Boston Celtics
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| Boston Celtics | |
 |
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| Conference | Eastern Conference |
| Division | Atlantic Division |
| Founded | 1946 |
| History | Boston Celtics (1946-present) |
| Arena | TD Banknorth Garden (regular Season) Mohegan Sun Arena (Preseason) |
| City | Boston, Massachusetts |
| Team Colors | Green and White |
| Owner | Wycliffe “Wyc” Grousbeck |
| Head Coach | Doc Rivers |
| Championships | 16 (1957, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1968, 1969, 1974, 1976, 1981, 1984, 1986) |
| Conference Titles | 19 (1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1968, 1969, 1974, 1976, 1981, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987) |
| Division Titles | 25 (1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1991, 1992, 2005) |
The Boston Celtics are a professional basketball team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They play in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Their 16 NBA championships are the most of any NBA franchise.
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[edit] Home arenas
- Boston Arena (1946) Site of the first Celtics game. Served as a secondary venue during the franchise's early years. Where parquet floor was originally installed. Now known as Northeastern University's Matthews Arena.
- Boston Garden (1946-1995)
- Hartford Civic Center (1975-1995) Occasionally used for home games.
- TD Banknorth Garden, formerly the Fleet Center. (1995-present)
[edit] Franchise History
[edit] The Beginning of a Dynasty (1946-1969)
The Celtics were formed in 1946 as a team in the Basketball Association of America, and became part of the National Basketball Association after the merger of the BAA and the National Basketball League to form the NBA in the fall of 1949. The Celtics had struggled during their early years, but the hiring of Coach Red Auerbach would change their fortunes. One of the first major players to join the Celtics was Bob Cousy, whom Auerbach initially refused to draft. Cousy eventually became the property of the Chicago Stags. When that franchise went bankrupt, Cousy was acquired by the Celtics in a dispersal draft. He would become a huge part of the Celtics' success and eventually became good friends with his new coach. Under Auerbach the Celtics improved dramatically, becoming a consistent threat to win in the NBA's Eastern Division in each of his first six seasons, although they fell short each time.
After the 1955-56 season, Auerbach made a stunning trade. He sent perennial All-Star and future Hall of Famer Ed Macauley to the St. Louis Hawks along with the draft rights to Cliff Hagan in exchange for the Hawks' first round draft pick, the second overall. After some more negotiation with the Rochester Royals, Auerbach used the pick to select University of San Fransisco center Bill Russell . Russell was an even more important acquisition than Cousy, as he was the player around whom Auerbach would build the Celtics for more than a decade. Russell had an immediate impact during the 1956 season; the Celtics advanced to the NBA Finals and defeated the St. Louis Hawks in seven games, giving the Celtics the first of their record 16 NBA Championships. In 1957, the Celtics again advanced to the NBA Finals, this time losing to the Hawks in 6 games. However, with the acquisition of K.C. Jones, the Celtics began a dynasty that would last for over a decade.
In 1959, with Russell and Jones, the Celtics won the NBA Championship after sweeping the Minneapolis Lakers. Still coached by Auerbach, the Celtics won another seven championships, thus winning eight in a row. During that timespan, the Celtics met the Lakers in the Finals six times, starting an intense and often bitter rivalry. The Celtics would eventually meet the Lakers a total of 10 times in the NBA Finals. After the 1966 championship, Auerbach retired as coach but remained General Manager, a position he would hold well into the 1980s. Russell took over as player-coach. However, that year the Celtics' string of NBA titles was broken as they lost to the Philadelphia 76ers in the Eastern Conference Finals. The aging team managed two more championships in 1968 and 1969, each against the Lakers in the NBA Finals. Russell retired after the 1969 season, effectively ending a dominant Celtics dynasty that had garnered 11 NBA titles in 13 seasons. The streak of 8 consecutive NBA championships is the longest streak of consecutive championships in U.S. sports history. Other important players during this era included Sam Jones, John Havlicek, and Tommy Heinsohn.
[edit] Rebuilding the Dynasty (1970-1978)
The next season was one of rebuilding as the Celtics had their first losing record since the 1949-50 season, the year prior to Auerbach's arrival. However, with Dave Cowens, Paul Silas, and Jo Jo White, the Celtics soon became dominant again. After losing in the Eastern Conference Finals in 1972 the Celtics regrouped and came out determined in 1973 and posted an excellent 68-14 record, however they would be upset in 7 games by the New York Knicks in the conference finals. Despite this disappointment the team remained focused and the following year they bested the Milwaukee Bucks in the NBA Finals in 1974 for their 10th NBA Championship. In 1976 the team won yet another championship, defeating the Phoenix Suns in 6 games. The 1976 NBA Finals featured one of the greatest games in the history of the NBA. With the series tied at two games apiece, the Suns trailed early in the Boston Garden, but came back to force overtime. In double overtime, a Gar Heard turn-around jumper at the top of the key sent the game to an unprecedented third overtime, at which point the Celtics prevailed. Tommy Heinsohn coached the team for those two championships. After the 1976 championship and a playoff appearance in 1977, Boston went into another phase of rebuilding.
In the 1977 NBA Draft, the Celtics drafted a young forward from the UNC Charlotte named Cedric Maxwell. Maxwell did not contribute much in his rookie season, but he showed promise. Auerbach's job became even tougher following a horrible 1977-78 in which they went 32-50 as John Havlicek, the Celtics All-Time leading scorer, retired after 16 seasons.
[edit] The Bird Years (1979-1992)
Thanks to a trade and their poor record in 1977-78, the Celtics owned two of the top eight picks in the 1978 NBA draft. Since he had two draft choices, Auerbach took a risk and selected junior Larry Bird of Indiana State with the 6th pick knowing that Bird would elect to remain in college for his senior year. The Celtics would retain his rights for one year (a rule that was later changed), and Auerbach believed that Bird's potential would make him worth the wait. Auerbach also felt that when the college season ended the Celtics would have a great chance to sign Bird. Auerbach was right; Bird signed soon after leading Indiana State to the NCAA Championship game, where they fell to a Michigan State University team that was led by star Magic Johnson.
The other important story of the Celtics' 1978-79 season was the ongoing dispute between Red Auerbach and new owner John Y. Brown. The dispute nearly led Auerbach to resign as General Manager for a position with the New York Knicks. With public support strongly behind Auerbach, Brown elected to sell the team rather than face the wrath of the city for being the man who drove Red to a hated rival. During his short ownership, Brown orchestrated a trade for Bob McAdoo that Auerbach despised, and the team unraveled. The Celtics would struggle through the season, going 29-53 without Bird. Newcomers Chris Ford, Rick Robey and Tiny Archibald failed to reverse the team's fortunes.
Bird would debut for the Celtics during the 1979-80 season, a year after his selection. With a new owner in place, Auerbach made a number of moves that would create a whole new dynasty. Auerbach traded the unhappy McAdoo, a former NBA scoring champion, to the Detroit Pistons in exchange for guard M.L. Carr, a defensive specialist, and two first-round picks in the 1980 NBA Draft. He also picked up point guard Gerald Henderson from the CBA. Carr, Archibald, Henderson and Ford would form a highly competent backcourt, with their unique skills blending in perfectly with the talented frontcourt of Cowens, Maxwell and Bird, who would go on to win NBA Rookie of the Year honors. The Celtics improved by 32 games, the best single-season turnaround in NBA history, going 61-21 and losing to the Philadelphia 76ers in the Eastern Conference Finals.
After the season, Red Auerbach completed what may be the most lopsided trade in NBA history. Auerbach had always been a fan of stockpiling draft picks, so even after the success of 1979-80 the Celtics had both the 1st and 13th picks in the 1980 NBA Draft leftover from the M.L. Carr trade. Auerbach saw an opportunity to improve the team immediately, sending the two picks to the Golden State Warriors in exchange for center Robert Parish and the Warriors first round pick, the 3rd overall. With the draft pick, Auerbach selected University of Minnesota power forward Kevin McHale. With these three future Hall of Famers on the team the Celtics had a core in place to become a dominant team in the NBA.
The Celtics went 62-20 under coach Bill Fitch in 1980-81, despite losing center Dave Cowens to retirement late in training camp. Once again the Celtics matched up with the 76ers in the Eastern Conference Finals. The Celtics fell behind 3 games to 1 before coming back to win a classic 7th game, 91-90. The Celtics went on to capture the 1981 NBA Championship over the Houston Rockets, just two years after Bird had been drafted. Maxwell was named NBA Finals MVP.
Two disappointing seasons followed, culminating in an embarrassing first round playoff loss in the 1983 NBA Playoffs to the Milwaukee Bucks, 4 games to 0. Ford had retired after 1982 and Archibald's age, declining skills and injury problems led to his release after the 1982-83. Fitch was fired, and K.C. Jones was named head coach. Archibald was replaced when popular reserve forward Rick Robey, a close friend of Bird, was traded to the Phoenix Suns in exchange for point guard Dennis Johnson, a former finals MVP himself. With Johnson starting alongside ex-CBA player Gerald Henderson, and former Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Danny Ainge, veterans Quinn Buckner and M.L. Carr coming off the bench, the Celtics once again had the backcourt depth to complement their talented frontline.
In 1983-84 the Celtics would go 62-20 and finally get back to the NBA Finals after a three year hiatus. In the final, the Celtics came back from a 2-1 deficit to defeat the Los Angeles Lakers, winning their 15th championship. Bird renewed his college rivalry with Lakers star Magic Johnson during this series. After the series the Celtics traded Henderson, whose dramatic steal in game 2 altered the course of the series and gave the Celtics a chance, to the Seattle Supersonics in exchange for their first round pick in the 1986 NBA Draft.
In 1985, the Lakers and Celtics would meet again, but this time the Lakers would take the championship. During the following offseason the Celtics acquired Bill Walton from the Los Angeles Clippers in exchange for Cedric Maxwell. Walton was a future Hall of Famer and had been a big star with the Portland Trailblazers, but injuries had kept him from living up to expectations. He was also a lifelong Celtics fan and willing to come off the bench, deferring to the three Hall of Famer big men already with the team. Walton would be a big part of the Celtics' success in 1986.
In 1985-86 the Celtics fielded one of the best teams in NBA history. The 1986 Celtics won 67 games, going 40-1 at their home, the Boston Garden. Bird won his third consecutive MVP award after having arguably his finest season, and Walton won the Sixth Man of the Year Award. They would win their 16th and last championship to date, easily defeating the Houston Rockets in the NBA Finals.
Thanks to the 1984 trade of Gerald Henderson and the subsequent fall of the Seattle Supersonics, at the end of the 1985-86 the Celtics owned not only the best team in the NBA but also the second pick in the 1986 NBA Draft. The Celtics drafted Len Bias with the pick and had high hopes for the young University of Maryland star. Fans believed Bias had superstar potential, and that he would be the perfect complement to the aging, but still strong, Celtics. The hope was that his presence would ensure that the franchise would remain a powerhouse after Bird, McHale and Parish retired. Unfortunately, Bias died 48 hours after he was drafted, after using cocaine at a party and overdosing. It would be the first in a long string of bad luck for the Celtics, and many fans believe the Celtics have never recovered from the loss of Bias.
Despite the loss of Bias, the Celtics remained competitive in 1986-87, going 59-23 and again winning the Eastern Conference Championship. Unfortunately, in the Finals the tired, aging, and injured Celtics ran into perhaps the best Los Angeles Lakers team of the decade. The biggest injury was yet another foot injury for Bill Walton, who only played 10 regular season games in 1986-87 after playing 80 games the year before. Walton fought through the injury, playing 12 games (out of 23) in the playoffs, but was not the same player as he was the year before. McHale, Parish and Ainge were also fighting injuries, forcing reserves Darren Daye and Fred Roberts to play larger roles in the series, which the Celtics would lose 4 games to 2.
The Celtics started the 1987-88 season without Kevin McHale, who was recovering from a foot injury that had hobbled him in the 1987 playoffs. Bill Walton was also recovering from injury, and while Walton stuck with the franchise for the 1987-88 and 1988-89 seasons, he had played his last game in the NBA in the 1987 Playoffs. The Celtics did add some new players in the 1987 NBA Draft. In the first round, the Celtics selected a promising guard/forward out of Northeastern University by the name of Reggie Lewis. The Celtics also added Brad Lohaus in the second round, giving head coach K.C. Jones a few more weapons to choose from.
Jones was not one to play rookies however, and both Lewis and Lohaus would spend much of the 1987-88 season on the bench while Jones continued to play his veterans. The team won another division title, finishing 57-25 and earning home court advantage throughout the playoffs. Jones' reliance on his veterans came back to haunt him in the playoffs, as the Celtics appeared tired and worn down. Danny Ainge had played the most minutes of his career, and Bird's body was starting to wear down after averaging 39 minutes per game. The Celtics struggled to defeat the Atlanta Hawks in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, needed a 20 point 4th quarter from Larry Bird in the decisive game 7 to finally put the Hawks away 118-116. Emotionally and physically drained from the Hawks series, the Celtics would fall in the Eastern Conference Finals to the Detroit Pistons, 4 games to 2.
After the 1987-88 season, head coach K.C. Jones retired. Jones' teams had had the best regular season record in the Eastern Conference in all five of his seasons as coach. In addition he led the Celtics to four NBA Finals appearances and two NBA Championships. Jones was replaced as head coach by assistant Jimmy Rodgers.
Rodgers faced immediate trouble in 1988-89 when, only 6 games into the season, Bird decided to have surgery to remove bone spurs in both feet. The injury was to sideline Bird until well after the All-Star Break, although supposedly he would be able to return. However, despite his best attempts to return he was unable to make it back as the Celtics stumbled to a 42-40 record and a first round playoff defeat to the Detroit Pistons.
Bird returned in 1989-90 to play in 75 games and lead the Celtics to a 52-30 record. However, in the playoffs, after winning the first two games of a Best of 5 series against the Nwe York Knicks the Celtics collapsed, losing 3 straight, including the decisive 5th game at the Boston Garden. In the wake of the embarassing defeat, Rodgers was fired and replaced by assistant coach (and former Celtic player) Chris Ford.
The Celtics remained competitive for the remainder of the Bird era, but they failed to make it past the Eastern Conference Semifinals. The era of the great teams of the 1980s drew to close as Larry Bird began to experience back trouble and Kevin McHale and Robert Parish's skills began to diminish with age. In 1992, the Celtics won the Atlantic Division title, something they would not accomplish again until the 2004-05 season. After thirteen seasons with the club, Bird retired in 1992 due to his back injuries.
[edit] Tragedy and Decline (1993-2001)
At the time of Bird's retirement former Celtics guard Chris Ford was the coach of the Celtics. 26-year old Reggie Lewis out of Boston's Northeastern University was seen as Bird's successor and became the new franchise player for the Celtics. Lewis, a small forward, fainted during a 1993 playoff matchup with the Charlotte Hornets. It was later revealed that Lewis had heart problems, yet he was able to get doctors to clear him for a comeback. He died of a heart attack after participating in a pickup basketball game during the offseason. The Celtics honored his memory during the following season by retiring his number.
The team took another hit after the season, as Kevin McHale retired after 13 seasons in the NBA. The Celtics were now down to one member of the "Big Three" for the 1993-94, as well as without Lewis, their captain and young star. After missing the playoffs for the first time since Bird joined the franchise in 1978-79, Robert Parish left as a free agent to join the Charlotte Hornets. The time of "Big Three" was officially over.
In 1994, the Celtics hired former player M.L. Carr to be the team's new G.M. In his first draft in charge of the Celtics he drafted University of North Carolina star Eric Montross with his first round draft pick. The 1994-95 was the Celtics final season in the Boston Garden. The Celtics made the playoffs, losing to the heavily favored Orlando Magic in 4 games.
In 1995, the Celtics moved from the Boston Garden into the Fleet Center (recently renamed the TD Banknorth Garden). Carr fired Chris Ford and took the coaching reins himself. After drafting Providence College star Eric Williams, the Celtics struggled to a 33-49 record. Things got worse in 1996-97, as the Celtics lost a franchise record 67 games, winning only 15 times.
Carr stepped aside to another job in the organization when the Celtics acquired Rick Pitino to serve as the team's President, Front Office Manager, and Head Coach. Pitino had led the University of Kentucky to an NCAA Championship and was a very successful head coach, with a short NBA stint with the New York Knicks several years prior. Unfortunately for the Celtics, Pitino was not the savior everyone expected him to be, although he did bring several talented young players to the team during his tenure. The Celtics, at 15-67, had the worst record in franchise history and the worst record in the NBA overall during the 1996-97 season, but they failed to win the NBA's Draft Lottery to determine who would receive the first pick in the NBA Draft (the San Antonio Spurs won the lottery, and selected Tim Duncan first overall in that year's draft). Instead, the Celtics received the third and sixth picks. They drafted Chauncey Billups and Ron Mercer and seemed ready to pair them with Antoine Walker, the second-year player out of Kentucky, who had a solid rookie season. Unfortunately, two of these players would not remain as fixtures on the team in the long term. The following year the Celtics drafted Paul Pierce, a college star who had been expected to be drafted much higher than the Celtics' number 10 pick overall. Other notable players Pitino acquired were Walter McCarty, Tony Delk, Eric Williams (re-acquired after leaving the team), and veteran Kenny Anderson.
Pitino failed to coach any successful teams and resigned in 2001, leaving the Celtics in the hands of assistant coach Jim O'Brien, a friend of Pitino's who had followed Pitino to the Celtics. Chris Wallace became the general manager of the team.
[edit] Rebuilding a Contender (2001-present)
The Celtics improved greatly after this coaching change. Paul Pierce matured into an NBA star and was complemented by Antoine Walker, along with the other young veteran players acquired over the years. O'Brien was later made the permanent head coach. The Celtics had three picks in the draft that year, but Wallace used them on players who did not work out in the long run (including Joe Johnson, who would have later success with the Phoenix Suns). The Celtics made the playoffs for the first time since 1995 the following season. The team made it as far as the Eastern Conference Finals, losing to the New Jersey Nets. In 2003, the Celtics were sold by owner Paul Gaston to Boston Basketball Partners LLC, led by H. Irving Grousbeck, Wycliffe Grousbeck, Steve Pagliuca, Robert Epstein, David Epstein, and John Svenson. The team made it back to the playoffs but were eliminated in the second round this time, again by the Nets.
Before their elimination, the team hired Danny Ainge to take over the front office, pushing Chris Wallace to another job in the organization. Ainge believed the team had reached its peak and promptly traded many of its stars throughout the next season. Antoine Walker was the most notable player to go, being traded to the Mavericks (along with Tony Delk) during training camp. Eric Williams and Tony Battie also left during that year. They were replaced by Ricky Davis, Jiri Welsch, Raef LaFrentz and others. The team struggled a bit as they tried to find their new identity.
Jim O'Brien stepped down during the 2004 season to be replaced by interim coach John Carroll. The Celtics made the playoffs only to be swept in the first round by the Indiana Pacers. Ainge received a lot of criticism for breaking up the previous team, but he was able to have a few successful drafts, including picks like Marcus Banks, Al Jefferson, Kendrick Perkins, Delonte West and others. During his second off-season, Ainge was able to unload some payroll when he acquired veterans Gary Payton and Rick Fox from the Los Angeles Lakers. Fox retired before playing with the team, and Payton threatened not to show up at training camp, but eventually ended up playing for the team during the 2004-05 season.
The Celtics were a young team under new coach Doc Rivers, yet they seemed to have a core of good young players, led by rookie Al Jefferson, with a selection of able veterans (Paul Pierce, Raef LaFrentz, and Ricky Davis). Before the trading deadline in the winter of 2005 the Celtics re-acquired Antoine Walker when they dealt Gary Payton to the Atlanta Hawks (Payton would re-sign with the team after being released from the Hawks a week later). With Walker back in the fold, the Celtics improved enormously. They won their first Atlantic Division title since 1993. The Pacers, however, defeated them in the first round yet again.
Payton and Walker both became free agents. Walker was traded to the Miami Heat in a multi-team sign-and-trade deal (the largest trade in NBA history) that brought the Celtics two players who would later be released and money. Payton later chose to sign with the Heat as well. Ainge brought in a few more young players during the draft, including Gerald Green, Ryan Gomes, and Orien Greene.
During the 2006 season, Ainge traded Davis, Blount, Banks, Justin Reed, and two conditional second-round draft picks to the Minnesota Timberwolves for forward Wally Szczerbiak, centers Michael Olowokandi and Dwayne Jones, and a first-round pick. The team's direction is still skeptical. However, Ainge has stated more than once that he is committed to continuing the rebuilding process under team captain Paul Pierce, who played some of the best basketball of his career in 2006. The Celtics missed the 2006 playoffs with a 33-49 record.
The Boston Celtics contined to rebuild on the night of the 2006 NBA Draft. Danny Ainge traded the rights to the seventh overall pick Randy Foye, Dan Dickau and Raef LaFrentz to the Portland Trail Blazers in for Sebastian Telfair, Theo Ratliff, and a future second round pick. A subsequent trade with the Philadelphia 76ers for Allen Iverson was reported as a potential move beneficial to each team, although such a trade never eventuated.
As of 2006 the Celtics have never lost the seventh game of the NBA Finals. They are a perfect 7-0 in these games, winning in 1957, 1960, 1962, 1966, 1969, 1974, and 1984.
[edit] Historical Rivalries
The Boston Celtics have had a longstanding rivalry, especially throughout the 80s, with the Los Angeles Lakers. At the height of the rivalry, the Lakers and Celtics would win 8 NBA Championships in the decade (The Lakers won 5 while the Celtics won 3), and would play each other in the NBA Finals 3 different times. The rivalry was cooled off as the Celtics slipped into mediocrity in the 90s, but Lakers-Celtics is considered by many NBA fans to be the league's greatest rivalry. The Celtics played the Detroit Pistons in 5 playoff series between 1985 and 1992. The rivalry, like the Celtics-Lakers rivalry, cooled in the 90s but saw a resurgence in 2002 when the teams met in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. The Celtics also have historical ties with the Philadelphia 76ers, who played with the Celtics in tense playoff series in the 60s, 80s and 2000s.
[edit] Season-by-season records
Note: W = Wins, L = Losses, % = Win-Loss %
| Season | W | L | % | Playoffs | Results |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston Celtics | |||||
| 1946-47 | 22 | 38 | .367 | Lost Quarterfinals | Chicago Stags 2, Boston 1 |
| 1947-48 | 20 | 28 | .417 | ||
| 1948-49 | 25 | 35 | .417 | ||
| 1949-50 | 22 | 46 | .324 | ||
| 1950-51 | 39 | 30 | .565 | Lost Division Semifinals | New York 2, Boston 0 |
| 1951-52 | 39 | 27 | .591 | Lost Division Semifinals | New York 2, Boston 1 |
| 1952-53 | 46 | 25 | .648 | Won Division Semifinals Lost Division Finals |
Boston 2, Syracuse 0 New York 3, Boston 1 |
| 1953-54 | 42 | 30 | .583 | Round-Robin Round-Robin Lost Division Finals |
Syracuse 2, Boston 0 Boston 2, New York 0 Syracuse 2, Boston 0 |
| 1954-55 | 36 | 36 | .500 | Won Division Semifinals Lost Division Finals |
Boston 2, New York 1 Syracuse 3, Boston 1 |
| 1955-56 | 39 | 33 | .542 | Lost Division Semifinals | Syracuse 2, Boston 1 |
| 1956-57 | 44 | 28 | .611 | Won Division Finals Won NBA Finals |
Boston 3, Syracuse 0 Boston 4, St. Louis 3 |
| 1957-58 | 49 | 23 | .681 | Won Division Finals Lost NBA Finals |
Boston 4, Philadelphia 1 St. Louis 4, Boston 2 |
| 1958-59 | 52 | 20 | .722 | Won Division Finals Won NBA Finals |
Boston 4, Syracuse 3 Boston 4, Minneapolis 0 |
| 1959-60 | 59 | 16 | .787 | Won Division Finals Won NBA Finals |
Boston 4, Philadelphia 2 Boston 4, St. Louis 3 |
| 1960-61 | 57 | 22 | .722 | Won Division Finals Won NBA Finals |
Boston 4, Syracuse 1 Boston 4, St. Louis 1 |
| 1961-62 | 60 | 20 | .750 | Won Division Finals Won NBA Finals |
Boston 4, Philadelphia 3 Boston 4, Los Angeles 3 |
| 1962-63 | 58 | 22 | .725 | Won Division Finals Won NBA Finals |
Boston 4, Cincinnati 3 Boston 4, Los Angeles 2 |
| 1963-64 | 59 | 21 | .738 | Won Division Finals Won NBA Finals |
Boston 4, Cincinnati 1 Boston 4, San Francisco 1 |
| 1964-65 | 62 | 18 | .755 | Won Division Finals Won NBA Finals |
Boston 4, Philadelphia 3 Boston 4, Los Angeles 1 |
| 1965-66 | 54 | 26 | .675 | Won Division Semifinals Won Division Finals Won NBA Finals |
Boston 3, Cincinnati 2 Boston 4, Philadelphia 1 Boston 4, Los Angeles 3 |
| 1966-67 | 60 | 21 | .741 | Won Division Semifinals Lost Division Finals |
Boston 3, New York 1 Philadelphia 4, Boston 1 |
| 1967-68 | 54 | 28 | .659 | Won Division Semifinals Won Division Finals Won NBA Finals |
Boston 4, Detroit 2 Boston 4, Philadelphia 3 Boston 4, Los Angeles 2 |
| 1968-69 | 48 | 34 | .585 | Won Division Semifinals Won Division Finals Won NBA Finals |
Boston 4, Philadelphia 1 Boston 4, New York 2 Boston 4, Los Angeles 3 |
| 1969-70 | 34 | 48 | .415 | ||
| 1970-71 | 44 | 38 | .537 | ||
| 1971-72 | 56 | 26 | .683 | Won Conference Semifinals Lost Conference Finals |
Boston 4, Atlanta 2 New York 4, Boston 1 |
| 1972-73 | 68 | 14 | .829 | Won Conference Semifinals Lost Conference Finals |
Boston 4, Atlanta 2 New York 4, Boston 3 |
| 1973-74 | 56 | 26 | .683 | Won Conference Semifinals Won Conference Finals Won NBA Finals |
Boston 4, Buffalo 2 Boston 4, New York 1 Boston 4, Milwaukee 3 |
| 1974-75 | 60 | 22 | .732 | Won Conference Semifinals Lost Conference Finals |
Boston 4, Houston 1 Washington 4, Boston 2 |
| 1975-76 | 54 | 28 | .659 | Won Conference Semifinals Won Conference Finals Won NBA Finals |
Boston 4, Buffalo 2 Boston 4, Cleveland 2 Boston 4, Phoenix 2 |
| 1976-77 | 44 | 38 | .537 | Won First Round Lost Conference Semifinals |
Boston 2, San Antonio 0 Philadelphia 4, Boston 3 |
| 1977-78 | 32 | 50 | .390 | ||
| 1978-79 | 29 | 53 | .354 | ||
| 1979-80 | 61 | 21 | .744 | Won Conference Semifinals Lost Conference Finals |
Boston 4, Houston 0 Philadelphia 4, Boston 1 |
| 1980-81 | 62 | 20 | .756 | Won Conference Semifinals Won Conference Finals Won NBA Finals |
Boston 4, Chicago 0 Boston 4, Philadelphia 1 Boston 4, Houston 2 |
| 1981-82 | 63 | 19 | .768 | Won Conference Semifinals Lost Conference Finals |
Boston 4, Washington 1 Philadelphia 4, Boston 3 |
| 1982-83 | 56 | 26 | .683 | Lost Conference Semifinals | Milwaukee 4, Boston 0 |
| 1983-84 | 62 | 20 | .756 | Won First Round Won Conference Semifinals Won Conference Finals Won NBA Finals |
Boston 3, Washington 1 Boston 4, New York 3 Boston 4, Milwaukee 1 Boston 4, Los Angeles 3 |
| 1984-85 | 63 | 19 | .768 | Won First Round Won Conference Semifinals Won Conference Finals Lost NBA Finals |
Boston 3, Cleveland 1 Boston 4, Detroit 2 Boston 4, Philadelphia 1 Los Angeles 4, Boston 2 |
| 1985-86 | 67 | 15 | .817 | Won First Round Won Conference Semifinals Won Conference Finals Won NBA Finals |
Boston 3, Chicago 0 Boston 4, Atlanta 1 Boston 4, Milwaukee 0 Boston 4, Houston 2 |
| 1986-87 | 59 | 23 | .720 | Won First Round Won Conference Semifinals Won Conference Finals Lost NBA Finals |
Boston 3, Chicago 0 Boston 4, Milwaukee 3 Boston 4, Detroit 3 Los Angeles 4, Boston 2 |
| 1987-88 | 57 | 25 | .695 | Won First Round Won Conference Semifinals Lost Conference Finals |
Boston 3, New York 1 Boston 4, Atlanta 3 Detroit 4, Boston 2 |
| 1988-89 | 42 | 40 | .512 | Lost First Round | Detroit 3, Boston 0 |
| 1989-90 | 52 | 30 | .634 | Lost First Round | New York 3, Boston 2 |
| 1990-91 | 56 | 26 | .683 | Won First Round Lost Conference Seminfinals |
Boston 3, Indiana 2 Detroit 4, Boston 2 |
| 1991-92 | 51 | 31 | .622 | Won First Round Lost Conference Seminfinals |
Boston 3, Indiana 0 Cleveland 4, Boston 3 |
| 1992-93 | 48 | 34 | .585 | Lost First Round | Charlotte 3, Boston 1 |
| 1993-94 | 32 | 50 | .390 | ||
| 1994-95 | 35 | 47 | .427 | Lost First Round | Orlando 3, Boston 1 |
| 1995-96 | 33 | 49 | .402 | ||
| 1996-97 | 15 | 67 | .183 | ||
| 1997-98 | 36 | 46 | .439 | ||
| 1998-99 | 19 | 31 | .380 | ||
| 1999-2000 | 35 | 47 | .427 | ||
| 2000-01 | 36 | 46 | .439 | ||
| 2001-02 | 49 | 33 | .598 | Won First Round Won Conference Semifinals Lost Conference Finals |
Boston 3, Philadelphia 2 Boston 4, Detroit 1 New Jersey 4, Boston 2 |
| 2002-03 | 44 | 38 | .537 | Won First Round Lost Conference Semifinals |
Boston 4, Indiana 2 New Jersey 4, Boston 0 |
| 2003-04 | 36 | 46 | .439 | Lost First Round | Indiana 4, Boston 0 |
| 2004-05 | 45 | 37 | .549 | Lost First Round | Indiana 4, Boston 3 |
| 2005-06 | 33 | 49 | .402 | ||
| Totals | 2770 | 1905 | .593 | ||
| Playoffs | 288 | 210 | .578 | 16 Championships | |
[edit] Players of note
[edit] Basketball Hall of Famers:
- Nate "Tiny" Archibald
- Arnold "Red" Auerbach (inducted as a coach)
- Larry Bird
- Walter A. Brown (inducted as a contributor, original owner of the Celtics)
- Bob Cousy
- Dave Cowens
- Wayne Embry (inducted as a contributor, not as a player; was the first African-American to serve both as a general manager and team president in the NBA)
- John Havlicek
- Tom Heinsohn
- Bailey Howell
- Dave Jones (inducted as contributor)
- K. C. Jones
- Sam Jones
- Clyde Lovellette
- Ed Macauley
- Pete Maravich
- Bob McAdoo
- Kevin McHale
- Robert Parish
- Andy Phillip
- Frank Ramsey
- Arnie Risen
- Bill Russell
- Bill Sharman (inducted both as a player and as a coach, most notably with the Los Angeles Lakers)
- John Thompson (only played in the NBA for two years; inducted for his coaching career at Georgetown University)
- Bill Walton
- Dominique Wilkins
[edit] Not to be forgotten:
- Kenny Anderson
- Danny Ainge
- Tony Battie
- Dee Brown
- Quinn Buckner
- M.L. Carr
- Don Chaney
- Darren Daye
- Pervis Ellison
- Bill Fitch
- Chris Ford
- Rick Fox
- Artis Gilmore
- Mike Gorman (TV announcer)
- Dennis Johnson
- Reggie Lewis
- Cedric Maxwell
- Walter McCarty
- Johnny Most (radio announcer)
- Don Nelson
- Jim Paxson
- Dino Rađja
- Satch Sanders
- Jerry Sichting
- Paul Silas
- Antoine Walker
- Scott Wedman
- JoJo White
- Eric Williams
- Len Bias (Drafted but died before ever playing in the NBA)
[edit] Retired numbers:
The Boston Celtics have retired the most numbers of any professional sports franchise in North America.
- 00 Robert Parish: C, 1980-94
- 1 Walter A. Brown: team founder; owner, 1946-64
- 2 Red Auerbach: Head Coach, 1950-66; Executive, 1950-2006
- 3 Dennis Johnson: G, 1983-90
- 6 Bill Russell: C, 1956-69; Head Coach, 1966-69
- 10 Jo Jo White: G, 1969-79
- 14 Bob Cousy: G, 1950-63; Broadcaster
- 15 Tom Heinsohn: F, 1956-65; Head Coach, 1969-78; Broadcaster
- 16 Satch Sanders: F, 1960-73
- 17 John Havlicek: F, 1962-78
- 18 * Jim Loscutoff: F, 1955-64
- 18 Dave Cowens: C, 1970-80; Head Coach, 1978-79
- 19 Don Nelson: F, 1965-76
- 21 Bill Sharman: G, 1951-61
- 22 Ed Macauley: C, 1950-56
- 23 Frank Ramsey: F, 1954-64
- 24 Sam Jones: G, 1957-69
- 25 K.C. Jones: G, 1958-67; Head Coach, 1983-88
- 31 Cedric Maxwell: F, 1977-85
- 32 Kevin McHale: F, 1980-93
- 33 Larry Bird: F, 1979-92
- 35 Reggie Lewis: G, 1987-93
- Microphone Johnny Most: Broadcaster, 1953-90
* Note: Loscutoff (#18) asked that his legacy be honored by allowing other Celtics to wear his number in the future. On one of the banners of retired numbers at the TD Banknorth Garden, Loscutoff is represented by a square with the letters "LOSCY".
[edit] Other notable figures
- Chuck Cooper (first black player drafted by an NBA team)
[edit] Current Roster (updated October 26, 2006)
| Boston Celtics Current Roster |
||||
| Head Coach: Doc Rivers | Edit | |||
| SG | 42 |  |
Tony Allen | (Oklahoma State) |
| F | 4 | |
Ryan Gomes | (Providence) |
| G/F | 5 | |
Gerald Green | (Gulf Shores Academy, Houston, Texas) |
| PF | 7 | |
Al Jefferson | (Prentiss HS, Mississippi) |
| C | 41 |  |
Michael Olowokandi | (Pacific) |
| C | 43 | |
Kendrick Perkins | (Clifton J. Ozen HS, Beaumont, Texas) |
| F/G | 34 | |
Paul Pierce - Captain | (Kansas) |
| F | 0 | |
Leon Powe | (Cal) |
| C | 50 | |
Theo Ratliff | (Wyoming) |
| G | 12 | |
Allan Ray | (Villanova) |
| PG | 9 | |
Rajon Rondo | (Kentucky) |
| PF | 44 | |
Brian Scalabrine | (USC) |
| SF | 55 | |
Wally Szczerbiak | (Miami (Ohio)) |
| PG | 30 | |
Sebastian Telfair | (Abraham Lincoln HS, Brooklyn, NY) |
| PG | 13 | |
Delonte West | (Saint Joseph's) |
| (FA) - Free Agent (^) - Unsigned draft pick | Boston Celtics | |||
STARTING LINEUP Sebastian Telfair- PG Paul Pierce- SG Wally Sczerbiak- SF Al Jefferson- PF Kendrick Perkins- C
ROOKIES: Leon Powe- F- California, Allan Ray- G- Villanova, Rajon Rondo- G- Kentucky
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- Celtics.com Official web site
- Basketball-Reference.com: Boston Celtics
- RedsArmy.com
- BasketballForum.com: Boston Celtics message board
- CelticsBlog.com
- Boston Celtics News and Blog
- Boston Celtics InsideHoops.com coverage
- Official Summer Pro League
- Boston Celtics Roster
- Celtics (New) Alternate Uniform
