A year after Boston's most improbable season in a long time, the Celtics finally capped off a remarkable playoff run by winning the NBA championship. It had been 17 years since they last took the top spot. They'd missed out on the title in the previous two seasons, and they went 0-4 in the Eastern Conference Finals over the last three years. However, a change of direction led to some of the best basketball the city has seen in decades.
The Celtics were led by Paul Pierce in the postseason. He was named the league's Finals MVP. But it was Doc Rivers who truly brought unity to the squad. After he moved west to coach the Clippers, the Celtics rediscovered their mojo. As well as his talents in the court, he brought character to the clubhouse.
While the team went on to win 66 regular-season games, they never quite reached their full potential in the playoffs. They were swept in the first round by the second-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers. Despite this, the Celtics were on the verge of a second title. During the lull, they traded for veteran Kevin Garnett.
The team went on to win the championship, and along the way, they made some changes to their front office. They decided to fully guarantee 36-year-old Al Horford's contract. In addition, they hired Doc Rivers as their head coach. This was just the latest of several moves that the Celtics have made in order to prepare for the next chapter of the franchise.
The Celtics racked up a stellar 68-14 regular-season record. And they also had the best record in the league in the early months of the season. Not bad for a young team. However, their playoff luck ran out. Their roster had a few rough patches. One of the biggest was losing Ray Allen, who was traded to the Miami Heat. Other notable departures included Isaiah Thomas, who left to join Jayson Brown and Jayson Tatum in Charlotte. Still, the team won 22 of its last 34 games, and it appeared like they might have a chance at the elusive 18th title.
While the Celtics won the NBA championship, they weren't the only ones to make the mark in 2008. Other teams like the Warriors and Rockets also won the elusive NBA trophy. In fact, there were only four different teams to beat the Golden State Warriors in the finals.
There were many things to be proud of in the Celtics' win. First, they beat the Lakers in six games. Second, the team won the requisite 66 regular-season games, but they failed to make the playoffs in the first round. Finally, the team exhibited the old adage that you only need one good game to make the NBA Finals.
Of course, the team also had to overcome a number of challenges along the way. Some of the best players in the league, such as Kobe Bryant and LeBron James, gave their all in the playoffs. At the same time, the Celtics had depth issues in the postseason.
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