The one often cited took place on March 5, 1770. The newest came on June 17, 2008. Just ask the Lakers. Actually, to them, "Massacre" could be an understatement.

It is not just the Celtics winning in such profound fashion to secure their 17th NBA Championship that seems to mesmerize, it is also equal parts confusing how the Lakers could play so badly in a game they needed so badly.

The final score of 131-92, as crazy as this sounds, was not nearly as good as it sounds.

Los Angeles led 4-0, great start, then gave way to the great reclamation project known as the Celtics. A year ago at this time, they were staring at the fifth pick in the NBA Draft. The team was internally rocked after not winning the Draft Lottery.

Looking at it in hindsight, it was the best thing that ever happened. As a result of not winning, they could not draft Greg Oden, who ended up missing the season with a knee injury. That forced them to make a bold move to provide an immediate spark to the franchise because Danny Ainge's long-term plan was becoming longer and more frustrating by the day. The former Celtics player turned General Manager was under tremendous heat, though today, is not on the hot seat but instead, just hot. He brought in Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett. Those two helped to reinvograte Paul Pierce.

His foresight with Rajon Rondo, Kendrick Perkins, and Leon Powe (a Nuggets draft choice) was rewarded. If there was anyone who knew the the pressure Ainge was feeling, it was head coach Doc Rivers. Criticized all season long, Rivers, a playful sort of guy, got the last laugh and why not? The critics said he couldn't coach yet he led the Celtics to a monumental turnaround and won 66 regular season games and obtained the top seed in the Eastern Conference as well as home court advantage in the postseason. Still not enough. Well, today, I think he has earned the right to scoff at his detractors.

The talk has very little surrounded the Lakers and rightfully so. The story of the NBA Finals was how a franchise with that had won more any NBA Finals than any other team and a year ago looked as far away from one as any other team, did what they did on Tuesday night.

Hope you have a great Wednesday, everyone.

-"z"