Wrong. Dead wrong. Couldn't have been more wrong. Last month in this blog, I said I thought the Lakers were the best team in the NBA. The Celtics clearly proved me wrong and I've never been happier to be wrong. The Lakers are as skilled as any team around but they are SOFT. How else do you explain losing a 24 point lead at home in the NBA Finals? Or getting absolutely pummeled in game six and not even mustering a fight. Phil Jackson needs one or two guys who can play tough interior defense.

I've been a Celtics fan since the early 70's and my favorite team was the 1986 Celts. They had a starting five of Dennis Johnson, Danny Ainge, Larry Bird, Kevin McHale and Robert Parish. Oh, and they had a guy named Bill Walton coming off the bench. That was a great team. But this edition of the C's should get its due. To win the title in six games and beat up the Lakers the way they did deserves recognition.

Last year, the Celtics won 24 games. Tonight, they're NBA champs. Defense still wins championships.

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