video: Celtics Lottery Heartbreak Flashback

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Tuesday, May 20, 2014

GoLocal Sports Team

One fan reacts to Boston's bad luck in the 2007 lottery (ESPN TV)

The last time the Boston Celtics were in the NBA Draft Lottery, a night filled with promise ended in complete disappointment. The 2007 NBA Draft had 2 legitimate blue chip prospects, and Boston was in prime position to land one of them to bolster their 24-58 team from the previous season.

ESPN analyst Greg Anthony stated that the Celtics had more riding on the lottery than any other team. Anthony believed the Celtics needed the #1 overall pick and Ohio State center Greg Oden. Other insiders believed Celtics general manager Danny Ainge coveted Texas forward Kevin Durant even more than Oden. Both players were seen as franchise saviors, future superstars.

The Celtics had the 2nd best odds to land the #1 overall pick at 19.9%. The worst possible pick the Celtics could wind up with was the 5th overall pick.

Lo and behold, as (at the time) NBA Deputy Commissioner Adam Silver revealed the results of the lottery, he opened the #5 envelope and made the announcement that altered the Celtics franchise forever.

Skip to the 4:37 mark for the Celtics pick, and the 5:15 mark for fan reaction.

It wasn't all bad for Gang Green. The Celtics wound up trading the 5th overall pick as part of the Ray Allen trade, which then convinced Kevin Garnett to accept a trade to Boston and join Allen and Paul Pierce as the new "Big 3." The Celtics wound up winning the NBA Title the following season.

The 2014 NBA Draft Lottery is tonight. The Celtics have the 5th best odds to land the #1 overall pick.