With the 2010’s coming to a close, there’s no better time to take a nice trip down memory lane. Though there was unfortunately no championship over last decade, there were still some pretty great moments for the Celtics. I figured I’d make a nice list of my personal favorite memories, feel free to reply with anything I might have missed. I want to focus on in game moments, so things like draft picks and trades won’t make the list.
Honorable Mention
Pierce and Garnett play their last game at the Garden
In 2013 it was no secret that the Celtics core was past its prime. With Ray Allen already gone, and Rajon Rondo down with an ACL tear, the C’s were left shorthanded come playoff time. They went down 3-0 to the Knicks in the first round and managed to win the next 2 games in the series. Game 6 was at the Garden and it was ugly for the most part. The C’s struggled offensively for nearly the entire game before piecing together one of the most incredible runs I’ve ever seen. In just 2 minutes, they managed to scored 20 unanswered points. Unfortunately, they came up short, ending Pierce and Garnett’s time with the Celtics. It was still something special to watch.
10. Rook Takes King
In 2018, the Celtics miraculously managed their was to the Eastern Conference Finals against LeBron’s Cavs after losing both Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward to injuries earlier in the year. The Celtics continued to play out of their minds during the series and things came down to a Game 7 at the Garden. The C’s hadn’t lost a game all spring at home and things were looking good going in. Unfortunately, things didn’t end in the best way, but the game did leave us this highlight.
Had the Celtics won this one, this dunk might’ve been number one on this list.
9. Game 7 Kelly
2017 was a great year to be a Celtics fan. Isaiah Thomas played one of the best seasons we’ve seen in quite some time. It also gave us a great playoff series between Boston and Washington. The series of course went 7 games, with the home team winning every game. In game 7, it was Kelly Olynyk who carried the Celtics to victory. He was unconscious, making big shot after big shot to help the C’s seal the game. This was one of the best performances by a Celtics role player that I’ve seen in quite some time.
8. Ray Allen Breaks the All Time 3 Point Record
I’m not the biggest Ray Allen fan, but this is something that certainly deserves a spot on this list. In 2011 in a game against the Lakers, Ray Allen made his 2,561st career three pointer to break Reggie Miller’s NBA record. Reggie was in the building to witness his record be broken. I think that it happening against the Lakers makes it a bit more special too. Those games are always a bit more meaningful, and to break a record like that is pretty great.
7. Marcus Smart Draws 2 Charges in 2 Seconds
I remember this game like it was yesterday. I was on vacation in London, so it was like 4 AM when this game ended, I remember trying not to scream and wake up people sleeping in adjacent rooms. The Celtics were having an abysmal game. They trailed by as much as 26 against Houston, and managed to climb all the way back by crunch time. Unfortunately, they hadn’t managed to take the lead since the first quarter. With 18 second left, Jayson Tatum made a dunk to get the lead down to 1. Marcus Smart then draws an offensive foul on James Harden to give the C’s the lead. Al Horford nailed a baby hook to do so, and then Marcus does the exact same thing and gets the Celtics the ball once again. This was probably the best comeback I’ve witnessed to date.
6. The Celtics Help LeBron Pack his Bags
In 2010 the Celtics met LeBron’s Cavs in the Eastern Conference Semi Finals. The Cavs had the best record in the league, and this was supposed to be the year where there was finally a LeBron vs Kobe NBA Finals. Well, the Celtics ruined that really quick. They went down 0-2 to Cleveland, but then won 4 straight to take the series 4 games to 2. This was the final straw for LeBron in Cleveland, and it sent him packing to South Beach.
5. The Shot
2012 was the last hurrah for the Big 3 in Boston. It had an unfortunate ending in the conference finals against Miami, but the ride was fun. The highlight of the playoff run that year had to Paul Pierce’s dagger three over LeBron in Game 5. With the clock winding down in the fourth, Pierce drilled a huge three over James with about 50 seconds to go to put the C’s up 4. The win in game 5 put the Celtics up in the series 3-2, but unfortunately they couldn’t find that fourth win, which is why this is lower on the list than you may think.
4. Isaiah Drops 50 at the Garden
On December 30, 2016, Isaiah Thomas had a monster game against the Miami Heat. He finished the night with 52 points, breaking the 50 point threshold for the first time in his career. Isaiah was the first Celtic to crack the 50 point mark since Paul Pierce 10 years earlier. The most impressive part of the night for Isaiah was that 29 of his points came in the fourth quarter. This was the beginning of the whole “King of the Fourth” nickname for Isaiah, and was really what sparked his sensational 2016-17 campaign.
3. The Confetti Game
During the 2018 “Hospital Celtics” playoff run, they met the 76ers in the second round. The C’s ended up taking the series 4 games to 1, but it was a lot closer than the record shows. Boston took the first two games at home, but they didn’t come easy. The Celtics erased a 22 point deficit in game 2 to take a 2-0 lead going to Philly. Game 3 was really the game that sealed Philadelphia’s fate, and it didn’t come without a little bit of false hope. At the end of a hard fought regulation, Marco Belinelli drilled what was thought by many to be a 3 as time expired. The confetti dropped and the music played as Philly thought they’d just stolen game 3. After further review, it was called a two pointer and the game went to overtime where the Celtics took care of business. There’s nothing like some premature celebration to top off a playoff win.
2. The Truth says Farewell to the Garden
February 5, 2017 was a great day to be a Boston sports fan. That night, the Patriots would take on the Falcons in the Super Bowl. However, my favorite memory from that day came at the Garden, where Paul Pierce graced the parquet for the final time of his career. I was at that game, and it was probably the best thing I’ve ever been to/ been a part of. As you entered the Garden, they were handing out Paul Pierce headbands for all fans, and everyone was excited for the big day. The pregame introductions were great, the crowd was going crazy for Paul as he kissed the logo at center court. After getting the start, Pierce didn’t see any time for the rest of the game, that is, until the fourth quarter. Everyone was chanting “we want Paul” and Doc Rivers finally subbed him back in for the final 18 seconds. Pierce then drilled a 3 and the Garden went nuts. It was a great moment to witness and definitely deserves a place on the list.
1. Isaiah Drops 50 Again
The 2017 playoffs brought us some great match ups for the C’s. First against the Bulls, then against the Wizards. The series against Washington was great to watch, and it was because of moments like this. Isaiah Thomas had lost his sister, Chyna, just before the playoffs started and still suited up for the C’s that spring. On her birthday, the Celtics hosted Washington for game 2 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals. Isaiah put on one of the most incredible performances in playoff history. He finished the game with 53 points and was unconscious in the fourth quarter. Isaiah’s huge game takes the top spot for the best moments of the 2010’s.
Let me know what you think of the list, and if you think I missed any let me know!
Thanks for reading!
Parquet Press 
3 Comments