Tag Archives: 10-point-first

Filed under: Celtics , Lakers , NBA Playoffs , NBA Finals LOS ANGELES — The celebration and the chaos surrounded them without making a sound. It was quiet in the visitor’s locker room at Staples Center on Thursday night, where one Boston Celtic after another was asked to discuss their own basketball death. They talked about the classic Game 7 in hushed tones and in a painful rotation — Ray Allen , Paul Pierce , Rajon Rondo , Glen Davis , Kevin Garnett — all reliving the Lakers ‘ 83-79 championship survival. The floor was wet over here, too, but it wasn’t because of champagne. “There was a lot of crying in our locker room, a lot of people who care,” Celtics coach Doc Rivers said. “I don’t think there was a dry eye. A lot of hugs. A lot of people feeling awful. That’s a good thing. You know, that means everybody cared.” They went out like champions from beginning to end, these aging Hall of Famers and relentless reserves who came so close to pulling off such a memorable and unexpected feat. They unplugged the electricity in the building early, jumping out to a 10-point first quarter lead that ensured the tension among most of the 18,997 witnesses would not escape.

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Somber Celtics Went Out Like Champions