Tag: 2008 NBA Finals

Celtics great Ray Allen on defending Kobe Bryant in the NBA Finals

“Some guys in the NBA, and Kobe was one of them; it’s impossible to keep him from taking those shots and not missing,” recalled Allen.

When fans of the Boston Celtics think of Hall of Fame shooting guard Ray Allen, defense is not usually at the top of the list of attributes people tend ot think of. But in the Celtics’ battles with Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers, Allen put the clamps on Kobe just enough to come away with a title in 2008 — and might have if not for injury two years later. “He took a lot of tough shots,” said the UConn alum of his battles with Bryant.

“It was my job to keep making him continue taking shots,” added Allen. “If he’s taking tough shots, I am happy with it, he’s gonna make some of them, and that’s fine.”

“When he’s taking shots under duress or with fatigue, then I did my job.”

“Some guys in the NBA, and Kobe was one of them; it’s impossible to keep him from taking those shots and not missing,” recalled Allen.

“It was a task for me, but I tried to get him as tired as much as I could because he was guarding me as well.”

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Matt Damon on the time Lakers coach Phil Jackson screamed at him for cheering for the Celtics in the 2008 NBA Finals

Damon and Mark Wahlberg, sitting courtside with floor seats, were enthusiastically cheering for the Celtics when Jackson lost his cool and shouted at them

During the 2008 NBA Finals between the Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers, a fascinating incident involving Los Angeles head coach Phil Jackson and actors and Celtics superfans Matt Damon, and Mark Wahlberg took place. The Celtics were in the midst of a remarkable comeback in a finals tilt with the Lakers, led by future Hall of Fame small forward Paul Pierce, that saw them overturn a sizable deficit.

Damon and Wahlberg, sitting courtside with floor seats, were enthusiastically cheering for the Celtics when Jackson lost his cool and shouted at them to be quiet. This unexpected outburst from the usually calm and Zen-like head coach surprised everyone in earshot.

To hear the tale from Damon himself on an episode of the Ringer’s “Bill Simmons” podcast, take a look at the clip embedded below.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

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

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

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

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Boston Celtics included in ’20 craziest plays in NBA Finals history’ compilation

With a record 17 titles to their name, the Boston Celtics have had their share of amazing moments in the NBA finals over the decades.

With a record 17 titles to their name, the Boston Celtics have had their share of amazing moments in the NBA finals over the decades. The Celtics’ unbelievable triple-overtime victory vs. the Phoenix Suns in Game 5 of the 1976 Finals — often referred to as ‘the greatest game ever played’ — immediately comes to mind.

As does the greatest comeback in NBA Finals history in 2008, which saw Boston overcome a 24-point deficit to defeat the Los Angeles Lakers on their own home court as they took a 3-1 series lead. With the Celtics, there is no shortage of iconic plays one can look back on with wonder.

Another of them can be found on a recent compilation of the best NBA Finals moments in the history of the modern game put together by the folks behind the HoopFlix YouTube channel.

Be sure to check them all out in the clip embedded above, which includes one of the greatest Celtics moments on the world’s biggest stage among them.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

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

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

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

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On this day: Maxwell, McHale drafts; Clyde, Shannon born; Brightman passes; G3 2008 Finals

On this day, Boston drafted Cedric Maxwell and Kevin McHale, Earl Shannon and Ben Clyde were born, Al Brightman passed, and Game 3 of the 2008 NBA Finals was lost.

On this day in Boston Celtics history, the team drafted small forward Cedric Maxwell out of UNC Charlotte with the 12th overall pick of the 1977 NBA draft, their sole selection of note.

Maxwell would play eight seasons for the Celtics, averaging 13.7 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game, and would win two championships with Boston in that stretch (in 1981 and 1984), winning Finals MVP in 1984. After losing his starting role to forward Kevin McHale after an injury, the North Carolina native would be traded to the Los Angeles Clippers in exchange for legendary sixth man center Bill Walton.

Maxwell maintains a close relationship with the Celtics and their fans to this day, hosting an eponymous podcast and making frequent appearances on local sports media.

On this day: Paul Pierce’s ‘wheelchair game’; Marcus Thornton born; Mike Bloom passes

On this day, Paul Pierce had his ‘wheelchair’ game in Game 1 of the 2008 NBA Finals, Marcus Thornton was born, and Mike Bloom left us.

On this day in Boston Celtics history, star forward Paul Pierce had to be carried off the court and placed in a wheelchair after having smashed his knee into teammate Kendrick Perkins late in the third quarter of Game 1 of the 2008 NBA Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers.

The wind came out of Boston’s home arena, the Celtics looking hopelessly outmatched without the Kansas alum’s services being available. But after just a few moments of treatment in the locker room, Pierce reappeared, nailing a pair of 3-pointers. Boston would go on to win the game and the series in six games to secure their 17th and most recent championship, the most in league history.

Rumors persist as to what exactly happened to Pierce on that day — a possibly apocryphal tale the Californian had a bowel movement seems to have been taken up by Pierce as a joke, but might also have been an admission.