By Mike Weilamann

June 17, 2008: SCOREBOARD | IN FOCUS GALLERY | AROUND THE ASSOCIATION ARCHIVE

PHOTO OF THE NIGHT
Finals MVP Paul Pierce and the Celtics celebrate their 17th championship overall and first since 1986, following Tuesday's blowout win in Game 6.
Garrett Ellwood/NBAE/Getty Images
QUOTE OF THE NIGHT
Paul Pierce "It means everything. I'm not living under the shadows of the other greats now. If I was going to be one of the best Celtics to ever play, I had to put up a banner, and today we did that."
-- Celtics forward Paul Pierce after the Celtics claimed their first title in 22 years with Tuesday's lopsided win in Game 6.
THE DAY'S TOP VIDEO
Tuesday's top play: Kevin Garnettt sinks the impossible bank shot.
  • Haier Play of the Day
  • Dunk of the Night
  • Block of the Night
    		•
  • Assist of the Night
  • Steal of the Night
  • NBA TV Top 10
    • NBA.COM'S FANTASY TAKE
    Rajon Rondo The Celts' Rajon Rondo made for a nice play with 21 points, eight assists and seven rebounds in Tuesday's Game 6 victory. Congratulations to all Drive to the Finals winners. Now the focus shifts to the upcoming NBA Draft to be conducted in New York on June 26. Fear not contest lovers, we still have another game for your pleasure. Check out Draft Pick ’Em where you try and forecast the top 14 lottery picks. Match up the right players with the right teams and win a bevy of prizes. No purchase is necessary to play so you have nothing to lose. Memphis point guard Derrick Rose is the consensus No. 1 in six of our 11 mock drafts. That’s all the help you’re getting here. Good luck to all.
    SHOOTING STUDS
    Ray Allen Ray Allen, Celtics
    131-92 win vs. Lakers
    26 pts, 8-12 FG, 7-9 3-pt FG

    Kevin Garnett, Celtics
    131-92 win vs. Lakers
    26 pts, 10-18 FG, 6-7 FT

    James Posey, Celtics
    131-92 win vs. Lakers
    11 pts, 4-4 FG, 3-3 3-pt FG

    STAT SHEET STUFFER
    Ray Allen Ray Allen never met a 3-point shot he didn’t like to take in the entire Finals, much less Game 6. Allen was 7-of-9 from behind the arc on Tuesday and converted a Finals record 22 treys for the series. He finished Game 6 with 26 points as the C’s polished off the Lakers 131-92 for their 17th championship overall and the franchise’s first since 1986. It was quite a performance for Allen, considering he was in the hospital Saturday and Sunday night with his ill child.
    SHOOTING DUDS
    Lamar Odom Lamar Odom, Lakers
    131-92 loss at Celtics
    14 pts, 2-8 FG

    Kobe Bryant, Lakers
    131-92 loss at Celtics
    22 pts, 7-22 FG

    Vladimir Radmanovic, Lakers
    131-92 loss at Celtics
    6 pts, 2-6 FG

    C’s RECEIVE AN ‘A’ FOR THIS ONE
    Kevin Garnett They might be calling it the “Boston Three Party” after the Celtics’ big victory on Tuesday and rightfully so. The additions of Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen to go with Paul Pierce delivered the goods in Beantown for the first time since 1986. There was no drama as Game 6 was far from a classic. In fact, it was a downright embarrassment for the Lakers. Boston's 39-point win surpassed the NBA record for the biggest margin of victory in a championship clincher; the Celtics beat the Lakers 129-96 in Game 5 of the 1965 NBA Finals. Much of the suspense was gone early Tuesday as the Celtics led by 23 at halftime, but the end was clearly in sight with about eight minutes left in the third. That’s when Allen missed a mid-range jumper and Garnett secured the easy rebound with no Laker attempting to contest. The C’s made the Lakers cry uncle in this one as they dominated once again on their home floor. Rajon Rondo (arguably the Game 6 MVP) and the gutsy James Posey were also integral parts of this championship. It was truly a team effort for the C’s.
    LAKERS WILL BE LAMENTING THIS EFFORT
    Kobe BryantPau Gasol Where do you start assessing where it all went wrong for the Lakers, who despite being tabbed as the favorites by most accounts to win this series, were dismantled and eliminated in Tuesday's Game 6 laugher. There’s plenty of blame to go around for sure. You can look to Kobe Bryant disappearing at crucial times. Absolutely no consistent inside presence was another factor. Memo to Pau Gasol: The Lakers were looking for you in The Finals. Now to be fair, Boston’s defense was the cause of a lot of the Lakers’ woes in the series, but L.A. gave a lackluster effort overall. The first sign of trouble was getting swept in Boston to go down 2-0. They rebounded as expected in Game 3, but the final straw was dropping Game 4 at home -- the Lakers’ first loss on their home floor this postseason -- after holding a 24-point lead. It really came down to heart and which team wanted it more. And above all else, that’s what the Lakers should really be shaking their heads over.