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These Celts make history of their own

Published: June 13, 2008

On Pro Basketball

Bill Burt

First, the bad news: It's a shame most of our children were sleeping through this incredible evening in Boston Celtics history, which ranks right up there with those steals by John Havlicek and Larry Bird.

Now, the good news: Thank God there is ESPN.

When historians take note of what happened at the Staples Center on June 12, 2008, they will write that Game 4 of the NBA finals, a 97-91 stunning Celtics win, defined these franchises, these cities and these teams.

Grit vs. glitz.

If last night was a road race, the Celtics were the tortoise and the Lakers were the hare. The Lakers, including their Hollywood celebrities and cocky fans, mocked the oft-rattled Celtics. It wasn't a matter of when, but rather how much. Would the Lakers win by 30 or 40?

They overcame embarrassing deficits in the first (35-14, biggest first-quarter deficit in finals history), second (45-21) and third quarters (68-48) and won to take a commanding 3-1 lead in the best-of-7 championship series. No team had been down by those deficits before in an NBA finals and won.

Until last night.

The best part, though, was the journey in the second half. The Celtics continue to own the third quarter, outscoring the Lakers to the tune of 116-73 (31-22, 29-19, 25-17 and then last night, 31-15).

The Celtics never panicked, which is remarkable considering their "Big Three" of Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen are noted as much for their losing and playoff ineptitude as their Hall of Fame statistics.

Last night the original "Big Three" of Larry Bird, Kevin McHale and Robert Parish had nothing on the new kids on the block.

Pierce, the L.A. kid who grew up loving the Lakers and despising the Celtics, simply put, bettered the best player in the world, Kobe Bryant. His block of Bryant's baseline jumper in the third quarter and then steal was a play I had never seen before against Bryant.

Never.

Garnett, who has been criticized about his losing past and subpar play during key games, had six points in the fourth quarter.

And Ray Allen, the oldest player on the floor last night and probably greatest pure shooter in Celtics history, played every minute of the game. His one-on-one drive against Sasha Vujacic, ending in an easy left-handed layup with 16 seconds remaining, put the game away for good (96-91).

The funny thing is nobody would have blamed the Celtics if they quit with point guard Rajon Rondo (5 points, 2 assists), who basically useless with a badly sprained ankle, and center Kendrick Perkins, who added a separated shoulder to his high ankle sprain.

They had built-in excuses and a few days to get healthy again for Game 5 on Sunday in L.A. (9 p.m., ABC).

The excuses though, as the score got closer, were coming from the other side.

Before the fourth quarter started, Lakers coach Phil Jackson was asked by sideline reporter Michele Tafoya how his team would get back the momentum.

"It will come back," said the coach, whose nine titles is tied for the all-time record with Boston legend Red Auerbach. "We'll be alright."

It was classic Lakers talk. His Lakers weren't alright. Not even close. But that's part of Jackson's shtick, always in control.

As for Game 5, who knows what will happen?

Maybe the Lakers, who were undefeated at home in the playoffs before last night, will gut it out and force a Game 6 in Boston. Maybe Kobe Bryant, who struggled with 17 points, will score 50. Maybe one of the Europeans on the Lakers will score 20 again.

Who knows.

But we do know what happened last night. The Celtics made history. They are now one game away from winning championship No. 17.

It might be time to let the kids stay up for this one to see it for themselves. They'll always remember beating the Lakers.

E-mail Bill Burt at bburt@eagletribune.com. You can also check out his blog, "Burt Talks Sports," at blogs.eagletribune.com/sports.

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