A Look Back
The Celtics are in the midst of one of their toughest seasons as injuries and inexperience have led the team to the current 13 game losing streak. I knew that the ML Carr 15 win season was 10 years ago, but I took a few minutes and went back through Celtics teams 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60 years ago this season to see where each of those editions of the Celtics stood. I found it interesting that many of these teams found themselves at crossroads, much as the team is at now. Here’s how those clubs stacked up:
10 Years Ago…
1996-97 Season
Record: 15-67
Playoffs: None
To this point, this was the low point in franchise history. The Celtics were clearly playing for the Tim Duncan sweepstakes from the get-go, with coach/GM M.L. Carr trotting out Brett Szabo for 70 games, and using names such as Nate Driggers, Michael Hawkins, Steve Hamer, and big free agent signing Frank Brickowski to fill time during the course of the season. Rookie Antoine Walker led the team with 17.5 points per game, and Rick Fox, David Wesley and Eric Williams each also averaged over 15 points per game. Todd Day shot 39% for the season on his way to 14 points a night.
20 Years Ago…
1986-87 Season
Record: 59-23
Playoffs: Lost in NBA Finals to Lakers
The long painful decline of the franchise started with this season. After winning their 16th NBA title, the Celtics drafted Len Bias, whom they thought would extend the career of Larry Bird well into the 1990’s. We know what happened. Without Bias, Bird and the rest of the aging Celtics starters were forced to play 40 minutes a game and simply wore down as the playoffs went on. They played back-to-back seven game series with the Bucks and Pistons and didn’t have much left for the Lakers. Kevin McHale played on a bad foot in the playoffs, and it affected him for the rest of his career. This was the Celtics last appearance in the NBA finals.
30 Years Ago…
1976-77 Season
Record: 44-38
Playoffs: Lost to 76ers in Eastern Conference Semifinals.
The Celtics were again coming off an NBA title and on their way down. Don Nelson retired as a player prior to the season. The John Havlicek era was winding down, and Dave Cowens and Charlie Scott missed significant time during the season. Jojo White had his last great season with the Celtics, averaging 19.6 point per game, along with 6 assists a night. Sidney Wicks and Curtis Rowe were on this team, and averaged double figures in points each. It wasn’t worth their presence. The Celtics lost in the second round of the playoffs in seven games to the Philadelphia 76ers.
40 Years Ago…
1966-67 Season
Record: 60-21
Playoffs: Lost to 76ers in Eastern Conference Finals.
An interruption in the dynasty. Wilt Chamberlain and the Philadelphia 76ers finally put it all together and stormed through the regular season before dispatching the Celtics in a shockingly quick five game series in the Eastern finals. Red Auerbach had stepped down as coach after winning the title the previous season, handing the reigns to star Bill Russell. Many declared the Celtics dynasty dead after this season.
50 Years Ago…
1956-57 Season
Record: 44-28
Playoffs: Won 1st NBA Title, over St. Louis Hawks
Finally, a season where things went right! Thanks to some shrewd maneuvering from Auerbach, the Celtics acquired the pick with which they drafted Bill Russell, but also drafted two other Hall of Famers in Tom Heinsohn and KC Jones. They had to wait for Russell to finish up playing with the US Olympic team in Australia, and then inserted him into a team that was coming together. After a number of years of coming up short in the playoffs, Russell provided what the team needed to get all the way to the top.
60 Years Ago…
1946-47 Season
Record: 22-38
Playoffs: None
The very first edition of the Boston Celtics wasn’t much to speak of. Their leading scorer, Connie Simmons, tore it up at a 10.3 points per game clip. Future “Rifleman” Chuck Connors broke a wooden backboard in warm-ups prior to the very first game. That was probably the most memorable moment from this season. Connors played in 49 games that season, averaging 4.6 points.
