Thu Jun 19 14:15:53 2008

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Celtics celebrate 17th NBA title

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Boston, MA (Sports Network) - The world champion Boston Celtics celebrated their 17th NBA title Thursday, with a rolling rally through the city's streets before ending with a raucous gathering at Copley Square.

The rally started at the TD Banknorth Garden, where the Celtics captured the title on Tuesday night against the Lakers, finishing 13-1 at home in the playoffs. Celtics players, coaches and team brass departed on amphibious duck boats, starting from Causeway Street, past Boston Common, and onto Boylston Street to Copley Square.

Thousands of fans lined the streets, creating a sea of green, as Bostonians shared in the jubilation of a franchise celebrating its first title in 22 years. Players and fans alike seemed to revel in the celebration equally as Paul Pierce showed off his Finals MVP trophy while Kevin Garnett hoisted the championship hardware. Pierce and Garnett also puffed on victory cigars, a trademark of the late Celtics legend Red Auerbach.

The Celtics, who had just 24 wins all of last season, completed the greatest turnaround in league history with 66 victories this year and capped it with a 131-92 victory, one of the most dominating performances in NBA Finals history. Only Chicago's 42-point win (96-54) over Utah in 1998 was a larger margin of victory in the Finals.

This marked the sixth parade for Boston sports fans since 2002, as the Patriots celebrated three Super Bowl titles and the Red Sox a pair of World Series championships in similar fashion.