from a 21 point 4th quarter deficit to beat the New Jersey Nets in game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals. It was the biggest 4th quarter comeback in playoff history. Pierce scored 19 of his 28 points in the 4th quarter. The Nets would win the next 3 games to win the series and a trip to the NBA Finals, but this comeback will always hold a special place in Celtics fan hearts. The Celtics would make another classic comeback later in the decade. Stay tuned.
6. The Celtics are Back- The comeback in game 3 was great, but the overall run to the 2002 Eastern Conference Finals one ups it on the list. The Celtics hadn’t been to the playoffs in 7 years. Rick Pitino had resigned in the middle of the previous season. But things turned around in the 2001-2002 season. Paul Pierce and Antoine Walker finally got the Celts to the playoffs and earned the #3 seed in the East. Series wins over the 76ers and then the Pistons put the Celtics into the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 1988. This season got Boston talking and caring about basketball again. They didn’t win a banner but they got Boston fans thinking green again.
5. KG and Ray come to Boston- These were the trades that changed the course of Celtics and NBA history. On draft night the Celtics traded the #5 pick in the 2007 draft (Jeff Green), Wally Sczerbiak, and Delonte West to Seattle for veteran All Star Ray Allen. This move was puzzling for some fans. Did Ray Allen make the Celtics a contender? Many in the media speculated that another move could be on the horizon for Danny Ainge. Those who thought that were right. A few months after bringing in Allen, Ainge pulled the trigger on a blockbuster trade that brought Kevin Garnett to Boston. The Celtics shipped Al Jefferson, Ryan Gomes, Gerald Green, Sebastian Telfair, Theo Ratliff, two first round draft picks and cash to Minnesota for KG. The rest is history of course. The next four moments occurred in the seasons after these two trades. Danny, nice work. Very nice.
4. Celts and Bulls Go to OT: It may go down as the greatest first round series in NBA history. There were 7 overtime periods in the 7 game series, 7, including a 3OT game 6 in Chicago won by the Bulls that forced a game 7 back in Boston. Rondo was a force in the series, staking his claim as one of the best point guards in the game. Rookie Derrick Rose was brilliant for much of the series for Chicago and Ray Allen hit a number of clutch shots in the series, including the game winner in game 2 when the Celts were trying to avoid losing the first two games of the series at home. Being at the Celtics victorious game 7 with fellow Yawkey Talkies writer Scott Jackson made it all the more memorable.
3. Pierce vs. LeBron- This game 7 duel between Paul Pierce and LeBron James in the 2nd round of the 2008 playoffs was a joy to watch and goes down as one of the great individual battles in playoff history. Pierce scored 41 while James countered with a cool 45. It was reminiscent of a 2nd round game 7 from 1988 when Larry Bird and Dominique Wilkins tangled at the Garden in a classic confrontation ultimately won by the Celtics. While Pierce and James stole the headlines, a clutch shot with the game winding down by P.J. Brown may have been one of the most overlooked big shots of that playoff run for Boston. The veteran hit the shot with 1:21 left in the game and it extended the Boston lead to 91-88. The Celtics would then cement the win from the free throw line. Boston prevailed 97-92. A classic game to end a hard fought series.
2. The Comeback: LA Story- The Celtics led the 2008 NBA Finals 2-1 heading into a pivotal game 4. Only the Lakers were acting like it was pivotal at the start though, as they raced out to a 24 point 2nd quarter lead. Boston got it down to 18 at halftime. The second half was a different story as the Celtics stormed back, outscoring the Lakers 57-33 in the second half. Pierce led the way with 20 points; Allen added 19 and James Posey chipped in with 18 big points off the bench. Boston won 97-91 and took a 3-1 series lead. The Celtics moved 1 win away from the title.
1. The Coronation- Game 6 of the 2008 NBA Finals is the top moment of the decade for the Boston Celtics. The Celtics overwhelmed the Lakers winning 131-92 to clinch the franchises 17th NBA Championship and first since 1986. A 22-year drought was over. After the worst decade in franchise history, the 90’s, the 2007-2008 Celtics kept the 2000’s from being banner-less. The rollercoaster ride of the 2000’s came to a wonderful peak as the Celtics were back on top of the basketball world. Paul Pierce was named NBA Finals MVP and he, KG, and Allen all had finally captured the championship that eluded them all until they teamed up in Boston. Tuesday June 17, 2008 was the day the NBA again went green. That makes it the Celtics top moment of the decade.
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