1980β81 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 4β2) | ||
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com | |||
Local media | |||
Television | WBZ-TV, WATR | ||
Radio | WBZ Radio, WTIC | ||
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![](https://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 1980β81 the Boston Celtics went 62-20 under coach Bill Fitch. Despite losing center Dave Cowensββto retirement late in training camp, the Celtics went onββto 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.
Offseasonβ»
NBA draftβ»
After the 1979β80 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 1979β80 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 |
Rosterβ»
Players | Coaches | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Regular seasonβ»
Season standingsβ»
W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div | |
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y-Boston Celtics | 62 | 20 | .756 | β | 35β6 | 27β14 | 19β5 |
x-Philadelphia 76ers | 62 | 20 | .756 | β | 37β4 | 25β16 | 15β9 |
x-New York Knicks | 50 | 32 | .610 | 12.0 | 28β13 | 22β19 | 14β10 |
Washington Bullets | 39 | 43 | .476 | 23.0 | 26β15 | 13β28 | 8β16 |
New Jersey Nets | 24 | 58 | .293 | 38.0 | 16β25 | 8β33 | 8β16 |
# | |||||
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Team | W | L | PCT | GB | |
1 | z-Boston Celtics | 62 | 20 | .756 | β |
2 | y-Milwaukee Bucks | 60 | 22 | .732 | 2 |
3 | x-Philadelphia 76ers | 62 | 20 | .756 | β |
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 β division champions
- x β clinched playoff spot
Record vs. opponentsβ»
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 | β | 2β4 | 2β4 | 1β5 | 2β0 | 1β1 | 4β2 | 2β0 | 1β1 | 1β5 | 1β1 | 0β2 | 1β5 | 3β2 | 2β4 | 1β5 | 0β2 | 1β1 | 1β1 | 1β1 | 1β1 | 2β0 | 1β4 |
Boston | 4β2 | β | 5β1 | 4β1 | 2β0 | 2β0 | 4β1 | 1β1 | 2β0 | 3β3 | 1β1 | 2β0 | 3β3 | 6β0 | 5β1 | 3β3 | 2β0 | 2β0 | 2β0 | 2β0 | 1β1 | 1β1 | 5β1 |
Chicago | 4β2 | 1β5 | β | 5β1 | 1β1 | 1β1 | 5β1 | 1β1 | 1β1 | 3β2 | 2β0 | 1β1 | 3β3 | 3β2 | 3β3 | 2β4 | 0β2 | 0β2 | 0β2 | 1β1 | 1β1 | 2β0 | 5β1 |
Cleveland | 5β1 | 1β4 | 1β5 | β | 2β0 | 1β1 | 3β3 | 1β1 | 0β2 | 2β4 | 0β2 | 0β2 | 0β6 | 3β3 | 0β5 | 0β6 | 1β1 | 1β1 | 1β1 | 1β1 | 0β2 | 1β1 | 4β2 |
Dallas | 0β2 | 0β2 | 1β1 | 0β2 | β | 3β3 | 0β2 | 2β3 | 0β6 | 0β2 | 0β6 | 0β5 | 0β2 | 1β1 | 1β1 | 0β2 | 1β4 | 1β4 | 1β5 | 2β3 | 1β4 | 1β5 | 0β2 |
Denver | 1β1 | 0β2 | 1β1 | 1β1 | 3β3 | β | 2β0 | 3β2 | 2β4 | 1β1 | 4β2 | 3β2 | 1β1 | 1β1 | 0β2 | 1β1 | 1β4 | 2β3 | 2β4 | 3β2 | 3β2 | 2β4 | 0β2 |
Detroit | 2β4 | 1β4 | 1β5 | 3β3 | 2β0 | 0β2 | β | 0β2 | 1β1 | 2β4 | 1β1 | 0β2 | 1β5 | 3β3 | 1β5 | 1β4 | 0β2 | 0β2 | 0β2 | 1β1 | 0β2 | 0β2 | 1β5 |
Golden State | 0β2 | 1β1 | 1β1 | 1β1 | 3β2 | 2β3 | 2β0 | β | 3β2 | 1β1 | 5β0 | 1β5 | 1β1 | 1β1 | 2β0 | 0β2 | 2β4 | 2β4 | 1β4 | 2β4 | 3β3 | 4β1 | 1β1 |
Houston | 1β1 | 0β2 | 1β1 | 2β0 | 6β0 | 4β2 | 1β1 | 2β3 | β | 1β1 | 2β4 | 2β3 | 0β2 | 2β0 | 0β2 | 0β2 | 1β4 | 3β2 | 3β3 | 1β4 | 4β1 | 4β2 | 0β2 |
Indiana | 5β1 | 3β3 | 2β3 | 4β2 | 2β0 | 1β1 | 4β2 | 1β1 | 1β1 | β | 2β0 | 0β2 | 2β4 | 5β1 | 3β2 | 0β6 | 1β1 | 0β2 | 2β0 | 1β1 | 0β2 | 1β1 | 4β2 |
Kansas City | 1β1 | 1β1 | 0β2 | 2β0 | 6β0 | 2β4 | 1β1 | 0β5 | 4β2 | 0β2 | β | 0β5 | 1β1 | 2β0 | 1β1 | 0β2 | 3β2 | 3β2 | 2β4 | 3β2 | 2β3 | 5β1 | 1β1 |
Los Angeles | 2β0 | 0β2 | 1β1 | 2β0 | 5β0 | 2β3 | 2β0 | 5β1 | 3β2 | 2β0 | 5β0 | β | 0β2 | 2β0 | 2β0 | 1β1 | 2β4 | 3β3 | 2β3 | 3β3 | 6β0 | 3β2 | 1β1 |
Milwaukee | 5β1 | 3β3 | 3β3 | 6β0 | 2β0 | 1β1 | 5β1 | 1β1 | 2β0 | 4β2 | 1β1 | 2β0 | β | 5β1 | 3β3 | 3β2 | 1β1 | 2β0 | 1β1 | 2β0 | 2β0 | 2β0 | 4β1 |
New Jersey | 2β3 | 0β6 | 2β3 | 3β3 | 1β1 | 1β1 | 3β3 | 1β1 | 0β2 | 1β5 | 0β2 | 0β2 | 1β5 | β | 0β6 | 1β5 | 1β1 | 2β0 | 0β2 | 0β2 | 1β1 | 1β1 | 3β3 |
New York | 4β2 | 1β5 | 3β3 | 5β0 | 1β1 | 2β0 | 5β1 | 0β2 | 2β0 | 2β3 | 1β1 | 0β2 | 3β3 | 6β0 | β | 3β3 | 1β1 | 1β1 | 0β2 | 2β0 | 2β0 | 2β0 | 4β2 |
Philadelphia | 5β1 | 3β3 | 4β2 | 6β0 | 2β0 | 1β1 | 4β1 | 2β0 | 2β0 | 6β0 | 2β0 | 1β1 | 2β3 | 5β1 | 3β3 | β | 1β1 | 1β1 | 2β0 | 2β0 | 2β0 | 2β0 | 4β2 |
Phoenix | 2β0 | 0β2 | 2β0 | 1β1 | 4β1 | 4β1 | 2β0 | 4β2 | 4β1 | 1β1 | 2β3 | 4β2 | 1β1 | 1β1 | 1β1 | 1β1 | β | 3β3 | 3β2 | 6β0 | 5β1 | 5β0 | 1β1 |
Portland | 1β1 | 0β2 | 2β0 | 1β1 | 4β1 | 3β2 | 2β0 | 4β2 | 2β3 | 2β0 | 2β3 | 3β3 | 0β2 | 0β2 | 1β1 | 1β1 | 3β3 | β | 2β3 | 4β2 | 4β2 | 2β3 | 2β0 |
San Antonio | 1β1 | 0β2 | 2β0 | 1β1 | 5β1 | 4β2 | 2β0 | 4β1 | 3β3 | 0β2 | 4β2 | 3β2 | 1β1 | 2β0 | 2β0 | 0β2 | 2β3 | 3β2 | β | 4β1 | 3β2 | 5β1 | 1β1 |
San Diego | 1β1 | 0β2 | 1β1 | 1β1 | 3β2 | 2β3 | 1β1 | 4β2 | 4β1 | 1β1 | 2β3 | 3β3 | 0β2 | 2β0 | 0β2 | 0β2 | 0β6 | 2β4 | 1β4 | β | 5β1 | 3β2 | 0β2 |
Seattle | 1β1 | 1β1 | 1β1 | 2β0 | 4β1 | 2β3 | 2β0 | 3β3 | 1β4 | 2β0 | 3β2 | 0β6 | 0β2 | 1β1 | 0β2 | 0β2 | 1β5 | 2β4 | 2β3 | 1β5 | β | 4β1 | 1β1 |
Utah | 0β2 | 1β1 | 0β2 | 1β1 | 5β1 | 4β2 | 2β0 | 1β4 | 2β4 | 1β1 | 1β5 | 2β3 | 0β2 | 1β1 | 0β2 | 0β2 | 0β5 | 3β2 | 1β5 | 2β3 | 1β4 | β | 0β2 |
Washington | 4β1 | 1β5 | 1β5 | 2β4 | 2β0 | 2β0 | 5β1 | 1β1 | 2β0 | 2β4 | 1β1 | 1β1 | 1β4 | 3β3 | 2β4 | 2β4 | 1β1 | 0β2 | 1β1 | 2β0 | 1β1 | 2β0 | β |
Game logβ»
Regular seasonβ»
1980β81 game log: 62β20 (Home: 35β6; Road: 27β14) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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October: 6β3 (Home: 2β1; Road: 4β2)
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November: 9β4 (Home: 7β1; Road: 2β3)
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December: 14β1 (Home: 7β1; Road: 7β0)
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January: 14β2 (Home: 10β0; Road: 4β2) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
February: 8β5 (Home: 3β0; Road: 5β5)
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March: 11β5 (Home: 6β3; Road: 5β2)
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1981 regular season schedule |
Playoffsβ»
1981 playoff game log | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Conference Semifinals: 4β0 (home: 2β0; road: 2β0)
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Conference Finals: 4β3 (home: 3β1; road: 1β2)
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NBA Finals: 4β2 (home: 2β1; road: 2β1)
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1981 schedule |
Player statsβ»
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 winnersβ»
- 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
Referencesβ»
- ^ "Archived copy". NBA.com. Archived from the original on March 21, 2010. Retrieved April 15, 2009.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)