1979–80 Boston Celtics season

The 1979–80 Boston Celtics season was the 34th season of the Boston Celtics in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Bolstered by the play of 23-year-old rookie Larry Bird, the Celtics improved from 29-53 the previous year, to 61-21, at the time the best NBA single season turnaround ever, and would cruise to the Eastern Conference finals but lose to the Philadelphia 76ers 4-1.

1979–80 Boston Celtics season
Division champions
Head coachBill Fitch
General managerRed Auerbach
Owner(s)Harry T. Mangurian Jr.
ArenaBoston Garden
Hartford Civic Center
Results
Record61–21 (.744)
PlaceDivision: 1st (Atlantic)
Conference: 1st (Eastern)
Playoff finishEastern Conference finals
(lost to 76ers 1–4)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
TelevisionWBZ-TV
RadioWBZ

Draft picks
Main article: 1979 NBA draft
Round Pick Player Position Nationality College
3 53 Wayne Kreklow SG  United States Drake
3 61 Ernesto Malcolm SG  Panama Briar Cliff
4 68 Nick Galis SG  United States Seton Hall
5 90 Jimmy Allen  United States New Haven
7 130 Steve Castellan PF  United States Virginia
8 149 Glenn Sudhop C  United States NC State
9 168 Kevin Sinnett  United States Navy
10 186 Alton Byrd PG  United States Columbia

Roster
1979–80 Boston Celtics roster
Players Coaches
Pos.No.NameHeightWeightDOBFrom
G 7 Archibald, Nate 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 150 lb (68 kg) 1948–09–02 UTEP
F 33 Bird, Larry 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1956–12–07 Indiana State
F 30 Carr, M. L. 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 1951–01–09 Guilford
G 12 Chaney, Don 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1946–03–22 Houston
F/C 18 Cowens, Dave (C) 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1948–10–25 Florida State
F/C 45 Fernsten, Eric 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 1953–11–01 San Francisco
G 42 Ford, Chris 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1949–01–11 Villanova
G 43 Henderson, Gerald 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1956–01–16 VCU
F 32 Judkins, Jeff 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1956–03–23 Utah
G 44 Maravich, Pete 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 197 lb (89 kg) 1947–06–22 LSU
F 31 Maxwell, Cedric 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 1955–11–21 Charlotte
C 53 Robey, Rick 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1956–01–30 Kentucky
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured Injured

Roster
Last transaction: January 22, 1980

Regular season

Season standings
Atlantic Division
 W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-Boston Celtics 6121.744–35–626–1517–7
x-Philadelphia 76ers 5923.720236–523–1819–5
x-Washington Bullets 3943.4762224–1715–269–15
New York Knicks 3943.4762225–1614–278–16
New Jersey Nets 3448.4152722–1912–297–17
#
Eastern Conference
Team W L PCT GB
1 z-Boston Celtics6121.744–
2 y-Atlanta Hawks5032.61011
3 x-Philadelphia 76ers5923.7202
4 x-Houston Rockets4141.50020
5 x-San Antonio Spurs4141.50020
6 x-Washington Bullets3943.47622
7 New York Knicks3943.47622
8 Cleveland Cavaliers3745.45124
8 Indiana Pacers3745.45124
10 New Jersey Nets3448.41527
11 Detroit Pistons1666.19544

Record vs. opponents
1979-80 NBA Records
Team ATL BOS CHI CLE DEN DET GSW HOU IND KCK LAL MIL NJN NYK PHI PHO POR SAS SDC SEA UTA WAS
Atlanta –2–41–14–21–16–02–02–44–20–21–11–14–24–24–21–12–05–11–10–22–03–3
Boston 4–2–2–04–22–06–02–06–04–21–10–22–05–15–13–31–12–04–22–00–22–04–2
Chicago 1–10–2–2–02–41–14–21–10–23–31–51–51–10–21–11–53–30–24–22–42–40–2
Cleveland 2–42–40–2–1–16–02–02–42–42–01–10–23–33–31–51–10–24–21–10–21–13–3
Denver 1–10–24–21–1–1–13–31–11–10–61–53–31–11–10–21–52–41–13–31–53–31–1
Detroit 0–60–61–10–61–1–1–11–51–50–20–21–12–42–41–50–20–22–40–20–21–12–4
Golden State 0–20–22–40–23–31–1–1–11–13–31–50–62–00–20–22–42–40–23–30–63–30–2
Houston 4–20–61–14–21–15–11–1–4–20–20–21–13–33–32–41–11–13–32–01–12–02–4
Indiana 2–42–42–04–21–15–11–12–4–1–10–20–22–44–21–50–22–02–41–10–21–14–2
Kansas City 2–01–13–30–26–02–03–32–01–1–2–43–31–11–11–11–51–51–15–13–36–02–0
Los Angeles 1–12–05–11–15–12–05–12–02–04–2–3–32–02–01–13–32–42–05–14–26–01–1
Milwaukee 1–10–25–12–03–31–16–01–12–03–33–3–1–11–10–24–25–10–24–22–44–21–1
New Jersey 2–41–51–13–31–14–20–23–34–21–10–21–1–2–41–51–10–23–31–11–11–13–3
New York 2–41–52–03–31–14–22–03–32–41–10–21–14–2–0–62–02–04–21–10–21–13–3
Philadelphia 2–43–31–15–12–05–12–04–25–11–11–12–05–16–0–1–12–04–21–11–11–15–1
Phoenix 1–11–15–11–15–12–04–21–12–05–13–32–41–10–21–1–6–01–12–44–26–02–0
Portland 0–20–23–32–04–22–04–21–10–25–14–21–52–00–20–20–6–1–14–21–53–31–1
San Antonio 1–52–42–02–41–14–22–03–34–21–10–22–03–32–42–41–11–1–2–01–11–14–2
San Diego 1–10–22–41–13–32–03–30–21–11–51–52–41–11–11–14–22–40–2–3–35–11–1
Seattle 2–02–04–22–05–12–06–01–12–03–32–44–21–12–01–12–45–11–13–3–5–11–1
Utah 0–20–24–21–13–31–13–30–21–10–60–62–41–11–11–10–63–31–11–51–5–0–2
Washington 3–32–42–03–31–14–22–04–22–40–21–11–13–33–31–50–21–12–41–11–12–0—

Game log

Regular season
1979–80 game log
Total: 61–21 (home: 35–6; road: 26–15)
October: 7–2 (home: 3–0; road: 4–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
1 October 12 Houston W 114–106 Boston Garden 1–0
2 October 13 @ Cleveland W 139–117 Richfield Coliseum 2–0
3 October 17 Cleveland W 127–108 Boston Garden 3–0
4 October 19 Washington W 130–93 Boston Garden 4–0
5 October 20 @ Indiana L 128–131 (OT) Market Square Arena 4–1
6 October 23 @ San Antonio L 120–129 HemisFair Arena 4–2
7 October 24 @ Houston W 100–99 The Summit 5–2
8 October 27 @ Atlanta W 100–95 The Omni 6–2
9 October 31 @ New Jersey W 116–79 Rutgers Athletic Center 7–2
November: 10–2 (home: 8–0; road: 2–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
10 November 3 @ Washington W 118–97 Capital Centre 8–2
11 November 7 San Antonio W 117–105 Boston Garden 9–2
12 November 9 Kansas City W 127–119 Boston Garden 10–2
13 November 10 @ Philadelphia L 94–95 The Spectrum 10–3
14 November 14 Detroit W 115–111 Boston Garden 11–3
15 November 16 Utah W 113–97 Boston Garden 12–3
16 November 17 @ New York L 109–113 Madison Square Garden 12–4
17 November 21 New Jersey W 111–103 Boston Garden 13–4
18 November 23 Indiana W 118–103 Boston Garden 14–4
19 November 24 @ Atlanta W 106–101 The Omni 15–4
20 November 28 Denver W 119–97 Boston Garden 16–4
21 November 30 New York W 100–97 Boston Garden 17–4
December: 12–5 (home: 5–1; road: 7–4)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
22 December 1 @ Indiana W 106–102 (OT) Market Square Arena 18–4
23 December 2 @ Kansas City L 88–94 Municipal Auditorium 18–5
24 December 4 @ Detroit W 118–114 (OT) Pontiac Silverdome 19–5
25 December 5 Atlanta L 92–120 Boston Garden 19–6
26 December 7 Phoenix W 100–92 Boston Garden 20–6
27 December 8 @ Cleveland L 100–116 Richfield Coliseum 20–7
28 December 9 @ Milwaukee W 113–108 MECCA Arena 21–7
29 December 12 New Jersey W 116–102 Boston Garden 22–7
30 December 14 Milwaukee W 97–94 Boston Garden 23–7
31 December 15 @ New York W 99–96 Madison Square Garden 24–7
32 December 16 @ New Jersey W 115–112 (OT) Rutgers Athletic Center 25–7
33 December 19 Philadelphia W 112–89 Boston Garden 26–7
34 December 21 San Antonio W 133–114 Boston Garden 27–7
35 December 22 @ Philadelphia L 113–126 The Spectrum 27–8
36 December 27 @ San Diego W 118–97 San Diego Sports Arena 28–8
37 December 28 @ Los Angeles L 105–123 The Forum 28–9
38 December 29 @ Golden State W 104–88 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena 29–9
January: 11–4 (home: 7–3; road: 4–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
39 January 2 @ Houston W 111–103 The Summit 30–9
40 January 5 @ San Antonio L 111–119 HemisFair Arena 30–10
41 January 9 New York W 112–95 Boston Garden 31–10
42 January 11 Atlanta W 108–93 Boston Garden 32–10
43 January 13 Los Angeles L 98–100 Boston Garden 32–11
44 January 16 Chicago W 114–104 Boston Garden 33–11
45 January 18 Portland W 111–93 Boston Garden 34–11
46 January 20 Seattle L 106–108 (2OT) Boston Garden 34–12
47 January 22 Houston W 112–106 Boston Garden 35–12
48 January 23 @ Detroit W 131–104 Pontiac Silverdome 36–12
49 January 25 Washington L 107–118 Boston Garden 36–13
50 January 27 San Diego W 131–108 Boston Garden 37–13
51 January 29 @ Chicago W 103–99 Chicago Stadium 38–13
52 January 30 Cleveland W 110–103 Boston Garden 39–13
53 January 31 @ Washington W 119–103 Capital Centre 40–13
February: 9–2 (home: 6–0; road: 3–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
54 February 6 Philadelphia W 129–110 Boston Garden 41–13
55 February 8 Indiana W 130–108 Boston Garden 42–13
56 February 10 Detroit W 128–111 Boston Garden 43–13
57 February 13 @ Phoenix L 134–135 Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 43–14
58 February 15 @ Portland W 106–91 Memorial Coliseum 44–14
59 February 17 @ Seattle L 108–109 Kingdome 44–15
60 February 20 @ Utah W 105–98 Salt Palace 45–15
61 February 23 @ Denver W 124–105 McNichols Sports Arena 46–15
62 February 26 Atlanta W 108–97 Hartford Civic Center 47–15
63 February 27 San Antonio W 130–125 Boston Garden 48–15
64 February 29 Golden State W 110–99 Boston Garden 49–15
March: 12–6 (home: 6–2; road: 6–4)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
65 March 2 Detroit W 118–115 Boston Garden 50–15
66 March 4 @ San Antonio W 137–108 HemisFair Arena 51–15
67 March 5 @ Houston W 103–99 (OT) The Summit 52–15
68 March 7 Philadelphia W 111–92 Boston Garden 53–15
69 March 9 Washington L 128–133 (OT) Boston Garden 53–16
70 March 11 @ Indiana L 108–114 Market Square Arena 53–17
71 March 12 Houston W 121–105 Boston Garden 54–17
72 March 14 @ Atlanta L 87–88 The Omni 54–18
73 March 15 @ New York W 123–120 Madison Square Garden 55–18
74 March 17 @ New Jersey W 117–92 Rutgers Athletic Center 56–18
75 March 18 Indiana W 114–102 Hartford Civic Center 57–18
76 March 20 @ Detroit W 124–106 Pontiac Silverdome 58–18
77 March 22 @ Cleveland L 105–109 Richfield Coliseum 58–19
78 March 23 New Jersey L 96–101 Boston Garden 58–20
79 March 25 @ Washington W 96–95 Capital Centre 59–20
80 March 26 New York W 129–121 Boston Garden 60–20
81 March 28 Cleveland W 130–122 Boston Garden 61–20
82 March 30 @ Philadelphia L 110–116 The Spectrum 61–21
1979–80 schedule

Playoffs
1980 playoff game log
Conference semifinals: 4–0 (home: 2–0; road: 2–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Series
1 April 9 Houston W 119–101 Chris Ford (19) Cedric Maxwell (12) Tiny Archibald (9) Boston Garden
15,320		 1–0
2 April 11 Houston W 95–75 Larry Bird (14) Cedric Maxwell (10) Tiny Archibald (7) Boston Garden
15,320		 2–0
3 April 13 @ Houston W 100–81 Tiny Archibald (20) Cedric Maxwell (12) Tiny Archibald (10) The Summit
14,243		 3–0
4 April 14 @ Houston W 138–121 Larry Bird (34) Larry Bird (10) Tiny Archibald (10) The Summit
13,106		 4–0
Conference finals: 1–4 (home: 1–2; road: 0–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Series
1 April 18 Philadelphia L 93–96 Larry Bird (27) Dave Cowens (10) Tiny Archibald (7) Boston Garden
15,320		 0–1
2 April 20 Philadelphia W 96–90 Larry Bird (31) Cedric Maxwell (15) Tiny Archibald (8) Boston Garden
15,320		 1–1
3 April 23 @ Philadelphia L 97–99 Larry Bird (22) Larry Bird (21) Tiny Archibald (7) Spectrum
18,276		 1–2
4 April 25 @ Philadelphia L 90–102 Larry Bird (19) Larry Bird (13) Gerald Henderson (6) Spectrum
18,276		 1–3
5 April 27 Philadelphia L 94–105 Archibald, Cowens (22) Larry Bird (14) Tiny Archibald (9) Boston Garden
15,320		 1–4
1980 schedule

References

    See also
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