GAME 1: LAKERS @ CELTICS
THU 9:00 PM
Thu, 6/5 9:00 PM ET ABC
The finals will be played in a 2-3-2 format.
The biggest rivalry in NBA
history recaptured: the stars are aligned and the basketball gods must
be smiling, but no one must have a bigger smile than David Stern and the
National Basketball Association.
What has been an illusion
for old-school NBA heads, since the Memphis Grizzlies decided they
wanted Kwame Brown for Pau Gasol, it is now a beautiful reality: KB and
KG, Pierce and Allan, Fisher and Odom, East vs. West Los Angeles Lakers
vs. Boston Celtics, reloaded.
For the Boston Celtics, it has literary been a long road to the NBA
Finals. Meanwhile for the LA Lakers, they have seemingly manhandled
every opponent in every round so far. But all that means nothing, this
is
the 2008 NBA Finals; its a brand new season, a seven game season.
Its been 21 years since these two historic franchises have met in the
NBA finals. Those were the days when Magic Johnson was running showtime
and Larry Bird, was draining 3's in the Boston backcourt. Twenty one
long years since the Celtics have reached the NBA finals. In that time
the Lakers have won thier fair share of titles with names like Shaquille
O'neal and Kobe Bryant while Boston fans have been for the
most part treated to two decades of mediocrity.
Thats all changed now. Danny Ainge set the whole process in motion when
he pulled of a few blockbuster trades on draft day to bring in Kevin
Garnett and Ray Allen. Allen, KG, and Paul Pierce have rejuvinated
Boston Celtic Basketball and breathed new life into the epic Los
Angeles-Boston rivalry. The "Big Three" stormed through the season
finishing with a league best 66-16 record. After a long hard battle
through the playoffs which included two very tough 7 game series against
the young Atlanta Hawks and the Lebron James led Cavaliers, the Celtics
are playing in the NBA Finals and looking to add to their NBA record 16
Championships.
The Lakers and Celtics have met in the Finals 10 times. The Celtics have
dominated the matchup, winning eight out of the ten series.
L.A. Lakers vs. Boston
Game 1 Thursday, June 5: Lakers at Celtics, 9 p.m.
Game 2 Sunday, June 8: Lakers at Celtics, 9 p.m.
Game 3 Tuesday, June 10: Celtics at Lakers, 9 p.m.
Game 4 Thursday, June 12: Celtics at Lakers, 9 p.m.
Game 5 Sunday, June 15: Celtics at Lakers, 9 p.m., if necessary
Game 6 Tuesday, June 17: Lakers at Celtics, 9 p.m., if necessary
Game 7 Thursday, June 19: Lakers at Celtics, 9 p.m., if necessary
Game 1 of this 2008 NBA Finals between the Lakers and the Celtics is
scheduled for Thursday June 5, 2008. odds-makers at
Gamblerspalace.com have the home
team the Boston Celtics an early -2½ point betting odds favorite against
the
+2½ Los Angeles Lakers.
2008 NBA Finals
Championship Results
Boston Celtics, NBA champs once
again
The Boston Celtics won their 17th NBA
title in relentless fashion, trouncing the L.A. Lakers 131-92 to win the
NBA Finals in six games. It's the Celtics' first title in 22 years,
dating back to the Larry Bird era.
Boston's 39-point win surpassed the NBA
record for the biggest margin of victory in a championship clincher. The
1965 Celtics beat the Lakers by 33 to win the title that year.
These Celtics completed the greatest
one-year turnaround in NBA history. Last season they won just 24 games
and missed the playoffs. This season they won 66 regular-season games
and finished with a playoff-record 13 home wins.
Paul Pierce, who's spent his entire
career wearing Celtic green, was named MVP of the finals. He scored 17
in the clinching win, but averaged more than 21 points in the NBA
Finals.
The other two members of Boston's Big Three, Kevin Garnett and Ray
Allen, each scored 26.
US CITIZENS: The information contained herein is for entertainment and news matter only. Any use of this information in violation of federal, state and local law is strictly prohibited. Offers by offshore sportsbooks advertising on this site are void in states where prohibited by law. Please check with your local or state enforcement agency.
