It took them 21 years but they finally did it. On Tuesday night the Boston Celtics put away the Los Angeles Lakers 131-92 to win the 2008 NBA Championship. Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett each scored a game-high 26 points and Rajon Rondo netted another 20 points, creating one of the biggest gaps (or margin of victory) in NBA Finals history. Paul Pierce, who was instrumental throughout the series and averaged a cool 21.8 points per game, was named Finals MVP.

“Rondo was the star,” Lakers coach Phil Jackson said. “He was the guy out there that made the plays, got the steals, pushed their offense into high drive and created havoc for us.”

The victory parade back in Boston is slated to start at 11 a.m. on Thursday. Celtics players, coaching staff and family will board Duck boats, and head up Staniford Street. The route will continue, turning left onto Cambridge Street, then onto Tremont, before turning right onto Boylston Street and ending at Copley Square.

“We are proud of this team and the hard work and dedication it took to bring the Larry O’Brien Championship trophy back to Boston,” said Mayor Thomas Menino, in a statement. “We love celebrating championships, keep ‘em coming.”

Currently, the Boston Celtics are the 7/2 favorites to win the 2009 NBA Championship.

This year’s NBA All-Star Game is scheduled to take place in New Orleans on Sunday, February 17. As of today, Kevin Garnett (Celtics), LeBron James (Cavaliers) and Dwigh Howard (Magic) lead the Eastern Conference in votes. Over in the Western Conference Kobe Bryant (Lakers) and Yao Ming (Rockets) lead the pack.

This is the NBA’s 57th All-Star game; the first All-Star game was played back on March 2, 1951 at the Boston Garden. Traditionally, the best players from the Eastern and Western Conferences are chosen by the fans. The coaches then choose the reserve players (and coaches must not vote for their own players).

The Eastern Conference All-Stars lead the all-time series 34-22. Here are the result from the last 10 All-Star games:

1997 East 132, West 120 (Glen Rice, Charlotte Hornets)
1998 East 135, West 114 Michael Jordan, Chicago Bulls)
1999 Canceled–due to lockout
2000 West 137, East 126 (Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs; Shaquille O’Neal, Los Angeles Lakers)
2001 East 111, West 110 (Allen Iverson, Philadelphia 76ers)
2002 West 135, East 120 (Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers)
2003 West 155, East 145 (2OT)(Kevin Garnett, Minnesota Timberwolves)
2004 West 136, East 132 (Shaquille O’Neal, Los Angeles Lakers)
2005 East 125, West 115 (Allen Iverson, Philadelphia 76ers)
2006 East 122, West 120 (LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers)
2007 West 153, East 132 (Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers)

Now would be a great time to check out the NBA odds on your favorite player!