This Day in Celtics History: Lakers choke, Celtics grab 2008 Finals by the throat


It's hard to believe it's already been a decade, but today marks the 10 year anniversary of the worst Finals game choke-job, as the Boston Celtics came back from down 24 to the Los Angeles Lakers, in Los Angeles, to take a suffocating 3-1 lead in the 2008 NBA Finals.

Personally, I remember that game vividly. Being an LA native (born and bred here with paternal roots from Belmont, Mass.), my friends naturally root for the Lakers. Hey, nobody's perfect. During that game, I received text after text after text.

I still remember them.

"The series is ours."

"You lost your chance. It's over."

"Kobe Bryant is eating their soul. Series tied. Series over."

Yeah, my phone was blowing up worse than Bryan Colangelo's twitter feed when the burner news came out. Suddenly, the texting became infrequent. And, as the C's cut the once 24-point deficit to two with PJ Brown's third-quarter ending dunk, the texting stop completely.

Final score: Boston Celtics 97, Los Angeles Lakers 91. 

My text back was simple: ":)"

Needless to say, I didn't get a reply.

Want to relive that day? Of course you do. Kick back, relax, light up a Hoyo de Monterrey cigar in honor of Red Auerbach, and bask in the glory of our beloved men in green stomping on our hated rivals.
 

Coincidentally, today also marks the Celtics 1984 World Championship, defeating -- guess who? -- the Lakers in seven games.


Needless to say, June 12th isn't a good day in LA Lakers history.

Follow Edward Babaian on Twitter: @bojixbabaian

Photo Credit: ESPN; Boston.com