Celtics-Lakers: Boston Wins 17th NBA Title with 131-92 Win
Last night, the Lakers witnessed first-hand what it takes to win a title.
They saw the commitment needed on defense. They saw the will needed to get the rebounds and the loose balls. They saw the focus of a team that didn’t deviate from who it was or what it wanted to do. They saw a real hunger.
Throughout the playoffs, we witnessed the Celtics put together dominant quarters, we had seen them put together dominant halves, and we had seen them put together a historic comeback.
The one thing that we hadn’t seen was the Celtics control and dominate a game from start to finish.
In Game Six of the NBA Finals, that's exactly what we got. From the so-called "Big Three" all the way down to rookie Glen Davis, the Celtics put together a total team effort on both ends of the floor from the opening tip to the final buzzer.
They attacked, they rebounded, they put on a defensive masterpiece, they got key contributions from the role players, they were connecting from the perimeter, they were hustling, they were getting to the free throw line.
They absolutely sucked the life out of the Los Angeles Lakers, and by the end of the night they were celebrating not just a blowout victory, but a championship.
I’d like to congratulate the Boston Celtics franchise, but more importantly Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Ray Allen. There have been times that us Basketball fans across the pond have made fun of them, talked shit about them, or referred to them in negative ways, but the bottom line is that they have heart.
The Celtics’ 39-point margin in last night’s championship clinching win is the largest in a decisive NBA finals game. In fact, the Celtics now has four of the six biggest margins in games that clinched titles. Ray Allen set a record for most 3-pointers made in a finals series with 22. The previous mark of 17 was set by Dan Majerle with Phoenix in 1993 and matched by Derek Harper with New York in 1994. Allen’s seven 3-pointers Tuesday night tied the finals record shared by Houston’s Kenny Smith and Chicago’s Scottie Pippen. And Boston’s 52 baskets from 3-point range erased the finals mark of 51 set by San Antonio in 2005… The Celtics also put on a record-setting defensive performance Tuesday with 18 steals, eclipsing the single-game finals mark set by Golden State against Washington in 1975.
The end of this series is enough evidence of how badly Paul Pierce and his boys wanted this title. It means the world to them, and I’m very happy they have finally achieved what they wanted for so long.
Paul Pierce said in an interview after the win that now, he wasn't just a great player in the shadow of other great players. I can't say I disagree with him. He is right up there with the best and he just needed to a ring to have something to show for all the hard work and grueling nights on the courts.
I know Paul Pierce was the NBA Finals MVP, but if I could give a Game Six, championship-clinching MVP award, it would go to Rajon Rondo. He was absolutely immense. The Lakers couldn't cope with him.
This was the view from across the pond. I must say most people up here in the UK was rooting for the Lakers, including myself. Seeing as my team (Houston Rockets) keeps getting beaten as soon as they reach the playoffs, I have developed a second team (L.A. Lakers). Its almost as if I'm supporting one team in the regular season and another in the play-offs.
But at the end of the day, there is only one champion, and as sad as I am, this year, the Boston Celtics are the NBA Champions. Congratulations!
