CELTIC PRIDE

If you've been reading along from the get-go, this blog has followed the Celtics closely all throughout the 2007-08 NBA campaign. Now, the final culmination has arrived;the Celtics defeated the Lakers in 6 games to capture their 17th NBA Championship, and the first in 22 years. The Celtics fell in Game 5 in LA in a heartbreaker 103-98. The Celts were blown out early but crawled back. With a chance to tie with seconds remaining, Bryant stripped Pierce and went the other way and LA scored to win. The Celts headed home and had 2 chances to wrap it up.

And wrap it up they did. The Lakers came out ready despite a hostile crowd at the TD Banknorth Garden. But the Celts took over late in the 2nd quarter and turned a relatively close game into a blowout as the Celts led 58-35 at the half. The Green Machine continued to play amazing in the 2nd half on both ends of the floor. Rondo was great all-around, stealing the ball as he swarmed the Lakers on every defensive chance. He scored too, as did the Big Three and Posey. They blasted the Lakers in the 3rd quarter and led by over 40 points and eventually won the game 131-92. Pierce was the NBA Finals MVP, but either Garnett of Allen could have won it too. So after a 66-16 record in the regular season the Celts won all 16 they needed in the post-season to capture the ultimate prize;NBA World Champions!
As for the Red Sox, I'm elated as the team just won a 13 inning epic game vs. the Cardinals seconds ago. All in all it was an okay week. The team traveled to play at division leading Philadelphia mid week. The team lost the first game as Colon got rocked before leaving with a back injury. But the team bounced back behind Sox ace Jon Lester and shutout the Phillies 3-0 in game 2 before winning the rubber game behind hot hitting slugger J.D. Drew to win the series.
But at home versus the Cardinals, the first time both teams faced off since the 2004 World Series. The team blew many chances in the opener and lost by a run then got drilled in Dice-K's return to the hill the next day. But the Sox won a thriller minutes ago on a walk-off shot by Youkilis, his 2nd of the day. Lester and old friend Piniero battled and the Sox took a 3-2 lead into the ninth. But Papelbon blew the save with the Cards down to their final strike. The Sox and Cards had many chances to win in extras, especially the Sox, who got the lead runner on every inning but never scored. Both teams left the bases loaded at times too. Drew threw out a runner at the plate in the 13th to set up the game winner for Youk. The Sox salvaged a game and ended the week at 3-3. The are in 1st place by 1.5 over Tampa Bay. Go Red Sox!