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Home , Danny Ainge, Doc Rivers, Leon Powe, Paul Pierce, Rajon Rondo

2008 -- S 3145 ======LC03225 ======STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2008 ______

S E N A T E R E S O L U T I O N

CONGRATULATING THE CELTICS ON WINNING THEIR SEVENTEENTH NBA CHAMPIONSHIP

Introduced By: Senators Jabour, Felag, Sheehan, Raptakis, and Tassoni

Date Introduced: June 19, 2008

Referred To: Senate read and passed

1 WHEREAS, When Celtics General Manager acquired and

2 in the summer of 2007, most Celtics fans knew that those two additions, along with

3 superstar forward , would instantly make the Celtics a much improved team and

4 instant playoff contender. However, few could have imagined that the would

5 compile the best record in the NBA in the 2007-2008 season, 66-16, and add to their glorious

6 tradition by defeating hated arch-rival the and MVP to win their

7 league leading seventeenth NBA Championship; and

8 WHEREAS, Kevin Garnett, a superstar playing in relative anonymity for most of his

9 career in Minnesota, was a joy and revelation to observe as he led the Celtics back to glory. We

10 all knew about his intimidating shot-blocking ability, his fierce rebounding skills, his ability to

11 run the court and score quick baskets, his defensive prowess and his superb low post game and

12 sweet outside shot, but his off-court demeanor was even more impressive. Garnett is a caring,

13 kind and compassionate man always available to serve the community and charitable

14 organizations in the region. His team leadership was a vital component in the Celtics quest for a

15 championship and he richly deserved being chosen the NBA's Defensive Player of the Year and

16 being named to the First Team All-NBA Team; and

17 WHEREAS, Paul Pierce proved this season that he was more than a scorer. Aside from

18 leading the Celtics in scoring, Pierce played relentless defense, was a strong rebounder, and was

19 the go-to guy when a basket was needed. His heroics in the NBA Finals have become another 1 part of Celtics and NBA lore. He out-played Kobe Bryant and in clutch situations frustrated

2 Bryant with his relentless defense. Pierce richly deserved the honor he received when he was

3 named the NBA Finals MVP; and

4 WHEREAS, The Celtics incredible 2007-2008 campaign was about more than just two

5 star players. Veteran star Ray Allen provided great outside shooting and hit numerous game

6 winning shots. His veteran experience and leadership were invaluable to the success of the

7 Celtic s this season. at guard provided stellar defense, quality ball handling,

8 and timely passing. provided tough interior defense at the center position along

9 with superb shot blocking skills and tough rebounding; and

10 WHEREAS, The Boston Celtics bench was arguably the best in the NBA.

11 provided quality minutes at the guard spot both as a distributor and as a shot maker. ,

12 and P.J. Brown were certainly the best group of big men coming off the bench in the

13 NBA this past season. Their tough defense, strong inside play, and fierce rebounding simply wore

14 teams down in the regular season and the playoffs; and

15 WHEREAS, The Boston Celtics defeated the , and

16 LeBron James, and the heavily favored Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Finals. In

17 the NBA Finals, the Lakers were favored by the “so-called” experts who predicted that the Lakers

18 great perimeter shooting, athleticism and the play of NBA MVP Kobe Bryant would be too much

19 for the Celtics to handle. What they failed to understand was that the Celtics were a blue collar,

20 gritty team that would simply out-hustle and out-work the talented but soft LA Lakers by

21 dominating the interior and playing suffocating defense. The Celtics won the first two games at

22 home before dropping game three in LA. In game four, a game that will forever be a part of NBA

23 lore, the Celtics fell behind by twenty-four points, a deficit no team has ever recovered from in

24 the NBA Finals. Show ing heart, determination and a “never quitting” attitude, the Celtics stunned

25 the Lakers crowd and the sports world when they came back from this deficit and won 97-91.

26 After losing game five in LA, the Celtics returned home and destroyed the Lakers in game six to

27 win by thirty-nine points and;

28 WHEREAS, The Celtics were guided all season by the steady leadership of

29 Glenn “Doc” Rivers. An emotional leader and excellent motivator, Rivers instilled in the Celtics

30 the fact that to win, they would have to be tougher, stronger, and simply want it more than their

31 opponents, as the Celtics weren’t blessed with the array of talent some other teams had. Under

32 Rivers' direction, the Celtics became the best defensive team, developed the best bench, and were

33 the hardest rebounding team in the league. Their unselfish play all season was testimony to the

34 confidence they had that Rivers was leading them in the right direction. In the NBA Finals many

2 1 feared that the Lakers coach , winner of nine NBA titles as a coach, would use his

2 experience and savvy to out-coach . However, it was Jackson who was seemingly

3 flustered throughout the NBA Finals as Rivers consistently made the right substitutions and

4 called the right plays in the crucial moments of the NBA Finals; now, therefore be it

5 RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations

6 hereby heartily congratulates the Boston Celtics on winning their record leading seventeenth

7 NBA Championship by defeating the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2008 NBA Finals. We thank

8 them for the thrills they provided all Celtic fans in New England and throughout the nation, and

9 we wish them more NBA Championships in future years; and be it further

10 RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and he hereby is authorized and directed to

11 transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Boston Celtics head coach Glenn “Doc” Rivers.

======LC03225 ======

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