After 22 long years, that little leprechaun returns to the biggest stage in all of basketball.

And in case you didn’t get that, I’m talking about that leprechaun on the Celtics’ logo. And if you still didn’t get that, let me reiterate it for you, the Boston Celtics will play in the 2008 NBA Finals, making their return to the championship series since Larry Bird led the Celtics franchise to the NBA Finals back in 1986.

Sure, the Celtics lost to the Los Angeles Lakers of Magic Johnson the last time this Celtics franchise got here. But this time, Boston will have three of the biggest names in basketball, that being Paul Pierce, Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett for the championship series and although these three will be playing against THE BEST player in the NBA, that being Kobe Bryant, collectively; Pierce, Allen and Garnett may just be enough to thwart Tinseltown’s one-man show.

The Boston Celtics, after getting their asses scrutinized of struggling away from Boston, silenced their critics in the Eastern Conference Finals, TWICE, after winning two games at the Palace of Auburn Hills in Detroit, Michigan. With all of their struggles losing all those playoff games in Atlanta and Cleveland, the Celtics only lost one playoff game in Detroit, winning the other two games played at the Palace, Game 3 and Game 6.

And just like the two Game 7s this Celtics team had against the Hawks and the Cavaliers, Paul Pierce once again stepped up to close things out in Game 6 at the Palace.

Pierce led the Celtics with a team-high 27 points while Ray Allen added 17 and Kevin Garnett, 16. After watching Boston’s BIG THREE struggle during the early stages of the 2008 NBA playoffs, they found away to click at the right time, and unfortunately for Piston fans, they started clicking against Detroit in the Eastern Conference Finals.

Against the Los Angeles Lakers, the Celtics will need the same kind of performance from their trio. Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen all want to win the very first championship ring of their career. Can Hollywood change the trio’s script for a storybook ending to the season?

You can bet your ass Mr. Kobe Bryant certainly thinks so.

Can the Boston Celtics win the 2008 NBA title or will the Los Angeles Lakers win their return to the NBA Finals? Bodog sportsbook has the odds.

Boston Celtics 2.65

Los Angeles Lakers 1.53

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Boston Celtics NBA Finals