The 2008 NBA Finals between the arch-rivals Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics was controversial at best, and one of them was the Celtics unable to head back home to Boston after Game 5 due to aircraft trouble.
And according to former Celtics star Paul Pierce, a lot seemed off at the time. Speaking on Showtime’s Anything Is Possible, “The Lakers took off before us,” he said. “We got to the airport before them. Their plane right there. We could see right out the window. We delayed two or three hours. We think something up.”
This was seconded by Doc Rivers, then the Celtics coach. “The Lakers’ two planes took off great. We’re in LA and now our two planes aren’t working, and I was going at it.”
The Celtics’ plane conspiracy following Game 5 of the 2008 NBA Finals remains a mystery. 🤔
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He added that the team eventually flew out of LA by taking the team owner’s private plane and landed home late in the evening, less than 24 hours before Game 6 against the Lakers.
Heading into the game 3-2, the Celtics put the screws on LA to notch up a dominant 131-92 win and win their 17th NBA championship. Pierce was awarded Finals MVP after averaging 21.8 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 6.3 assists.
The Lakers had their revenge in 2010, beating the Celtics 4-3 and Kobe Bryant took home Finals MVP. But nothing beats the controversy off the court in 2008 when the two teams squared off in the NBA Finals.
Lakers Star Lamar Odom Reveals How The Celtics Fans Shook The Team Bus After Winning The 2008 NBA Finals
Lamar Odom recounted the scary experience where the Lakers players had to deal with Celtics fans shaking the team bus after the visitors lost Game 6 of the 2008 NBA Finals.
“We not only lost, they beat our a**. In that sixth game, they beat us so badly, they wouldn’t even let our bus leave. They were shaking up our bus when we were leaving. So God knows what would’ve happened had we won that game.”
He further added: “It was a short, short, short, hurt. Then you got your party on for a week or two, and then you had your a** right back in the gym, getting ready for the season.”
The Lakers vs. Celtics rivalry dates back ages and each time the two teams meet, plenty of fireworks are in the offing. This season, both teams bowed out in the Conference Finals. Imagine if they indeed met in the NBA Finals.
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