Tag: 2008 championship

Check out the best plays from Brian Scalabrine’s playing days

Check out the best plays from Brian Scalabrine’s playing days

While star players usually get the loudest praise in the NBA, the role players sometimes make the biggest impact on fans. That much may be true of Brian Scalabrine, who spent five years with the Boston Celtics, winning a ring with the team during the “Big 3” era in 2008.

Scalabrine joined the Celtics in 2005 after beginning his career with the New Jersey Nets, inking a five-year, $15 million contract. The first few seasons in Boston weren’t always easy, but soon enough, Scalabrine found himself a beloved member of a Celtics team destined to raise a championship banner. In 2010, Scalabrine joined the Chicago Bulls. He played his final NBA game in 2012 after eleven seasons in the Association.

You can check out the ten best highlights of Brian Scalabrine’s career below, courtesy of the NBA’s YouTube page.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

[lawrence-auto-related count=5 category=590969556]

Burton snowboards, Boston Celtics team up for 2008 title parquet-inspired board

The specially crafted snowboard embeds fragments of the famed Celtics floor into its center and sidewalls, creating a fusion of sports history and extreme sports design.

It is not all that often that one thinks of the Boston Celtics and snowboarding together, but that could be about to change. In a captivating blend of sports history and extreme sports innovation, Burton Snowboards pays homage to the Celtics’ 77th season of existence with the release of the Burton Mine 77 x Celtics floor board per Snowboarder’s Justin Leveille.

This partnership was created in part to celebrate the Celtics’ victory in the 2008 NBA Finals by incorporating pieces of the iconic parquet floor from TD Garden into Burton’s cutting-edge all-terrain Process Snowboard. Founded by Jake Burton in 1977, the snowboarding giant takes a nostalgic journey back to the Celtics’ historic moment, etching a piece of that history into their latest creation.

The specially crafted snowboard embeds fragments of the famed Celtics floor into its center and sidewalls, creating a fusion of sports history and extreme sports design.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/CzmV4CNvyc4/?utm_source=ig_embed&ig_rid=8d88dd2a-8214-4ee1-93e6-ef96e82747d9

Donna Carpenter, Owner and Chair of Burton, said “I know Jake would be cheering from the sidelines.”

“He and I were there for the 2008 NBA Finals and stood on the floor. Capturing that piece of Celtics history in these snowboards is very special for my family.”

Officially released on Nov. 14, interested fans can get theirs directly from Burton on their website.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

[lawrence-auto-related count=1 category=590969556]

Why the 2008 Boston Celtics were unable to repeat as champions

Despite their regular season dominance and statistical comparisons to other great teams, the Celtics struggled in the playoffs and failed to become a true dynasty.

The 2008 Boston Celtics, with their “Big 3” of Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, and Paul Pierce, were able to win the NBA championship that season, but they were not able to repeat this success in subsequent years. Despite their regular season dominance and statistical comparisons to other great teams, the Celtics struggled in the playoffs and failed to become a true dynasty.

There were several factors that contributed to their inability to win more titles, including the loss of key players like James Posey, injuries to star players like Kevin Garnett, changes in offensive structure centered around Rajon Rondo, and the emergence of other dominant teams like the Miami Heat. The Celtics had some unfortunate timing with injuries and missed opportunities, but they still had a significant impact on the NBA landscape.

To hear a more detailed breakdown on why such a potent roster only produced one title, take a look at the clip embedded below from the folks at the Andy Hoops YouTube channel.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

[lawrence-auto-related count=1 category=590969556]

On this day: Banner 17 won; Len Bias drafted; Popeye Jones, Allan Ray born

On this day, the Boston Celtics won their 17th banner, defeating the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 6 of the 2008 NBA Finals.

On this day in Boston Celtics history, the storied franchise won their 17th and most recent title to date by defeating their longtime rival Los Angeles Lakers with a 131-92 blowout of Game 6 of the 2008 NBA Finals.

The win came at home in TD Garden, behind 26 points and 14 rebounds by big man Kevin Garnett, and 26 points from shooting guard Ray Allen. Point guard Rajon Rondo added 21 points, 8 boards, and 6 assists while forward Paul Pierce chipped in 17 points and 10 rebounds. Reserve forward James Posey provided 11 points off the bench.

It was Boston’s first title in 22 seasons.

Paul Pierce on working with Kevin Garnett to help guide today’s Celtics in pursuit of a banner

Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett had the benefit of previous generations of Celtics greatness to lean on in their quest to win it all, and are now paying that debt forward.

When it was time to pursue Banner 17 in earnest, Hall of Fame Boston Celtics Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett had the benefit of previous generations of Celtics greatness to lean on in their quest. Tommy Heinsohn, Cedric Maxwell and Bill Russell made themselves available to help the Boston stars of that era rise to historic greatness as well.

Now, trying to pay that debt forward, Garnett and Pierce have made themselves available in a similar way to the current Celtics. We even see Pierce talking at length about his and KG’s newfound commitment to helping the next generation of Boston legends on an episode of the team-produced “View from the Rafters” podcast.

Take a look at the clip embedded below to hear what The Ticket and The Truth had to say about reconnecting with the team they hung a banner with ahead of (hopefully) hanging another.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on”

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

[lawrence-auto-related count=1 category=590969556]

[mm-video type=video id=01gvk01vgayb9x60axtx playlist_id=01eqbzegwgnrje4tv2 player_id=01eqbvq570kgj8vfs7 image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01gvk01vgayb9x60axtx/01gvk01vgayb9x60axtx-d1428cfebd52fffd5ccbcb6ed82b9887.jpg]

Celtics’ James Posey on Boston’s miracle comeback vs. the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 4 of the 2008 NBA Finals

A 35-14 deficit in the contest’s first quarter soon became a 24-point chasm by the second half of the game, and the Celtics’ hopes of taking a 3-1 series lead seemed out of the question.

While it might seem like it was preordained in retrospect, for a hot second on June 12, 2008, it seemed the Boston Celtics’ hopes to win Banner 17 might be about to go sideways when they fell into a deep hole early against the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 4 of the 2008 NBA Finals.

A 35-14 deficit in the first quarter soon became a 24-point chasm by the second half. The Celtics’ hopes of taking a 3-1 series lead seemed out of the question. But with the benefit of hindsight, we know that is not what happened. Boston instead mounted a historic comeback to win, 97-91.

To talk about that fateful night, former Celtic James Posey recently sat down to talk over the historic comeback with Basketball News.com.

Take a look at the clip embedded above to hear his memory of that magic night.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

[mm-video type=video id=01gaq827n256tffkbm55 playlist_id=01eqbzegwgnrje4tv2 player_id=01eqbvq570kgj8vfs7 image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01gaq827n256tffkbm55/01gaq827n256tffkbm55-5ff480cc56e15d34e7d1eee8a7131dad.jpg]

[lawrence-related id=110369,110363,110365,110283,110444,110347]

[listicle id=110381]

[listicle id=110284]

[listicle id=110287]

[listicle id=110386]

Former Celtics head coach Doc Rivers claims Boston let key pieces go too soon after 2008 title

Rivers hints that poor roster management played a role in the Kevin Garnett era having produced just one title.

When the Boston Celtics won Banner 17 in 2008 after Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen joined a roster that already had Paul Pierce, it seemed likely the Celtics would be back winning titles on the regular again. But injuries, bad luck, and now, according to former Boston head coach Doc Rivers, bad roster management prevented that from happening.

Speaking on the latest edition of ESPN’s “Woj” podcast, Rivers explained why he thinks the Celtics’ titles under his tenure stopped at one.

“We start … giving pieces away — Tony Allen, James Posey — where I thought what Golden State did (was) smart,” he explained. “They kept their core as long as they could keep it, and then they started making moves when the guys got older.”

Still, the former Celtics and current Philadelphia 76ers head coach acknowledged that this would not have been a common outcome, even then.

“That’s the outlier,” he explained. “That is not normal anymore in our NBA.”

“It’s hard having sustained success with one group,” Rivers added later. “It’s really not normal anymore.”

[pickup_prop id=”25985″]

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

[mm-video type=video id=01gf14n89hm3qytmfav9 playlist_id=01eqbzegwgnrje4tv2 player_id=01f1jxkahtwnvzepyp image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01gf14n89hm3qytmfav9/01gf14n89hm3qytmfav9-623ed14ed11eb3a7ca1ba78871346c8a.jpg]

[vertical-gallery id=110390]

[lawrence-related id=110460,110456,110367,110487,110476,110469]

[listicle id=110383]

[listicle id=110381]

[listicle id=110284]

[listicle id=110287]

2008 Celtics champion Ray Allen tells the tale of the mysterious guest in Boston’s locker room after winning Banner 17

You would never guess their identity.

Back when the Boston Celtics were celebrating their then-record 17th NBA title at TD Garden late into the night after defeating the Los Angeles Lakers, 131-92, star Celtics shooting guard Ray Allen looked over at one of the many faces they had been celebrating with in the locker room all night long.

The room had been packed full of teammates, friends and families, team trainers and staff, front office personnel and all sorts of Celtics-adjacent people in the media and beyond. But the crowd dwindled to the team itself and a handful of others as the night dragged into the early hours of the morning.

In an interview with ESPN, the former UConn standout revealed he suddenly learned the identity of a mysterious guest that had been celebrating with them that whole night, blowing his mind with the news.

Watch the clip embedded above to learn the identity of this unexpected visitor in the clip embedded above.

This post originally appeared on Celtics Wire. Follow us on Facebook!

[mm-video type=video id=01fzy2wqt246knb22pvp playlist_id=01f09kz5ecxq9bp57b player_id=01eqbvq570kgj8vfs7 image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01fzy2wqt246knb22pvp/01fzy2wqt246knb22pvp-015de57ee6b5012587d9a61c9e289d77.jpg]

[lawrence-related id=100820,100804,100801,100709]

[listicle id=100793]

[vertical-gallery id=100740]

[listicle id=100780]

Ray Allen on “squashing the beef” with Kevin Garnett, love for 2008 Boston Celtics

Check out the clip to hear his comments in full.

For nearly a full decade of Boston Celtics history, a rift between key players of the team that won Banner 17 for the franchise feuded over the exit of Hall of Fame shooting guard Ray Allen to the team’s primary rival at the time, LeBron James’ Miami Heat.

But the beef finally ended definitively after months of showing signs of a thawing of relations at the jersey retirement ceremony of fellow 2008 title teammate and Hall of Fame Boston big man Kevin Garnett this past Sunday at TD Garden after the Celtics’ unfortunate 95 – 92 home loss to the Dallas Mavericks.

Speaking to another former teammate and current Celtics broadcaster Brian Scalabrine after the ceremony had ended, the UConn product shared his thoughts on the end of the feud with Scalabrine, and his happiness to be back in the good graces of his former teammate on his big day.

Check out the clip embedded above to hear his comments in full courtesy of NBC Sports Boston.

This post originally appeared on Celtics Wire. Follow us on Facebook!

[mm-video type=video id=01fxx7hffn2z4b9vr0fc playlist_id=01f09kz5ecxq9bp57b player_id=01eqbvq570kgj8vfs7 image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01fxx7hffn2z4b9vr0fc/01fxx7hffn2z4b9vr0fc-d86b5e715a89c508f8b7c17b6098a9f2.jpg]

[lawrence-related id=99866,99851,99849,99819]

[listicle id=99865]

[vertical-gallery id=99853]

On this day: Banner 17 won; Bias drafted; Jones, Ray born

On this day, the Boston Celtics won their 17th banner, defeating the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 6 of the 2008 NBA Finals.

On this day in 2008, the Boston Celtics won their 17th and last title to date by defeating the Los Angeles Lakers with a 131-92 blowout of Game 6 of the series.

The win came at home in TD Garden, behind 26 points and 14 rebounds by big man Kevin Garnett, and 26 points from shooting guard Ray Allen.

Point guard Rajon Rondo added 21 points, 8 boards and six assists while forward Paul Pierce chipped in 17 points and 10 rebounds.

Reserve forward James Posey provided 11 points off the bench.

“It means so much more because these are the guys, the Havliceks, the Bill Russells, the Cousys,” Pierce said via ESPN. “These guys started what’s going on with those banners. They don’t hang up any other banners but championship ones, and now I’m a part of it.”

“I got my own. I got my own,” Garnett said to Hall of Fame big man Bill Russell, present at the sidelines. “I hope we made you proud.”

“You sure did,” Russell replied.

Pages: Page 1, Page 2, Page 3, Page 4