Despite dominating much of the NBA's history, the Boston Celtics' stature had diminished significantly since 1986 - the last time the franchise won an NBA Championship. Fortunately for fans of the league's most successful team, a resurgence was on the horizon in the form of their 'big three' - franchise superstar Paul Pierce, sharpshooter Ray Allen, and maniacal power forward Kevin Garnett. All that stood in their way was their oldest and most hated rivals - the LA Lakers. The series was a close and intense one, the Lakers hanging in until Game 6 thanks to dogged performances from Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom. Cracks began to show however, especially when Bryant almost reduced shooting guard (and former fiancee of Maria Sharapova) Sasha Vujacic to tears for allowing an easy Ray Allen layup. The Celtics, meanwhile, were buoyed by a career-defining series from Paul Pierce and freakishly long-limbed point guard Rajon Rondo, eventually blowing out the Lakers in Game 6 by a devastating 39 point margin.
