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New To Boston, Garnett and Allen Etch Names into Celtics’ Legacy
Their time in Boston has been relatively brief, but, after helping to secure the franchise's seventeenth championship on Tuesday night, Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett became Celtics legends.
In a decisive Game 6 victory at the TD Banknorth Garden, the Celtics routed the Los Angeles Lakers, 131-92. Despite sustaining an eye injury early in the first quarter, Allen erupted for 26 points, including seven three-pointers to tie an NBA Finals record. Garnett, meanwhile, logged his par-for-the-course double-double, scoring 26 and pulling down 14 rebounds.
The NBA championship was the first for the veteran superstars, who shared their thoughts with reporters in emotional post-game press conferences.
"I just want to say, other than my kid being born, this has got to be the happiest day of my life right now," a giddy Garnett said.
"It's such a wonderful feeling to be able to do this on this night with all the stuff that has taken place over the weekend," Allen said, referencing his own young son's recent health issues. "To be able to share this with the fans in Boston has been great."
After enduring a dreadful shooting slump for much of the playoffs, Allen rediscovered his stroke in time for the Finals. The twelve-year veteran shot 51 percent from the field and averaged 20 points per game. In Game 4, Allen played all 48 minutes and, with sixteen seconds remaining, nailed a critical left-handed layup to seal the Celtics' historic comeback.
By contrast, Garnett was a consistent force throughout the postseason. The Big Ticket averaged a double-double across all four series, dropping 20 points a game and grabbing 11 rebounds.
For Garnett, who had never made it past the Western Conference Finals in his 12 years with the Minnesota Timberwolves, the championship victory silenced his critics, once and for all.
"It's like getting rid of the bully," Garnett told reporters. "It's like I knocked the bully's ass out. I knocked his ass clean out. That's what it feels like. For y'all who ain't been bullied, y'all ain't got no idea what I'm talking about. But for y'all who have, you understand the story."
Garnett also spoke of becoming a lasting part of Celtics tradition.
"It's so much motivation coming in here every day with the banners on the wall and seeing the ex players come in and watching you practice. There's so much responsibility putting this jersey on that I don't really think you guys understand how much responsibility it is to come in here to carry tradition, Celtic pride, Ubuntu."
Even with the championship victory under his belt, Garnett showed deference to his Celtic forbears, pooh-poohing references to a new "Big Three."
"Ray Allen, Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett. Y'all got to give us a new nickname. I know you're all more creative than 'The Big Three,' so let us hear it."
With the Celtics once again the talk of the town, they certainly will.
