Boston Celtics
From Freepedia
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 | |
| Image:BostonCeltics 100.png | |
| 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) |
| 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 acquired rookie Bill Russell in 1956. Russell had an immediate impact; that year, the Celtics advanced to the NBA Finals and defeated the then St. Louis Hawks in seven games, giving the Celtics the first of a 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. Under coach Red Auerbach, the Celtics won another seven championships for 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, though, Auerbach retired. Russell took over as a player and coach. However, that year the Celtics' string of NBA titles was broken. The aging team managed two more championships, though, 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.
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. After the 1976 victory, though, Boston went into another phase of rebuilding.
The rebuilding phase only lasted two years. With the acquisition of NBA legend Larry Bird, Robert Parish, and Kevin McHale, the Celtics yet again became a dominant team in the NBA, playing in 5 NBA Finals in the 1980s. The team won a title in 1981, and the following year K.C. Jones was named head coach. Jones led the Celtics to four consecutive NBA Finals appearances against the Lakers and the Houston Rockets between 1984 and 1987, winning championships in 1984 and 1986. The three Finals where the Celtics played the Lakers featured the matchup of Bird versus NBA great Magic Johnson.
After the retirement of Bird, the Celtics yet again went into rebuilding. In 1994 the Celtics moved from the Boston Garden into the Fleet Center. Under current general manager Danny Ainge and coach Doc Rivers, the Celtics won the division championship in the 2004-2005 season, but lost to the Indiana Pacers in game 7 in the postseason. As of 2005 the Celtics are the only team in NBA history to 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
- 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
- 1 Walter Brown (founding owner)
- 2 Red Auerbach (legendary coach and executive)
- 3 Dennis Johnson
- 6 Bill Russell
- 10 Jo Jo White
- 14 Bob Cousy
- 15 Tom Heinsohn
- 16 Satch Sanders
- 17 John Havlicek
- 18* Jim Loscutoff
- 18 Dave Cowens
- 19 Don Nelson
- 21 Bill Sharman
- 22 Ed Macauley
- 23 Frank Ramsey
- 24 Sam Jones
- 25 K.C. Jones
- 31 Cedric Maxwell
- 32 Kevin McHale
- 33 Larry Bird
- 35 Reggie Lewis
* Note: Loscutoff's 18 jersey was retired, but kept active for Dave Cowens
Other notable figures
- Broadcaster Johnny Most
- Len Bias
- Chuck Cooper (first black player drafted by an NBA team)
Current Roster (updated October 6, 2005)
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
Lakers-Celtics Rivalry Sixers-Celtics Rivalry Pistons-Celtics Rivalry
External links
- Boston Celtics official web site
- CelticsBlog.com
- BasketballBoards.net Boston Celtics messageboard
- Official Summer Pro League
- Boston Celtics Roster
- Dr. Death's Boston Celtic World
| National Basketball Association 2005-06 | Image:NationalBasketballAssociation.png |
| 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 | |
