Top of the World: The Inside Story of the Boston Celtics' Amazing One-Year Turnaround to Become NBA Champions

by Peter May

Overview

I'm on top of the world!” shouted Kevin Garnett after the Boston Celtics demolished the heavily favored Los Angeles Lakers for a league-leading seventeenth NBA championship. Peter May chronicles the amazing run of the team, who went from having the second-worst record in 2007 to leading the pack in 2008.

Drawing on interviews with the players, Coach Doc Rivers, and General Manager Danny Ainge, May charts the pivotal moments of the Celtics' magical season. From rebuilding the team to capping off their stunning year with another championship, Top of the World brings readers every key moment of the Celtics' wild ride.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780306818585
Publisher:	Hachette Books
Publication date:	10/13/2009
Pages:	264
Product dimensions:	5.60(w) x 8.60(h) x 0.70(d)

About the Author

Peter May covered the Boston Celtics for nearly twenty-five years for the Boston Globe and the Hartford Courant. He lives in Massachusetts.

Table of Contents

Prologue 1

1 Ping-Pong History 11

2 Along Comes Ray 27

3 The Big Ticket 47

4 Setting a Course 65

5 Ubuntu 83

6 Shot from Guns 103

7 Growth Spurts 123

8 Highs and Lows 141

9 All Stars, Add-ons, and a Fantastic Finish 163

10 Bandwagon Fans and Menacing Gestures 183

11 LeBron and Another Grinder 193

12 The Real NBA Finals 205

13 Finishing the Race 215

Epilogue 231

Boston Celtics Championships 237

Acknowledgments 239

Index 241

Editorial Reviews

It wasn't that the Boston Celtics had never won before: In fact, this proud franchise had previously snared no fewer than 16 NBA titles. But the 2007-8 championship season was special because it marked one of the greatest turnarounds in professional sports history. The previous year, the Celtics had been the doormats of the league, finishing 24-58, including a franchise-record losing streak that extended more than a month. This heartening reprise recaps the team's surge back to the top.