By Ron Griffitts
Contributing columnist
In June 2008, the Boston Celtics (66-16) coached by former NBA participant Doc Rivers and with govt Danny Ainge who was a former Boston participant, met the Los Angeles Lakers (57-25) coached by Phil Jackson and had as an govt former Laker participant Mitch Kupchak in a battle between the NBA’s most profitable franchises.
The Celtics had dispatched the Atlanta Hawks (4-3), Cleveland Cavaliers (4-3), and the Detroit Pistons (4-2) to get the finals and have been led by Ray Allen (17.4 ppg), Paul Pierce ((19.6 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 4.5 apg), Kevin Garnett (18.8 ppg, 9.2 rpg, 3.4 apg), Rajon Rondo (10.6 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 5.1 apg) and Kendrick Perkins (6.1 rpg).
The Lakers acquired previous the Denver Nuggets (4-0), Utah Jazz (4-2), and the San Antonio Spurs (4-1) to get the finals. They have been led by Kobe Bryant (28.3 ppg, 6.3 rpg. 5.4 apg), Lamar Odom (14.2 ppg, 10.6 rpg, 3.5 apg), Pau Gasol (18.8ppg, 7.8 rpg, 3.5 apg), Andrew Bynum (13.1 ppg, 10.2 rpg) and Derek Fisher (11.7 ppg).
Sport one occurred in T. D. Banknorth Backyard in Boston and the Lakers performed nicely early and led 51-46 at halftime however the Celtics put collectively runs within the third and fourth quarters for a 98-88 win to take a 1-0 sequence lead.
Kobe Bryant led Los Angeles with 24 factors whereas Kevin Garnett had 24 for Boston and Paul Pierce contributed 22 factors for the Celtics.
Sport two, nonetheless in Boston, was much like recreation one in that the Lakers led after the primary quarter however Boston put collectively runs of 34-20 and 29-19 within the second and third quarters to resist a 41-26 fourth quarter Laker run and win 108-102 to go up 2-0 within the sequence.
Boston was led by Paul Pierce who had 28 factors and Kevin Garnett who had 17 factors and 14 rebounds whereas Kobe Bryant led the Lakers with 30 factors.
For recreation three, the groups switched to the Staples heart in Los Angeles and the Lakers took an early lead which they maintained all through the sport and acquired their first win of the sequence to drag to inside one recreation of the Celtics with an 87-81 win.
Kobe Bryant had 36 factors and Pau Gasol had 12 rebounds whereas Ray Allen with 25 factors led the Celtics.
In recreation 4, it appeared the Lakers have been on their solution to one other win with a 35-14 benefit within the first quarter however the Celtics surged again with sturdy third and fourth quarters and pulled out a 97-91 victory.
Paul Pierce had 20 factors and Ray Allen 19 for Boston. Nevertheless, Kobe Bryant was solely 6 of 19 from the sphere for 17 factors for Los Angeles.
Nonetheless in LA, the Lakers once more had a robust first quarter however this time didn’t let their lead evaporate and received 103-98 to deliver the sequence to 3-2 in favor of the Celtics.
Kobe Bryant led the Lakers with 25 factors and Lamar Odom added 20 whereas Paul Pierce had 38 factors for Boston because the sequence goes again to Boston for recreation six.
On their dwelling ground in entrance of their followers, the Celtics took an early lead and saved the stress on for a convincing 131-92 win within the recreation and the sequence with the Celtics being led by Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett every with 26 factors, and Rajon Rondo with 21. Kobe Bryant had 22 to tempo the Lakers.
Paul Pierce acquired the sequence MVP award and the Celtics have been again within the finals in 2010 and the Lakers in 2009.
Statistics for this text have been from basketball-reference.com.
Originally posted 2023-04-14 18:06:00.