Tag: 2008 eastern conference finals

On this day: Celtics defeat Pistons to advance to first NBA Finals since ’87

On this date in 2008, the Boston Celtics defeated the Detroit Pistons to advance to their first NBA Finals since 1987 on their way to Banner 17.

On this day in Boston Celtics history, the team defeated the Detroit Pistons 89-81 in Game 6 of the 2008 Eastern Conference finals to advance to their first NBA Finals since 1987. They faced their longtime rival Los Angeles Lakers on their way to winning their 17th banner.

The Celtics beat the Pistons on the strength of their future Hall of Fame trio. Small forward Paul Pierce led the way with 27 points and 8 rebounds. Shooting guard Ray Allen contributed 17, and big man Kevin Garnett added 16 points and 6 rebounds. Detroit led by as many as 10 points in the final frame, but could not hold it. The Game 6 loss in the conference finals was their third such exit in three years.

“It’s kind of surreal,” Garnett said via ESPN. “Probably hasn’t even hit me yet because we haven’t slept in about four days, going on five days now. Going to the finals, I’m just hoping to get some sleep.”

On this day: McAdoo inducted into Hall of Fame, win vs. DET in ’08 ECF; Red Claws become Maine Celtics

On this day in 2000, former Celtic short-timer Bob McAdoo was inducted into the Hall of Fame, and the Red Claws became the Maine Celtics.

On this day in Boston Celtics history, former Celtics forward Bob McAdoo was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame alongside Detroit Pistons point guard Isiah Thomas and several others in 2000.

McAdoo was, at best, a reluctant Celtic, traded to the franchise from the New York Knicks. He was concerned about the racial climate of the city, which had a reputation for being particularly hostile to African Americans. Conversely, team president Red Auerbach had not been consulted on the deal by ownership and nearly quit as a result. But all parties stuck it out for six months, and McAdoo was dealt to the Detroit Pistons for draft assets.

McAdoo played 20 games for Boston, averaging 20.6 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 2 assists per game with the franchise.

On this day: Celtics beat Pistons in G1 of ’08 ECF; Enes Freedom, Dick Mehen born

On this day, the Celtics defeated the Detroit Pistons 88-79 in G1 of the ’08 East Finals, and Boston bigs Enes Kanter and Dick Mehen were born.

On this day in Boston Celtics history, the team would lose a single player to the newly-formed (then) New Orleans (now, Utah) Jazz expansion team in the 1974 NBA expansion draft.

That player — Steve Kuberski — a big man the Celtics drafted out of Bradley with the 52nd overall pick of the 1969 NBA draft, would go on to win two championships with the franchise in 1974, and1976 during the first of two stints with Boston over his eight seasons with the team. Kuberski was the last player to wear jersey No. 33 before Larry Bird arrived in 1979.

He would return to the Celtics as a free agent in 1975 after being dealt by the Jazz to the Milwaukee Bucks, who waived him.