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Los Angeles Lakers: Kobe Bryant’s 5 greatest games against the Boston Celtics

By Zain Danani

LOS ANGELES, CA - JUNE 15: Kobe Bryant #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers boxes out Ray Allen #20 of the Boston Celtics in Game Five of the 2008 NBA Finals on June 15, 2008 at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright: 2008 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - JUNE 15: Kobe Bryant #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers boxes out Ray Allen #20 of the Boston Celtics in Game Five of the 2008 NBA Finals on June 15, 2008 at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright: 2008 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE/Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES – JUNE 10: Kobe Bryant #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers shoots a free throw as Paul Pierce # 34 of the Boston Celtics looks on during Game Three of the 2008 NBA Finals on June 10, 2008 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER:User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2008 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES – JUNE 10: Kobe Bryant #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers shoots a free throw as Paul Pierce # 34 of the Boston Celtics looks on during Game Three of the 2008 NBA Finals on June 10, 2008 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER:User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2008 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /

3: June 10, 2008 – Lakers beat Boston 87-81 in Game 3 of 2008 NBA Finals at STAPLES Center

On the day of the 2007 NBA Draft, the Boston Celtics traded their 5th overall pick along with Wally Szczerbiak and Delonte West for Seattle Supersonic’s superstar Ray Allen. Nearly two months later, the team acquired Kevin Garnett.

On July 31, 2007, the Celtics traded for Kevin Garnett in the largest trade for one player in NBA history. The team traded Al Jefferson, Ryan Gomes, Gerald Green, Sebastian Telfair, Theo Ratliff, two first-round draft picks, and cash considerations for Garnett. At the time, many questioned if the Celtics had traded too much for the Big Ticket, but the team would go on to win 66 games and make it to the 2008 NBA Finals.

As for the Lakers, they signed Derek Fisher over the 2007 offseason and would make a midseason trade for Pau Gasol. In the trade, the Lakers would give up Kwame Brown, Javaris Crittenton, and two first-round picks for the Spaniard. The Lakers would go on to finish the season 57-25 and would go 27-9 after obtaining Gasol.

The Lakers and Celtics were both the first seed in their respective conferences, and the greatest rivalry in the NBA was renewed. After eliminating the Detroit Pistons in the Eastern Conference Finals, the Boston Celtics met the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Finals.

With home-court advantage, the C’s took a 2-0 lead on L.A., but the Lakers did not go down that easy. In his first NBA Finals game in STAPLES Center since 2004, Kobe willed the Lakers to a Game 3 win.

He scored 36 points, grabbed seven rebounds, and had two steals while shooting 60 percent from the floor. Although the Celtics ended up winning the series, this was the first of six games that Kobe beat the C’s in the Finals.

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