Next up on our top ten list of the greatest, most dominant teams in NBA history we have the 2007-08 Boston Celtics, a team that began the season with unbelievable expectations after acquiring Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen via trade to form a new “Big 3” with Paul Pierce and ended with Boston raising their NBA-high eighteenth championship banner.

I originally listed the 1964-65 Celtics as the next team up, but after doing more research realized they deserved to be higher on this list, hence the change.

Check out #10 on this list, the 1970-71 Milwaukee Bucks by clicking HERE, as well as my qualifications for inclusion.

#9: 2007-08 Boston Celtics - 66-16 (16-10 PLAYOFFS)

KEY TEAM STATS: OFFENSIVE RATING – 110.2 (#10), DEFENSIVE RATING – 98.9 (#1), SRS RATING – 9.31 (#1)

TEAM LEADERS:

SCORING – Paul Pierce (19.6)

REBOUNDING – Kevin Garnett (655)

ASSISTS – Rajon Rondo (393)

This was a team on a mission. They started the season in impressive fashion by posting a 29-4 mark, losing only to the league’s other powers (Cavs, Pistons, and Magic) and causing the world to wonder whether they had a shot at breaking the Bulls’ record of 72 wins in 95-96. Those who questioned whether Boston’s new stars would play nice together were quickly silenced.

Boston won by an average margin of 10.25 points and allowed a paltry 90.3 points per game, a ridiculously low number by today’s standards. Head Coach Doc Rivers and assistant Coach Tom Thibodeau were the architects of the defense that stifled even the best offensive squads and turned former mediocre defenders Ray Allen and Paul Pierce into effective stoppers. Of course, Kevin Garnett would go on to win Defensive Player of the Year honors as the rock of this scheme, averaging 18.8 points and 9.2 rebounds as well.

Ray Allen was the biggest surprise to me as I had not fully appreciated his unbelievable shooting prowess when he resided in Milwaukee and Seattle. To this day I can’t help but watch in awe as he comes off screens and shoots that impeccably perfect jumper from downtown - he performed better than I ever could have imagined.

What’s really fascinating is wondering how much more dominant this outfit COULD have been had Rondo been at the level he is now and Kendrick Perkins the player he was in last season’s playoffs. I know you really can’t look back like this but, as it was just a couple of years ago, the thoughts creep in every so often watching this group today.

Their record against the elite of the NBA was actually not quite of the dominating variety in the regular season: they went 2-0 vs. the Lakers, 3-1 vs. the Pistons, and 2-0 vs. the Spurs, while splitting their season series with the Cavaliers, Magic, Jazz, and Hornets. The rest of the NBA? No shot this year.

In reality, I would have put this group one or two spots higher had their playoff push not been so difficult - postseason dominance matters too!

Their playoff run was a heart-pounding, unpredictable journey culminating in their game six destruction of the Los Angeles Lakers. After two straight seven-game series to begin their quest against the Atlanta Hawks and Cleveland Cavaliers (behind a Paul Pierce/LeBron James duel for the ages in game 7) they dismantled the Pistons in six before defeating the vaunted Lakers in the championship finale 131-92.

What an amazing, unforgettable day it was to be a Celtics fan on June 17, 2008.

Many will question the inclusion of this group at #9 – for those who do please dive into the archives, watch this group perform that season with an unbiased eye, and you’ll understand.

Coming up next: The #8 team on my list featured the legendary Wilt Chamberlain and the squad that finally ended the Celtics’ title-winning run in the 1960’s.