1980–81 Boston Celtics season
1980–81 Boston Celtics season | |
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NBA champions | |
Conference champions | |
Division champions | |
Head coach | Bill Fitch |
General manager | Red Auerbach |
Owners | Harry Mangurian |
Arena | Boston Garden Hartford Civic Center |
Results | |
Record | 62–20 (.756) |
Place | Division: 1st (Atlantic) Conference: 1st (Eastern) |
Playoff finish | NBA Champions (Defeated Rockets 4–2) |
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com | |
Local media | |
Television | WBZ-TV, WATR |
Radio | WBZ Radio, WTIC |
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/15/Boston_Celtics_at_Dallas_Mavericks_1981-03-03_%28ticket%29.jpg/280px-Boston_Celtics_at_Dallas_Mavericks_1981-03-03_%28ticket%29.jpg)
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
[edit]NBA draft
[edit]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.
Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | School/Club Team |
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1 | 1 | Joe Barry Carroll | Center | ![]() | Purdue |
1 | 13 | Rickey Brown | Center | ![]() | Mississippi State |
Roster
[edit]Players | Coaches | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Regular season
[edit]Season standings
[edit]W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div | |
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y-Boston Celtics | 62 | 20 | .756 | – | 35–6 | 27–14 | 19–5 |
x-Philadelphia 76ers | 62 | 20 | .756 | – | 37–4 | 25–16 | 15–9 |
x-New York Knicks | 50 | 32 | .610 | 12.0 | 28–13 | 22–19 | 14–10 |
Washington Bullets | 39 | 43 | .476 | 23.0 | 26–15 | 13–28 | 8–16 |
New Jersey Nets | 24 | 58 | .293 | 38.0 | 16–25 | 8–33 | 8–16 |
# | |||||
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Team | W | L | PCT | GB | |
1 | z-Boston Celtics | 62 | 20 | .756 | – |
2 | y-Milwaukee Bucks | 60 | 22 | .732 | 2 |
3 | x-Philadelphia 76ers | 62 | 20 | .756 | – |
4 | x-New York Knicks | 50 | 32 | .610 | 12 |
5 | x-Chicago Bulls | 45 | 37 | .549 | 17 |
6 | x-Indiana Pacers | 44 | 38 | .537 | 18 |
7 | Washington Bullets | 39 | 43 | .476 | 23 |
8 | Atlanta Hawks | 31 | 51 | .378 | 31 |
9 | Cleveland Cavaliers | 28 | 54 | .341 | 34 |
10 | New Jersey Nets | 24 | 58 | .293 | 38 |
11 | Detroit Pistons | 21 | 61 | .256 | 41 |
Notes
- z, y – division champions
- x – clinched playoff spot
Record vs. opponents
[edit]1980-81 NBA Records | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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Team | ATL | BOS | CHI | CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GSW | HOU | IND | KCK | LAL | MIL | NJN | NYK | PHI | PHO | POR | SAS | SDC | SEA | UTA | WAS |
Atlanta | – | 2–4 | 2–4 | 1–5 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 3–2 | 2–4 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–4 |
Boston | 4–2 | – | 5–1 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 6–0 | 5–1 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 5–1 |
Chicago | 4–2 | 1–5 | – | 5–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 3–2 | 3–3 | 2–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 5–1 |
Cleveland | 5–1 | 1–4 | 1–5 | – | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–6 | 3–3 | 0–5 | 0–6 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 4–2 |
Dallas | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | – | 3–3 | 0–2 | 2–3 | 0–6 | 0–2 | 0–6 | 0–5 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–4 | 1–4 | 1–5 | 2–3 | 1–4 | 1–5 | 0–2 |
Denver | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 | – | 2–0 | 3–2 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–4 | 2–3 | 2–4 | 3–2 | 3–2 | 2–4 | 0–2 |
Detroit | 2–4 | 1–4 | 1–5 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 0–2 | – | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 3–3 | 1–5 | 1–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–5 |
Golden State | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 2–3 | 2–0 | – | 3–2 | 1–1 | 5–0 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 1–4 | 2–4 | 3–3 | 4–1 | 1–1 |
Houston | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 6–0 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 2–3 | – | 1–1 | 2–4 | 2–3 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–4 | 3–2 | 3–3 | 1–4 | 4–1 | 4–2 | 0–2 |
Indiana | 5–1 | 3–3 | 2–3 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | – | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 5–1 | 3–2 | 0–6 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 4–2 |
Kansas City | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 6–0 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 0–5 | 4–2 | 0–2 | – | 0–5 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–2 | 3–2 | 2–4 | 3–2 | 2–3 | 5–1 | 1–1 |
Los Angeles | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 5–0 | 2–3 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 5–0 | – | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 3–3 | 2–3 | 3–3 | 6–0 | 3–2 | 1–1 |
Milwaukee | 5–1 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 6–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | – | 5–1 | 3–3 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–1 |
New Jersey | 2–3 | 0–6 | 2–3 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–5 | – | 0–6 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 |
New York | 4–2 | 1–5 | 3–3 | 5–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 6–0 | – | 3–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–2 |
Philadelphia | 5–1 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 6–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 6–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 5–1 | 3–3 | – | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–2 |
Phoenix | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | – | 3–3 | 3–2 | 6–0 | 5–1 | 5–0 | 1–1 |
Portland | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 2–3 | 2–0 | 2–3 | 3–3 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 | – | 2–3 | 4–2 | 4–2 | 2–3 | 2–0 |
San Antonio | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 4–1 | 3–3 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–3 | 3–2 | – | 4–1 | 3–2 | 5–1 | 1–1 |
San Diego | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 3–3 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–6 | 2–4 | 1–4 | – | 5–1 | 3–2 | 0–2 |
Seattle | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–1 | 2–3 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 1–4 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 0–6 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 2–4 | 2–3 | 1–5 | – | 4–1 | 1–1 |
Utah | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 1–4 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 1–5 | 2–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–5 | 3–2 | 1–5 | 2–3 | 1–4 | – | 0–2 |
Washington | 4–1 | 1–5 | 1–5 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–4 | 3–3 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | — |
Game log
[edit]Regular season
[edit]1980–81 game log: 62–20 (Home: 35–6; Road: 27–14) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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October: 6–3 (Home: 2–1; Road: 4–2)
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November: 9–4 (Home: 7–1; Road: 2–3)
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December: 14–1 (Home: 7–1; Road: 7–0)
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January: 14–2 (Home: 10–0; Road: 4–2)
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February: 8–5 (Home: 3–0; Road: 5–5)
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March: 11–5 (Home: 6–3; Road: 5–2)
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1981 regular season schedule |
Playoffs
[edit]1981 playoff game log | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Conference Semifinals: 4–0 (home: 2–0; road: 2–0)
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Conference Finals: 4–3 (home: 3–1; road: 1–2)
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NBA Finals: 4–2 (home: 2–1; road: 2–1)
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1981 schedule |
Player stats
[edit]Note: GP= Games played; REB= Rebounds; AST= Assists; STL = Steals; BLK = Blocks; PTS = Points; AVG = Average
Player | GP | REB | AST | STL | BLK | PTS | AVG |
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Nate Archibald | 80 | 176 | 618 | 75 | 18 | 1106 | 13.8 |
Larry Bird | 82 | 895 | 451 | 161 | 63 | 1741 | 21.2 |
M. L. Carr | 41 | 83 | 56 | 30 | 18 | 248 | 6.0 |
Eric Fernsten | 45 | 62 | 10 | 6 | 7 | 96 | 2.1 |
Chris Ford | 82 | 163 | 295 | 100 | 23 | 728 | 8.9 |
Wayne Kreklow | 25 | 12 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 30 | 1.2 |
Cedric Maxwell | 81 | 525 | 219 | 79 | 68 | 1234 | 15.2 |
Kevin McHale | 82 | 359 | 55 | 27 | 151 | 818 | 10.0 |
Robert Parish | 82 | 777 | 144 | 81 | 214 | 1552 | 18.9 |
Rick Robey | 82 | 390 | 126 | 38 | 19 | 740 | 9.0 |
Award winners
[edit]- 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
[edit]- ^ "Archived copy". NBA.com. Archived from the original on March 21, 2010. Retrieved April 15, 2009.
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: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)