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1980–81 Boston Celtics season

NBA basketball team season (NBA champions)

NBA basketball team season (NBA champions)

FieldValue
teamBoston Celtics
DivisionWinyes
ConferenceWinyes
ChampionshipWinyes
end_year1981
wins62
losses20
divisionAtlantic
division_place1
conf_place1
coachBill Fitch
gmRed Auerbach
arenaBoston Garden
Hartford Civic Center
ownersHarry Mangurian
televisionWBZ-TV, WATR
radioWBZ Radio, WTIC
playoffs**[NBA champions](1981-nba-finals)**
(Defeated [Rockets](1980-81-houston-rockets-season) 4–2)
bbr_teamBOS

Hartford Civic Center (Defeated Rockets 4–2)

In 1980–81 the Boston Celtics went 62–20 under coach Bill Fitch. Despite losing center Dave Cowens to retirement late in training camp, the Celtics went on to capture the 1981 NBA Championship over the Houston Rockets. The highlight was that this championship was achieved just two years after Larry Bird had been drafted. Cedric Maxwell was named NBA Finals MVP.

Offseason

NBA draft

After the 1979–80 season, 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 left over 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, 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.

RoundPickPlayerPositionNationalitySchool/Club team
11Joe Barry CarrollCenterUnited StatesPurdue
113Rickey BrownCenterUnited StatesMississippi State

Roster

  • Bill Fitch
  • K. C. Jones
  • Jimmy Rodgers

Regular season

Season standings

Notes

  • z, y – division champions
  • x – clinched playoff spot

Game log

Regular season

|- |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 1 | October 10 | Cleveland | 130–103 | | | | Boston Garden | 1–0 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 2 | October 14 | @ Atlanta | 116–122 | | | | The Omni | 1–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 3 | October 16 | @ Milwaukee | 110–103 | | | | MECCA Arena | 2–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 4 | October 18 | @ Indiana | 99–103 | | | | Market Square Arena | 2–2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc | 5 | October 22 | @ New Jersey | 108–104 | | | | Rutgers Athletic Center | 3–2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 6 | October 23 | New York | 107–109 (OT) | | | | Hartford Civic Center | 3–3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc | 7 | October 25 | @ Washington | 103–87 | | | | Capital Centre | 4–3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 8 | October 29 | @ Detroit | 103–85 | | | | Pontiac Silverdome | 5–3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 9 | October 31 | Kansas City | 115–110 | | | | Boston Garden

6–3
-
- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
10
November 1
@ Philadelphia
113–117 (OT)

| | | | The Spectrum | 6–4 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 11 | November 5 | Atlanta | 104–87 | | | | Boston Garden | 7–4 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 12 | November 7 | Milwaukee | 101–102 | | | | Boston Garden | 7–5 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 13 | November 9 | Chicago | 111–105 | | | | Boston Garden | 8–5 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 14 | November 12 | Washington | 93–86 | | | | Boston Garden | 9–5 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 15 | November 14 | New Jersey | 126–102 | | | | Boston Garden | 10–5 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 16 | November 18 | @ Chicago | 113–107 | | | | Chicago Stadium | 11–5 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 17 | November 19 | @ Indiana | 103–91 | | | | Market Square Arena | 12–5 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 18 | November 21 | Golden State | 108–106 | | | | Boston Garden | 13–5 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 19 | November 22 | @ Cleveland | 98–113 | | | | Richfield Coliseum | 13–6 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 20 | November 26 | Portland | 126–101 | | | | Boston Garden | 14–6 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 21 | November 28 | New York | 120–106 | | | | Boston Garden | 15–6 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 22 | November 30 | @ Milwaukee | 105–107 | | | | MECCA Arena

15–7
-
- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
23
December 2
@ Detroit
94–85

| | | | Pontiac Silverdome | 16–7 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 24 | December 3 | Atlanta | 106–101 | | | | Boston Garden | 17–7 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 25 | December 5 | Dallas | 97–87 | | | | Boston Garden | 18–7 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 26 | December 7 | Washington | 103–113 | | | | Hartford Civic Center | 18–8 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 27 | December 9 | Milwaukee | 112–89 | | | | Boston Garden | 19–8 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc | 28 | December 10 | @ Washington | 101–99 | | | | Capital Centre | 20–8 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 29 | December 12 | New Jersey | 119–104 | | | | Boston Garden | 21–8 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 30 | December 13 | @ Chicago | 106–95 | | | | Chicago Stadium | 22–8 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 31 | December 17 | Chicago | 115–98 | | | | Boston Garden | 23–8 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 32 | December 19 | Houston | 133–119 | | | | Boston Garden | 24–8 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 33 | December 20 | @ Cleveland | 107–102 | | | | Richfield Coliseum | 25–8 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 34 | December 23 | Denver | 136–128 | | | | Boston Garden | 26–8 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 35 | December 25 | @ New York | 117–108 | | | | Madison Square Garden | 27–8 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 36 | December 27 | @ Atlanta | 112–107 | | | | The Omni | 28–8 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 37 | December 30 | @ Phoenix | 116–97 | | | | Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum

29–8
-
- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
38
January 1
@ San Diego
88–85

| | | | San Diego Sports Arena | 30–8 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 39 | January 2 | @ Golden State | 106–121 | | | | Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena | 30–9 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 40 | January 4 | @ Portland | 120–111 | | | | Memorial Coliseum | 31–9 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 41 | January 7 | Phoenix | 108–90 | | | | Boston Garden | 32–9 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 42 | January 9 | Chicago | 117–111 (OT) | | | | Boston Garden | 33–9 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc | 43 | January 10 | @ New Jersey | 117–115 | | | | Rutgers Athletic Center | 34–9 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 44 | January 13 | @ New York | 93–89 | | | | Madison Square Garden | 35–9 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 45 | January 14 | Cleveland | 120–113 | | | | Boston Garden | 36–9 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 46 | January 16 | San Antonio | 94–85 | | | | Boston Garden | 37–9 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 47 | January 18 | Los Angeles | 98–96 | | | | Boston Garden | 38–9 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 48 | January 19 | Detroit | 92–90 | | | | Hartford Civic Center | 39–9 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 49 | January 21 | Utah | 117–87 | | | | Boston Garden | 40–9 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 50 | January 23 | Indiana | 104–103 | | | | Boston Garden | 41–9 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 51 | January 25 | Seattle | 115–106 | | | | Boston Garden | 42–9 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 52 | January 28 | Philadelphia | 104–101 | | | | Boston Garden | 43–9 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 53 | January 29 | @ Chicago | 85–108 | | | | Chicago Stadium

43–10
-
- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
54
February 4
@ Philadelphia
104–107

| | | | The Spectrum | 43–11 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 55 | February 5 | @ Milwaukee | 103–113 | | | | MECCA Arena | 43–12 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 56 | February 6 | Indiana | 111–98 | | | | Boston Garden | 44–12 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 57 | February 8 | San Diego | 123–107 | | | | Boston Garden | 45–12 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 58 | February 10 | @ Seattle | 107–108 (OT) | | | | Kingdome | 45–13 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 59 | February 11 | @ Los Angeles | 105–91 | | | | The Forum | 46–13 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 60 | February 13 | @ Utah | 89–104 | | | | Salt Palace | 46–14 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 61 | February 15 | @ Denver | 120–118 | | | | McNichols Sports Arena | 47–14 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 62 | February 17 | @ San Antonio | 128–116 | | | | HemisFair Arena | 48–14 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 63 | February 18 | @ Kansas City | 113–114 | | | | Kemper Arena | 48–15 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 64 | February 21 | @ Detroit | 130–119 | | | | Pontiac Silverdome | 49–15 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 65 | February 25 | Cleveland | 124–103 | | | | Boston Garden | 50–15 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 66 | February 27 | @ Atlanta | 132–102 | | | | The Omni

51–15
-
- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
67
March 1
Philadelphia
114–107

| | | | Boston Garden | 52–15 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 68 | March 3 | @ Dallas | 117–105 | | | | Reunion Arena | 53–15 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 69 | March 4 | @ Houston | 108–101 | | | | The Summit | 54–15 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 70 | March 6 | @ Indiana | 104–110 | | | | Market Square Arena | 54–16 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 71 | March 8 | New York | 115–94 | | | | Boston Garden | 55–16 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 72 | March 11 | Milwaukee | 122–108 | | | | Boston Garden | 56–16 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 73 | March 13 | Indiana | 94–101 | | | | Boston Garden | 56–17 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 74 | March 15 | New Jersey | 133–125 | | | | Boston Garden | 57–17 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc | 75 | March 17 | @ Washington | 112–91 | | | | Capital Centre | 58–17 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 76 | March 18 | Atlanta | 97–108 | | | | Boston Garden | 58–18 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 77 | March 20 | Washington | 128–116 | | | | Boston Garden | 59–18 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 78 | March 22 | @ Philadelphia | 94–126 | | | | The Spectrum | 59–19 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 79 | March 24 | @ New York | 118–116 | | | | Madison Square Garden | 60–19 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc | 80 | March 25 | @ New Jersey | 111–105 | | | | Rutgers Athletic Center | 61–19 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 81 | March 27 | Detroit | 90–115 | | | | Boston Garden | 61–20 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 82 | March 29 | Philadelphia | 98–94 | | | | Boston Garden

62–20
-
1981 regular season schedule

Playoffs

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 1 | April 5 | Chicago | W 121–109 | Larry Bird (23) | Larry Bird (12) | Bird, Maxwell (5) | Boston Garden 15,320 | 1–0 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 2 | April 7 | Chicago | W 106–97 | Archibald, Parish (27) | Larry Bird (12) | Larry Bird (9) | Boston Garden 15,320 | 2–0 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 3 | April 10 | @ Chicago | W 113–107 | Larry Bird (24) | Larry Bird (17) | Larry Bird (10) | Chicago Stadium 19,995 | 3–0 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 4 | April 12 | @ Chicago | W 109–103 | Larry Bird (35) | Larry Bird (11) | Tiny Archibald (6) | Chicago Stadium 18,249

4–0
- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
1
April 21
Philadelphia
L 104–105
Larry Bird (33)
Robert Parish (13)
Tiny Archibald (9)
Boston Garden
15,320
0–1
- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
2
April 22
Philadelphia
W 118–99
Larry Bird (34)
Larry Bird (16)
Larry Bird (5)
Boston Garden
15,320
1–1
- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
3
April 24
@ Philadelphia
L 100–110
Larry Bird (22)
Larry Bird (13)
Tiny Archibald (5)
Spectrum
18,276
1–2
- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
4
April 26
@ Philadelphia
L 105–107
Cedric Maxwell (20)
Larry Bird (17)
Tiny Archibald (14)
Spectrum
18,276
1–3
- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
5
April 29
Philadelphia
W 111–109
Larry Bird (32)
Larry Bird (11)
Tiny Archibald (7)
Boston Garden
15,320
2–3
- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
6
May 1
@ Philadelphia
W 111–109
Larry Bird (25)
Larry Bird (16)
Tiny Archibald (6)
Spectrum
18,276
3–3
- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
7
May 3
Philadelphia
W 91–90
Larry Bird (23)
Larry Bird (11)
Tiny Archibald (7)
Boston Garden
15,320
4–3
-
- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
1
May 5
Houston
W 98–95
Larry Bird (18)
Larry Bird (21)
Larry Bird (9)
Boston Garden
15,320
1–0
- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
2
May 7
Houston
L 90–91
Larry Bird (19)
Larry Bird (21)
Archibald, Henderson (4)
Boston Garden
15,320
1–1
- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
3
May 9
@ Houston
W 94–71
Cedric Maxwell (19)
Larry Bird (13)
Larry Bird (10)
The Summit
16,121
2–1
- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"
4
May 10
@ Houston
L 86–91
Cedric Maxwell (24)
Cedric Maxwell (14)
Larry Bird (7)
The Summit
16,121
2–2
- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
5
May 12
Houston
W 109–80
Cedric Maxwell (28)
Cedric Maxwell (15)
Larry Bird (8)
Boston Garden
15,320
3–2
- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"
6
May 14
@ Houston
W 102–91
Larry Bird (27)
Larry Bird (13)
Tiny Archibald (12)
The Summit
16,121
4–2
-

Player stats

Note: GP= Games played; REB= Rebounds; AST= Assists; STL = Steals; BLK = Blocks; PTS = Points; AVG = Average

Award winners

  • Nate Archibald, All-NBA Second Team
  • Larry Bird, All-NBA First Team
  • Cedric Maxwell, NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award
  • Kevin McHale, All-NBA Rookie Team

References

References

  1. "Archived copy".
Info: Wikipedia Source

This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page.

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