2008 NBA CHAMP BOSTON CELTICS v. 2015 SAN ANTONIO SPURS
Celtics: 66-16, 1st Atl Div, 10th Off/1st Def
d. Hawks East 1st Rnd 4-3
d. Cavs East Semis 4-3
d. Pistons East Finals 4-2
d. Lakers NBA Finals 4-2
#16 overall seed
d. '11 Magic (2-1 Allen/KG)
d. '10 Lakers (2-0 KG)
d. '19 Blazers (2-0 KG)
Regional Final: d. '06 Mavs (2-0 Allen (1st team 2)/KG (MVP6)
Sweet 16: d. '80 Lakers (3-1, KG 3 PotG, Series MVP)
Coach: Doc Rivers, Asst Tom Thibodeau, Clifford Ray GM Danny Ainge
Starters
C Leon Powe 24-Cal 7.9 20.9 4.3 .5
F Kevin Garnett 31 18.8 25.3 12.9 6 VORP
F Paul Pierce 30-Kansas 19.6 19.6 12.4 5
G Rajon Rondo 21-Kentucky 10.6 15.6 7.2 2.4
G Ray Allen 32-UConn 17.4 16.4 9.7 3.3
Rotation Reserves
C Kendrick Perkins 23 6.9 PPG 13.3 PER 6.2 WS 1.2
F Glen Davis 22-LSU 4.5 11.3 2.5 -.2
F James Posey 31-X 7.4 12 6.2 2.1
G Eddie House 29-Ariz St 7.5 13 3.9 1.4
G Tony Allen 26-Oklahoma St 6.6 10.7 2.7 .1
Leaders: RAllen 4th FT%
Garnett 4th PER, 2nd Def WS, 2nd WS/48, 4th +/-, 1st Def Rtng, 1st Team All NBA
Pierce 5th Def WS, 3rd Team All NBA
Perkins 4th Def Rtng
Posey 5th Def Rtng
Top defensive team in the league in '08. 31 year old KG is over 20 PER with double digit WS. 30 year old Paul Pierce has double digit WS and 24 year old Leon Powe has 20 PER. KG was Defensive Player of the Year, Danny Ainge Executive of the Year. Pierce was Finals MVP. Garnett, Pierce and 32 year old Ray Allen were all All Stars. Garnett was Region 16 MVP, he and Allen both made All Region Team. Garnett enters the Elite 8 with 9 PotG Awards, tied with 2020 Giannis for the top spot.
Spurs: 55-27, 3rd SW Div, 7th Off, 2nd Def
Lost Clips West 1st Rnd 4-3
#72 overall seed
d. '08 Suns (2-0 Duncan 2 PotG)
d. '69 Celtics (2-0 Splitter/Duncan)
d. '82 Lakers (2-1 Kawhi/Duncan)
Regional Final: d. '87 Celtics (2-1 Splitter 1)
Sweet 16: d. '89 Lakers (3-1, Duncan 3 PotG-Series MVP)
Coach: Gregg Popovich
Starters
C Tiago Splitter 30 8.2 PPG 18.9 PER 4 WS 1.1
F Tim Duncan 38-Wake 13.9 22.6 9.6 4
F Kawhi Leonard 23-San Diego St 16.5 22 8.6 4.1 VORP
G Tony Parker 32 14.2 15.9 4.1 .3
G Manu Ginobli 37 10.5 16.2 3.7 1.5
Rotation Reserves
C Aron Baynes 28- Wash St 6.6 15.9 3.9 .1
F Boris Diaw 32 8.7 12.7 3.6 .8
F Marco Belinelli 28 9.2 12.4 2.9 .4
G Cory Joseph 23-Texas 6.8 15.5 4.5 1.2
G Danny Green 27-UNC 11.7 16.5 7.8 3.8
Leaders: Kawhi: 5th Steals, 1st Steals/Gm, 2nd Def +/- Kawhi 1st Def Rtng, 2nd Steal %
Duncan: 4th Def, 4th Def +/-, 3rd Def Rtng, 3rd Team All NBA
The Spurs got bounced in the first round of the playoffs in '15, but they're the 5th seed in Region 8 with home court advantage here. Young Kawhi and Old Duncan both hit 20 PER. The '17 Spurs have already won their region and the '15 and '16 teams are about to compete in Regional Finals against some 80s legends. 38 year old Duncan made the All Star team and was All Defense second team. 23 year old Kawhi was all Defense 1st team. Duncan's got 7 PotG, he's a forward for these Spurs, so he/ 2020 LeBron/2017 Kawhi are all second team forwards on the All Tournament Team.
Matchup:
C Push
F KG (Celtics)
F Pierce (Celtics)
G Rondo (Celtics)
G Allen (Celtics)
Bench: Spurs
Gm 1: Boston: TD Garden: Kevin Harlan/Doug Collins/Billy Cunningham
1Qtr
9 Spurs 5 Celtics 4
Celtics Powe, KG
Spurs Kawhi, Splitter(3)
6 Celtics 15 Spurs 7
Celtics Pierce(3) Rondo, Powe, Pierce, Powe
Spurs Parker
Two defensive forward teams as we kick off the Elite 8 - one of these two teams will head to the Final Four.
3 Celtics 15 Spurs 13
Celtics
Spurs Kawhi, Green, Duncan
1Score Spurs 19 Celtics 17
Celtics House
Spurs Baynes, Joseph, Joseph
That Spurs defense - they hold the Celtics to 2 points in 6 minutes.
2Qtr
9 Spurs 23 Celtics 19
Celtics Posey,
Spurs Diaw, Duncan
6 Spurs 32 Celtics 28
Celtics Powe, Powe, Powe, Pierce(3)
Spurs Splitter, Green, Splitter, Green(3)
Real 1990s game here played by 21st century teams.
3 Spurs 38 Celtics 32
Celtics Powe, Powe
Spurs Joseph, Joseph, Parker
HScore Spurs 48 Celtics 39
Celtics Pierce, House, Posey(3)
Spurs Parker(1) Baynes, Duncan(3) Kawhi, Ginobli
KG has maybe been the best player in the tournament and he has 2 first half pts.
3Qtr
9 Spurs 58 Celtics 47
Celtics KG, Pierce, Pierce, Powe
Spurs Kawhi(1) Duncan, Ginobli(3) Ginobli, Parker
6 Spurs 60 Celtics 54
Celtics Powe(1) KG, TAllen, Powe
Spurs Joseph
Boston's defense comes through, they trail by 6.
3 Spurs 60 Celtics 58
Celtics KG, KG
Spurs
3Score Spurs 70 Celtics 64
Celtics KG, RAllen, Powe
Spurs Kawhi, Duncan, Duncan, Kawhi, Splitter
12 minutes left in game one - can the Spurs steal home court advantage away from Boston?
4Qtr
9 Spurs 74 Celtics 70
Celtics Posey(3) Rondo, Powe(1)
Spurs Green, Joseph
6 Spurs 76 Celtics 76
Celtics Powe, RAllen, House
Spurs Baynes
5:44: SA: Game 1 is everything you want; Ginobli hits a corner 3 and the Spurs go up 3.
5:29: BOS: Perk goes off glass.
5:13: SA: Parker flips it up and in.
4:52: BOS: KG triples from the wing and again we are tied.
4:29: SA: Parker drives hard to the bucket and scores.
3:15: SA: Silky smooth in the post for Duncan
2:35: BOS: Pierce from the top of the key
1:40: BOS: KG dunk -- he screams as the Spurs call time. We are tied at 85
:30: SA: Duncan got blocked by KG, Powe rimmed a J - Tony Parker scores from the wing and the Spurs are up a bucket.
Celtics ball - no time out.
19 seconds left -- Paul Pierce drills a 15 footer and we are tied.
No time out. Spurs are going down the court - 87-87 -- it's Kawhi - Kawhi isolation - Kawhi into the lane - stepback - fire -- buzzer---
GOOOOOOD!!!! GOOOOOD!!!! GOOOD!!!! GOOOOD!!!!!
KAWHI LEONARD AT THE BUZZER GIVES THE SPURS GAME ONE! GOOOOOOOD! GOOOD!!!!
FScore: Spurs 89 Celtics 87
A mob scene in Boston - 23 year old Kawhi Leonard has 3 separate Elite 8 teams - he's now 2 wins from the Final Four. The Spurs are on the court mobbing Leonard - shocked fans stream out of the arena. The Spurs take game one.
Kawhi: 13 pts/9 boards/Buzzer Beater-Player of the Game
Duncan: 15 pts/14 boards/7 assists
Splitter: 9 pts/10 boards
Parker: 13 pts
Ginobli: 10 pts/6 assists
Joseph: 12 pts
KG: 17 pts/11 boards/6 assists
Pierce: 18 pts/7 boards
Powe: 26 pts/8 boards
Gm 2: Boston: TD Garden: Kevin Harland/Doug Collins/Billy Cunningham
1Qtr
9 Celtics 9 Spurs 4
Celtics Powe, Powe(3) Pierce, Powe
Spurs Kawhi, Splitter
6 Celtics 15 Spurs 11
Celtics RAllen, Powe, RAllen
Spurs Parker, Parker, Ginobli(3)
Boston lost game one - they basically must win today.
3 Celtics 17 Spurs 17
Celtics RAllen
Spurs Duncan, Duncan, Kawhi
1Score Spurs 20 Celtics 19
Celtics KG
Spurs Baynes(3)
Again - defense - and again - Boston can't score in the back half of the qtr.
2Qtr
9 Spurs 24 Celtics 23
Celtics TAllen, Pierce
Spurs Joseph, Baynes
6 Celtics 30 Spurs 26
Celtics Pierce, Rondo, RAllen(3)
Spurs Duncan
Defense, defense - this is a physical, slug it out each time down the floor, 90s style series.
3 Celtics 35 Spurs 34
Celtics RAllen(3) Pierce
Spurs Diaw, Splitter, Splitter, Duncan
HScore Celtics 44 Spurs 44
Celtics Pierce(3) Pierce, Perk, KG
Spurs Kawhi, Duncan, Ginobli, Splitter, Duncan
Replay of game one - it's a basket here and a basket there; does it come down to the final shot?
3Qtr
9 Spurs 50 Celtics 49
Celtics RAllen(3) Rondo
Spurs Kawhi, Joseph, Baynes
6 Celtics 58 Spurs 56
Celtics KG, RAllen(3) Rondo, KG
Spurs Splitter, Joseph, Duncan
Ray Allen hits a couple triples.
3 Spurs 60 Celtics 58
Celtics
Spurs Kawhi, Joseph
3Score Celtics 62 Spurs 62
Celtics Powe, TAllen
Spurs Belinelli
Just hyper intense defense, only 10 total points in the last 6 min
4Qtr
9 Spurs 71 Celtics 70
Celtics Powe, Pierce, Perk, Rondo
Spurs Baynes, Duncan, Ginobli (3) Kawhi
6 Celtics 75 Spurs 74
Celtics Perk(1) KG, KG
Spurs Ginobli(3)
5:35: BOS: The bank's open for Posey
5:22: SA: Splitter floats a 13 footer,
3:36: BOS: 2 minutes pass and Leon Powe hits a corner 3. 4 pt Celtics lead.
2:48 SA: Baynes FT
2:34: BOS: Ray Allen from the FT line.
1:40 SA: Parker top of the key. 3 pt game. Spurs need the stop
:46: BOS: Ray Allen goes baseline and scores - that's probably that.
Powe hits 2 FT, Pierce 1. Powe another and its done.
FScore: Celtics 88 Spurs 79
A bruising 2 games in Boston end in a split.
Powe: 19 pts/12 boards-Player of the Game
RAllen: 22 pts
KG: 12 pts/13 boards
Pierce: 16 pts/8 boards
Kawhi: 12 pts/13 boards
Duncan: 16 pts/14 boards/5 blocks
Splitter: 12 pts/7 boards
Ginobli: 11 pts/6 boards
Baynes: 10 pts/5 boards
Gm 3: San Antonio: ATT Center: Dick Enberg/Billy Packer/Al McGuire
1Qtr
9 Celtics 6 Spurs 2
Spurs Splitter
Celtics Pierce, Powe, RAllen
6 Celtics 13 Spurs 6
Spurs Parker, Ginobli
Celtics RAllen, Pierce(3) Pierce
Paul Pierce opens with 7 - Celtics on the road here, pivotal game 3
3 Celtics 17 Spurs 10
Spurs Parker, Green
Celtics KG, RAllen
1Score Celtics 21 Spurs 20
Spurs Duncan, Kawhi, Joseph(3) Belinelli(3)
Celtics Rondo, TAllen
Wouldn't be a first qtr if it wasn't like 21-20.
2Qtr
9 Celtics 31 Spurs 26
Spurs Green(3) Baynes(3)
Celtics House, House(3) House, KG
6 Celtics 45 Spurs 33
Spurs Parker, kawhi, Splitter(3)
Celtics Powe, House, TAllen, Pierce(3) Davis(1) KG, Pierce
Biggest lead for either team in the series.
3 Celtics 51 Spurs 45
Spurs Duncan, Ginobli(1) Baynes, Ginobli(3) Baynes, parker
Celtics Pierce(3) House(3)
HScore Celtics 61 Spurs 51
Spurs Kawhi, Splitter, Duncan
Celtics House, Powe, Rondo, KG, Rondo
Double digit Celtics lead.
3Qtr
9 Celtics 65 Spurs 51
Spurs
Celtics Pierce, Rondo
6 Celtics 67 Spurs 63
Spurs Diaw, Diaw(3) Splitter, Green, Green(3)
Celtics KG
Just 6 points in 6 minutes for the Celtics.
3 Spurs 76 Celtics 69
Spurs Baynes, Joseph, Splitter, Ginobli, Ginobli, Belinelli
Celtics KG
3Score Celtics 79 Spurs 77
Spurs Duncan(1)
Celtics RAllen, RAllen, KG, Rondo, RAllen
Boston had just 8 points in the first 9 minutes of the qtr, but Ray Allen scores 6 in the final 3 and we are set for the big 4th qtr.
4Qtr
9 Spurs 86 Celtics 86
Spurs Kwhi, Splitter, Duncan, Kawhi(3)
Celtics Rondo, Pierce, KG(3)
6 Celtics 95 Spurs 90
Spurs Kawhi, Splitter
Celtics RAllen, RAllen(3) TAllen, RAllen
7 more points for Ray Allen - he was Player of the Game in game 2 and he is taking over here.
3 Celtics 102 Spurs 97
Spurs Baynes, Ginobli(3) Splitter, perk
Celtics KG, Perk KG
15 sec. Celtics 105 Spurs 104
Spurs Parker, Parker, Ginobli(3)
Celtics RAllen, Powe(1)
The Spurs couldn't get closer than 5 - but Parker cut it to 3 at 23 seconds left, Powe was then fouled and hit a shot - Ginobli then bombed a triple and so w/ 15 seconds left, the Spurs have cut this to a point, they will, no matter what, get that chance to at least tie you would think.
Ray Allen hits 2 FT.
Last shot for the Spurs - can they send it into OT --
Timeout. Inbound -- stolen by Leon Powe! Powe cruises in for the game ending dunk and Boston takes game 3!
Final: Celtics 109 Spurs 104
Boston rebounds from that game one buzzer beater to take games 2 and 3 and they are now a game from the Final Four. Garnett with his 10th PotG.
KG: 21 pts/9 boards/5 steals: PotG
RAllen: 23 pts
Pierce: 19 pts/5 boards
Rondo: 12 pts/7 assists
House: 15 pts
Duncan: 9 pts/12 boards
Kawhi: 13 pts/11 boards/6 assists
Splitter: 17 pts/6 boards
Parker: 12 pts
Ginobli: 17 pts/7 assists
Green: 10 pts
Baynes: 11 pts
Gm 4: San Antonio: ATT Center: Dick Enberg/Billy Packer/Al McGuire
1Qtr
9 Spurs 7 Celtics 6
Spurs Splitter(1) Ginobli(1) Kawhi(3) Parker
Celtics Rondo, KG, KG
6 Spurs 11 Celtics 11
Spurs Ginobli, Ginobli
Celtics KG, Scalabrine(3)
Celtics are a game away from moving into the Final Four.
3 Celtics 22 Spurs 18
Spurs Duncan, Joseph, Green(3)
Celtics KG, KG, Rondo, Davis, Posey(3)
No one scores in the next 3 minutes.
2Qtr
9 Spurs 24 Celtics 24
Spurs Belinelli, Baynes, Baynes
Celtics Rondo
6 Spurs 30 Celtics 29
Spurs Kawhi, Joseph, Kawhi
Celtics Rondo, Powe(3)
All defense, just nothing but defense, fistfight levels of defense, each possession.
3 Spurs 38 Celtics 35
Spurs Ginobli(3) Kawhi(3) Kawhi
Celtics Pierce, Powe, KG
HScore Spurs 48 Celtics 38
Spurs Duncan, Splitter, Kawhi, Kawhi, Splitter
Celtics Pierce(3)
The Spurs just locking Boston down - it looks like we are headed to the Showdown.
3Qtr
9 Spurs 58 Celtics 50
Spurs Duncan, Parker, Parker, Parker, Splitter, Duncan
Celtics RAllen(3) Rondo, Rondo(3) Powe, Rondo
6 Spurs 66 Celtics 55
Spurs Joseph(3) Baynes, Kawhi(3)
Celtics TAllen, KG(3)
The Spurs are opening it up.
3 Spurs 69 Celtics 62
Spurs Green(3)
Celtics RAllen(3) Powe, Powe
3Score Spurs 73 Celtics 70
Spurs Ginobli(3) Joseph(1)
Celtics Powe, Perk, KG, KG
Boston goes on a good run and we have a 4th qtr ready to go.
4Qtr
9 Spurs 82 Celtics 76
Spurs Splitter, Parker, Ginobli(3) Duncan
Celtics Pierce, Pierce, Pierce
6 Spurs 90 Celtics 84
Spurs Green(3) Duncan, Green(3)
Celtics RAllen, Rondo, Rondo, Rondo
Those Spurs triples keep them ahead - the home crowd trying to carry their squad 6 more minutes
3 Spurs 98 Celtics 89
Spurs Joseph, Ginobli, Splitter, Ginobli
Celtics Pierce(3) Pierce
FScore Spurs 104 Celtics 95
Spurs Duncan, Ginobli(1) Ginobli, Parker(1)
Celtics RAllen(3) Pierce(3)
We get what we want out of an Elite 8 series, a full 5 games - back to Boston for one game for all of it.
Kawhi: 13 pts/11 boards/6 assists-Player of the Game
Duncan: 9 pts/12 boards
Splitter: 17 pts/6 boards
Parker: 12 pts
Ginobli: 17 pts/7 assists
Green: 10 pts
Baynes: 11 pts
KG: 21 pts/9 boards/5 steals
RAllen: 23 pts
Pierce: 19 pts/5 boards
Rondo: 12 pts/7 assists
House: 15 pts
Gm 5: Boston: TD Garden: Johnny Most/Tom Heinsohn
1Qtr
9 Celtics 12 Spurs 5
Celtics RAllen, KG, KG, Powe, Pierce, RAllen
Spurs Splitter(1) Duncan, Kawhi
6 Celtics 16 Spurs 16
Celtics KG, KG
Spurs Duncan, Kawhi(3) Duncan, Parker, Parker
Points here in game 5 - one advances and one goes home.
3 Spurs 26 Celtics 23
Celtics KG, Pierce, Pierce(3)
Spurs Parker(3) Splitter, Splitter, Kawhi(3)
1Score Spurs 39 Celtics 35
Celtics Perk, Perk, RAllen(3) House(3) Davis
Spurs Kawhi(3) Green, Duncan(1) Baynes, Baynes, Belinelli, Baynes(1)
This has been a defensive struggle for 4 games - but here in the final game, the sides come out firing away.
2Qtr
9 Celtics 42 Spurs 42
Celtics Posey(3) Powe, Pierce
Spurs Diaw(3)
6 Spurs 50 Celtics 49
Celtics RAllen(3) Perk, Pierce
Spurs Duncan, Parker, Splitter, Kawhi
We are gonna go after it here; game 5 - we may get a real lgendary finish
3 Celtics 55 Spurs 55
Celtics Pierce RAllen, RAllen
Spurs Baynes(1) Duncan, Duncan
HScore Celtics 59 Spurs 55
Celtics Rondo, Posey
Spurs
14 for Ray Allen, 13 for Duncan
3Qtr
9 Celtics 67 Spurs 63
Celtics Perk, KG, Allen, Powe
Spurs Green(3) Baynes(3) Diaw
6 Celtics 71 Spurs 67
Celtics Pierce, TAllen
Spurs Parker, Joseph
The sides matching each other basket for basket - that 4 point margin just sitting there.
3 Spurs 78 Celtics 74
Celtics Powe(1) Rondo
Spurs Kawhi, Splitter(3) Duncan, Ginobli, Splitter
3Score Spurs 83 Celtics 82
Celtics Powe(1) Rondo(1) Powe, Powe, Powe
Spurs Joseph(1) Duncan, Duncan
6 more Duncan, 8 more for Powe - Paul Pierce sat out the last 6 minutes after picking up his 5th foul. 12 minutes of basketball left in this series.
4Qtr
10:19 BOS: 2 minutes in, KG scores from the block and Boston has the lead.
9:40: SA: Leon Powe has carried a lot of the load for the Celtics - but he fouls out here and Splitter makes both.
9:27: BOS: Big Baby Davis with a corner 3 and Boston is up 2
9:16: SA: Manu drills a triple from the left wing - Spurs 88-87
9:01: BOS: Rondo drives and scores in traffic
8:28: BOS: Parker misses and Perk dunks one home - Boston is up 3
7:52: BOS: Garnett at both ends - he rejects Duncan and then floats one home from 8 feet. 5 pt game
6:41: SA: A minute later, Baynes banks an 11 footer
6:21: BOS: Ray Allen baseline J
5:46: BOS: Duncan misses and Rondo hits a 15 footer
5:26: BOS: There's a Spurs turnover and KG powers home a dunk, it's 99-90 and that might be that
3 Celtics 101 Spurs 95
Celtics KG
Spurs Kawhi(3) Kawhi
2:39: SA Tony Parker from the foul line cuts it to 4
1:27: SA Ray Allen misses a triple and Manu Eurosteps to the goal. 101-99
1:03: BOS: Playoff Rondo - he drills one from the top of the key - huge, huge shot.
:34: SA: Kawhi floats home a baseline J. 103-101 Celtics
KG hits 2 FT, Celtics by 4. 20 seconds left.
Spurs get a quick 2 on a Ginobli layup. 15 seconds left.
AND THE SPURS STEAL THE INBOUNDS!! THE SPURS STEAL THE INBOUNDS!!
Duncan is in the paint - he's got a great look at the clock hits Triple Zero----
The ball rattles, and rattles, and rolls.....
And rolls out.
And the series is over.
FScore: Celtics 105 Spurs 103
Just an unbelievable finish - Kawhi steals the ball - finds Duncan - Duncan gets a great look - the ball stays in the cylinder just an eternity and rims out - ending the series. Wow, wow, wow, wow, wow. The fans mob the court - that's some old school shit right here - the 2008 Boston Celtics head to the final four, they will meet the winners of the next series for the right to play for the Tournament Championship. Duncan missed that last shot - heartbreaking considering the game he played - 19 pts/25 boards/8 assists and 5 blocks - for 38 year old Tim Duncan, what a tremendous effort.
Garnett wins PotG and Series MVP - he now has 11 PotG, closing in on Player of the Tournament
KG: 22 pts/12 boards/5 assists
RAllen 16 pts/5 boards
Rondo: 11 pts
Pierce: 15 pts/8 boards/8 assists
Powe: 14 pts/5 boards
Perkins: 10 pts/6 boards
All Tournament Team 1st Team
C Shaq ('98 Lakers 7 PotG)
F Garnett ('08 Celtics 11 PotG)
F Giannis ('20 Bucks 9 PotG)
G Magic ('89 Lakers 6 PotG)
G Harden ('15 Rockets 7 PotG)
All Tournament Team 2nd Team
C Duncan ('13 Spurs 6 PotG)
F Kawhi ('17 Spurs 7 PotG)
F LeBron ('20 Lakers 7 PotG)
F Duncan ('15 Spurs 7 PotG)
G Kobe ('09 Lakers 6 PotG)
G Westbrook ('11 Thunder 5 PotG)
