Boston Celtics
Webpages concerning "Boston Celtics"
|
The contents has been generating using technology developed by scientec.
Wikipedia-Article "Boston Celtics"
The Boston Celtics are a National Basketball Association team based in Boston, Massachusetts. Their 16 NBA world championships are the most of any basketball franchise.
| Boston Celtics | |
 |
|
| Founded | 1946 |
| Arena | TD Banknorth Garden (formerly FleetCenter) |
| Team History | Boston Celtics (1946-present) |
| Team Colors | Green and White |
| NBA Championships | 16 (1957, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1968, 1969, 1974, 1976, 1981, 1984, 1986) |
| 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) |
| Owner | Wycliffe “Wyc” Grousbeck |
| Head Coach | Doc Rivers |
| Mascot | "Lucky" |
Contents |
Franchise History
The Celtics were formed in 1946 as a team in the Basketball Association of America. After the merger of the BAA and the National Basketball League to form the National Basketball Association. The Celtics had struggled during their early years. But the hiring of Coach Red Auerbach would change all that. One of the first major players to join the Celtics was Bob Cousy. Auerbach at first refused to draft him. Cousy eventually became the property of the Chicago Stags. When that franchise went bankrupt, Cousy was acquired by the Celtics in a dispersal draft. Cousy would become a huge part of the Celtic's success and would become good friends with his new coach in time. Under Auerbach, the Celtics acquired rookie Bill Russell in 1956. Russell was even more of an important acquistion than Cousy. He was the player Auerbach would build the Celtics around for more than a decade. Russell had an immediate impact during the 1956 season; the Celtics advanced to the NBA Finals and defeated the then 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 8 seasons.
In 1959, with Russell and Jones, the Celtics won the NBA Championship with the sweep of the Minneapolis Lakers. Still coached by Auerbach, the Celtics won another seven championships, making eight championships in a row. During that timespan, the Celtics met the Lakers in the Finals six times, starting an intense and sometimes 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 a player-coach. However, that year the Celtics' string of NBA titles was broken. 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. 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.
The next season was one of rebuilding as the Celtics had their first losing record in a long time. However, with Dave Cowens, Paul Silas, and Jo Jo White, the Celtics became dominant again. In 1974 the team bested the Milwaukee Bucks in the NBA Finals, and in 1976 the team won yet another championship after defeating the Phoenix Suns. The 1976 NBA Finals featured one of the greatest games in the history of the NBA. With the series tied at two games a piece, the Suns trailed early in the Boston Garden, yet 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 victory, though, Boston went into another phase of rebuilding.
The rebuilding phase only lasted two years. Auerbach selected Larry Bird in the 1979 NBA College Draft. Bird elected to remain in College for his senior year but the Celtics retained his rights (something that couldn't happen in today's NBA). Bird would debut for the Celtics during the 1980 season, a year after his selection, and go on to win Rookie of the Year honors. Bird was joined by another Celtics draft pick, Kevin McHale, and trade acquisition Robert Parish. With these three future hall of famers in place, the Celtics yet again became a dominant team in the NBA. At this time the Celtics also had Cedric Maxwell, a solid veteran who was part of the first "Bird Era" championship team. The Celtics went on to capture the NBA Championship in 1981, just two years after Bird had been drafted, under head coach Bill Fitch.
K.C. Jones was named head coach after Fitch's reign ended. Under their new coach, the Celtics would fail to achieve postseason glory for a few more years. The Celtics added players like Danny Ainge, Dennis Johnson, and M.L. Carr. In 1984 the Celtics would come back from a 2-1 deficit to defeat the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Finals, thus winning their 15th championship. Bird renewed his college rivalery with Lakers (and former Michigan State) star Magic Johnson during this series. In 1985, the Lakers and Celtics would meet again. But this time the Lakers would take home 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 the expectations people had of him. He was also a lifelong Celtics fan. He would be a big part of the Celtics' success in 1986. That year the Celtics would field one of the best teams in NBA history. The Celtics would win their 16th and last championship to date, easily defeating the Houston Rockets in the NBA Finals. Jones had led the Celtics to four consecutive NBA Finals appearances against the Lakers and Houston Rockets when all was said and done. Bill Walton would not stay with the team much longer as injuries would force his retirement. The Celtics would remain competitive for the rest of the 80's, but would only return once (1987 - losing 4-2 to the Lakers) to the NBA Finals again after 1986.
The Celtics drafted Len Bias in 1987 NBA Draft and had high hopes for the young University of Maryland star. Tragically, Bias would pass away just a short time later, after experimenting with drugs during a party. It would be the first in a long string of bad luck for the Celtics, and is more importantly long remembered as one of the worst tragedies in all of sports.
The era of the great teams of the 1980's 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 would win their last Atlantic Division Championship until the 2004-2005 season. Soon after Bird would retire due to his back injures, after thirteen seasons with the club. By this time former player Chris Ford was the coach of the Celtics. Reggie Lewis was seen as Bird's successor and became the new franchise player for the Celtics. In 1995 the Celtics moved from the Boston Garden into the Fleet Center (recently renamed the TD Banknorth Garden).
Tragically, Reggie Lewis would faint during a 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. Lewis would die of a heart attack after parcipating in a pickup basketball game during the offseason. The Celtics honored his memory during the following season by retiring his number.
Former player M.L. Carr would soon become the team's General Manager and draft young players like Eric Montross and Eric Williams. He would later fire Chris Ford and take the coaching reins himself. After a somewhat disappointing season, the Celtics made the Playoffs only to be easy dealt with in the first round by the Orlando Magic. Robert Parish would leave the team via free agency in 1994. The Celtics continued to play in medicority for the next few years and would fail to make the playoffs.
M.L. 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 NCCA 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 would not be the savior everyone expected him to be. Yet would bring several talented young players to the team during his tenure. The Celtics would finish last in the NBA (overall) during the next season. They would fail to win the NBA' Draft Lottery, to determine who got the first pick in the college draft. The Celtics received the third and sixth picks instead. They drafted Chauncey Billups and Ron Mercer, two players would would not remain fixtures on the team in the long term (although Billups would go onto later success with the Detroit Pistons). The previous year the Celtics would draft future Star Antoine Walker, and the year after that drafted Paul Pierce, a college star who had been expected to go much sooner than the Celtics' pick at number 11 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 would resign a few years later, leaving the Celtics in the hands of Assistant Coach Jim O'Brien, a friend of Pitino's who took the reins as Interim Head Coach. Chris Wallace would become the de facto front Office Manager as General Manager of the team. Ironically, the Celtics would greatly improve after the coaching change. Paul Pierce would mature into an NBA Star and was complmented by Antoine Walker, along with the other young veteren players acquired over the years. O'Brien would later be made the permanent head coach. The Celtics had three picks in the draft that year, yet would squander them on players that 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 in years the following season. The Celtics would make it as far as the Eastern Conference Finals, losing to the New Jersey Nets. The following season the Celtics would make it back to the playoffs (but would be eliminated in the second round this time, also 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 to go, being traded during training Camp to the Mavericks (along with Tony Delk). Eric Williams and Kenny Anderson would also go during that year. The Celtic however would acquire Ricky Davis, Mark Blount, Raef LaFrentz and others. The Celtics would stuggle a bit as they struggled to find their new idenity. Jim O'Brien stepped down during the season to be replaced by Interim Coach John Carroll. The Celtics would make the playoffs only to be swepted in the first round by the Indiana Pacers. Ainge took a lot of critism for breaking up the previous team. Yet 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 a some pay roll when he acquired veterans Gary Payton and Rick Fox from the Los Angeles Lakers. Fox would retire before playing with the team and Payton threatened to not go to training camp. Payton would end up playing for the team during the that season ( 2004-2005). The Celtics were a young team under new coach Doc Rivers. Yet they seemed to have a coup of good young players , led by rookie Al Jefferson, with some good veterans (Paul Pierce, Raef LaFrentz, and Ricky Davis. Before the trading deadline the Celtics would re-acquire 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 would get really hot. They would win their first Atlantic Divison title since 1993. The Pacers would however, defeat them in the first round yet again.
Payton and Walker would both become free agents. Walker was traded to the Miami Heat in a multi team deal (it was a sign and trade deal) that brought the Celtics some young talent. Payton would also sign with the Heat during the off season. Ainge brough in a few more young players during the draft.
As of 2005 the Celtics have never lost a Game 7 in the NBA Finals. They are a perfect 7-0 in these games, winning in 1957, 1960, 1962, 1966, 1969, 1974, and 1984.
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 also have historical ties with the Philadelphia 76ers, who played with the Celtics in tense playoff series in the 60s and 80s.
Players of note
Basketball Hall of Famers:
- Nate Archibald
- Red Auerbach (as a coach)
- Larry Bird
- Walter A. Brown
- 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
- K. C. Jones
- Sam Jones
- Clyde Lovellette
- Ed Macauley
- Pete Maravich
- Kevin McHale
- Robert Parish
- Andy Phillip
- Frank Ramsey
- Arnie Risen
- Bill Russell
- Bill Sharman (inducted both as a Celtics 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
Not to be forgotten:
Retired numbers:
- 00 Robert Parish, C, 1980-94
- 1 Walter A. Brown, team founder-owner, 1946-65
- 2 Red Auerbach, Head Coach, 1950-66;, Executive, 1950-present
- 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's 18 jersey was retired, but kept active for Dave Cowens. Instead of two 18s on their retired number banners, Loscutoff is reprsented by a square with the letters "LOSCY."
Other notable figures
- Len Bias
- Chuck Cooper (first black player drafted by an NBA team)
Current Roster (updated October 6, 2005)
 Current Roster |
||||
| Head Coach: Doc Rivers | Edit | |||
| SG | 42 |  |
Tony Allen | (Oklahoma State) |
| PG | 11 | |
Marcus Banks | (UNLV) |
| C | 30 | |
Mark Blount | (Pittsburgh) |
| G/F | 12 | |
Ricky Davis | (Iowa) |
| G | 20 | |
Dan Dickau | (Gonzaga) |
| F | 4 | |
Ryan Gomes | (Providence) |
| G/F | 5 | |
Gerald Green | (Gulf Shores Academy, Houston, Texas) |
| G | 0 | |
Orien Greene | (Louisiana-Lafayette) |
| PF | 7 | |
Al Jefferson | (Prentiss HS, Mississippi) |
| F/C | 45 | |
Raef LaFrentz | (Kansas) |
| C | 43 | |
Kendrick Perkins | (Clifton J. Ozen HS, Beaumont, Texas) |
| G/F | 34 | |
Paul Pierce | (Kansas) |
| SF | 9 | |
Justin Reed | (Ole Miss) |
| SF | 44 | |
Brian Scalabrine | (USC) |
| G | 13 | |
Delonte West | (Saint Joseph's) |
| (FA) - Free Agent | Boston Celtics | |||
2004/2005 Season Coaching Staff
HEAD COACH: Doc Rivers
ASSISTANT COACHES: Dave Wohl, Tony Brown, Jim Brewer, Kevin Eastman, Armond Hill and Paul Pressey
2005 Draft picks
- 18th overall: Gerald Green, Gulf Shores Academy
- 50th overall: Ryan Gomes, Providence College
- 53rd overall: Orien Greene, University of Louisiana at Lafayette
See also
External links
- Boston Celtics official web site
- Boston Celtics News and Blog
- CelticsBlog.com
- Boston Celtics InsideHoops.com coverage
- BasketballBoards.net Boston Celtics messageboard
- Official Summer Pro League
- Boston Celtics Roster
- Dr. Death's Boston Celtic World
| National Basketball Association (2005–06) |
| Eastern Conference |
|---|
| Atlantic Division: Boston Celtics | New Jersey Nets | New York Knicks | Philadelphia 76ers | Toronto Raptors |
| Central Division: Chicago Bulls | Cleveland Cavaliers | Detroit Pistons | Indiana Pacers | Milwaukee Bucks |
| Southeast Division: Atlanta Hawks | Charlotte Bobcats | Miami Heat | Orlando Magic | Washington Wizards |
| Western Conference |
| Northwest Division: Denver Nuggets | Minnesota Timberwolves | Portland Trail Blazers | Seattle SuperSonics | Utah Jazz |
| Pacific Division: Golden State Warriors | Los Angeles Clippers | Los Angeles Lakers | Phoenix Suns | Sacramento Kings |
| Southwest Division: Dallas Mavericks | Houston Rockets | Memphis Grizzlies | New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets | San Antonio Spurs |
| Other Articles: NBA Finals | NBA All-Star Game | NBA Draft | Current Team Rosters | |