Top-10: Best of the Decade

  The decade 2K has seen the Celtics go from bottom feeders in 2000, to World Champions in 2008, with their sights set on another one in 2010. Much of what got them back to the top of pile is listed below, in 17Banners.com's "Top-10 Best of the Decade": 10. The Firing of Rick PitinoThe Celtics first regular season game under Rick Pitino was memorable, as they knocked off the defending champion Chicago Bulls. What happened after that was also memorable - the signings of Travis Knight and Andrew DeClercq; the trading of DeClercq and their first round pick in '99 for Vitaly Potapenko (available in the draft had they kept the pick? Andre Miller, Shawn Marion, and Ron Artest, to name a few); and, of course, the famous tirade referring to how some Celtics legends were not "walking through that door". While there are some things that I actually don't blame him for (the Chauncey Billups trade, for example, as it took Billups 5 more years to become what he is now), he was still a train-wreck. 9. Trading for the draft rights of Rajon RondoOn the same night that Ainge traded the draft rights to the Celtics' 7th overall pick (which became Randy Foye), he also acquired the Celtics point guard of the future. In sending the Phoenix Suns their 2007 1st round pick, the Celtics received Rajon Rondo in return. It has turned into another example of brilliance by Ainge, who said he would've considered taking him with that 7th pick - something that would've sent Celtics fans into a frenzy had it occurred then. 8. Celtics sold to Boston Basketball Partners, LLCIn 2003, then-owner Paul Gaston sold the Celtics to Boston Basketball Partners, LLC. Celtics fans know them as Wyc and Steve. The new ownership wasted no time in making changes, bringing in Danny Ainge to right the ship. While Ainge has done a remarkable job in rebuilding the franchise, it's the new ownership that has opened up the checkbook in order to obtain and sustain success.