BOSTON (AP) -The “Beat L.A!” chants echoed through the Boston Garden again Monday night as the Celtics celebrated their latest NBA title with the premiere of their championship DVD.
Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and a handful of other Celtics gathered with a few hundred fans in the Legends restaurant at the Garden to relive the 2007-08 season. Boston completed the most dramatic turnaround in league history to win an unprecedented 17th NBA title in June.
“The champion is back in the building,” reserve Leon Powe said as he strutted into the hallway from the room that a month ago served as the Los Angeles Lakers locker room.
Free agent sixth man James Posey was greeted with cheers and urged to re-sign. General manager Danny Ainge was also reminded about his No. 1 priority for the offseason, as fans yelled at him, “Don’t let Posey go!”
“I’m just sitting back, waiting to see what happens,” Posey said.
Sharpshooter Eddie House, the other key free agent, said his first choice was to come back. He’s also looking for a raise and a multiyear contract.
“I’m going to have a job. That’s one thing I don’t worry about too much,” he said. “My agent and Danny are talking, trying to get something everybody can feel good about.”
Pierce, who was cradling his infant daughter in his left arm, said he has been lugging the NBA finals MVP trophy around Los Angeles and getting a better reception than he would have expected. The Celtics captain said he had an MRI last week and still had some swelling in the meniscus of his right knee, which he injured in Game 1 of the finals.
Rajon Rondo said his injured left ankle was fine.
Garnett has had to change his summer regimen because the offseason as been so much shorter.
“There had been some adjustment,” he said. “Obviously, I don’t know about that now, nor do I care about that.”
Even though they knew how it ended, the fans and players watched in rapt attention as the video recapped the training camp trip to Rome, the 66-16 regular season, and the four playoff series victories. A segment on the team’s illustrious history drew cheers for late patriarch Red Auerbach and boos for former coach Rick Pitino as he ranted, “Larry Bird is not walking through that door.”
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