After a less than spectacular start to the playoffs the Celtics got it together in the Eastern Conference Finals and was able to pretty much dominate the Lakers in the NBA Finals and win their 17th NBA Championship. It was a full team effort as everyone who dressed contributed in some way to win the title. I don't think I've ever seen defense played as well I saw it played by a team in the NBA. The Celtics absolutely suffocated their opponents and was able to throw two of the best players in the game off of their. One of those being the best player in the world and NBA MVP Kobe Bryant. I will say though that if Ray Allen had not been able to find his shot and catch fire like he did then the playoff might have had a different outcome. He played so well that he would've been NBA Finals MVP if not for the play of Paul Pierce.
And what about Paul Pierce? During the Finals he was the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. Him coming back from his knee injury in Game 1 invoked images of Larry Bird getting hurt and coming back in the 1991 Playoffs vs. Indiana. Bird went on take over that game and win. Pierce did the same for this Celtics team hitting two huge threes and scoring 20 points for the game. Some questioned the legitimacy of the injury. Well, you can question that all you want, but you can't question the effect him coming back had on the team. It energized them and pretty much gave them a boost through the rest of the Finals. The only blemish for the Finals for Pierce was his performance in Game 3. If him and KG score for their average in that game then that series ends up in a sweep. I will admit I turned off Game 4 at halftime. I was disgusted by the lack of effort and intensity. Luckily for me, I turned back over to the game about halfway through the 3rd quarter and witnessed of one of the greatest comebacks in sports history. Needless to say, I will never give up on this Celtics team again.
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