2006–07 Boston Celtics season

Season of National Basketball Association team the Boston Celtics August 2023 March 2026 Boston Celtics 2007 24 58 atlantic 5 15 Doc Rivers Chris Wallace Boston Basketball Partners TD Banknorth Garden FSN New England WRKO Did not qualify BOS The 2006–07 Boston Celtics season was the 61st season of the Boston Celtics in the National Basketball Association (NBA). The Celtics finished 24–58, the second-worst in franchise history after the 15–67 record in 1996–97. It was also the second-worst record in the league in 2006–07, only marginally in front of the Memphis Grizzlies. The season was overshadowed by many injuries, in particular the injury to All-Star Paul Pierce, which caused him to miss seven weeks, and the deaths of Celtics legends Red Auerbach and Dennis Johnson. Key dates June 28: The 2006 NBA draft took place in New York City, New York. July 1: The free agency period started. October 10: The pre-season started with a win against the Cleveland Cavaliers. October 28: Red Auerbach died at the age of 89 due to a heart attack. November 1: The regular season started with a loss to the New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets. December 20: Paul Pierce was injured in a loss to the Golden State Warriors. January 10: Tony Allen was injured in a loss to the Indiana Pacers, which caused him to miss the rest of the season. February 9: Paul Pierce returned from his injury in a loss to the New Jersey Nets. February 14: The Celtics ended a franchise record 18-game losing streak with a win against the Milwaukee Bucks. February 22: Dennis Johnson died at the age of 52 due to a heart attack. April 18: The season concluded with a loss to the Detroit Pistons. Summary Just days before the start of the season, the Celtics were dealt an emotional blow when their patriarch Red Auerbach died at the age of 89. When the season started, the days of Auerbach seemed like a distant memory as the Celtics lost six of their first seven games en route to a 5–13 start. In December, the Celtics improved their play as they embarked on a 5-game winning streak. However, after losing All-Star Paul Pierce to a stress reaction in his left foot on December 20, the Celtics crumbled, winning just 3 of their next 42 games, including a franchise record 18-game losing streak that lasted from January 5 to February 14, and plunging into last place. In between the losing streak, the Celtics lost Tony Allen for the remainder of the season,Celtics guard Allen out for season with knee injury who tore both the ACL and MCL on an uncontested dunk attempt on January 10.Tony Allen Interview https://web.archive.org/web/20110713005218/http://sports.ign.com/articles/788/788280p1.html 2011-07-13 , May 14, 2007 Adding to the pain was the death of another Celtics legend, Dennis Johnson, who suffered a heart attack on February 22 at the age of 52 while coaching the Celtics NBDL affiliate, the Austin Toros. After Pierce had returned in early February after spending 7 weeks on the injured list, the Celtics played better and won 5 of 6 games in late February and early March. A few weeks later on St. Patrick's Day, the Celtics stunned the eventual NBA champions San Antonio Spurs 91–85 on the road, making it the first time the Celtics won against Tim Duncan, whom they missed out on during the 1997 Draft Lottery. But nagging injuries would continue to hamper Pierce, who sat out all of April, as the Celtics finished with a horrible 24–58 record that earned them the worst record in the Eastern Conference and 2nd worst record in the league, only marginally in front of the Memphis Grizzlies. Afterwards, the Celtics turned their focus to the draft lottery, where they had good chances of landing a Top 2 pick, allowing them to select either Greg Oden or Kevin Durant. However, even the draft lottery came out all wrong for the Celtics as they were assigned the 5th overall selection, which seemed to guarantee another disappointing season. Draft picks 2006 NBA draft Round Pick Player Position Nationality College 1 7 Randy Foye (traded to Portland) SG Villanova Roster Boston Celtics 2006–07 #00703C white #C5B358 #000000 42 Tony Allen basketball SG 6 4 213 1982–01–11 Oklahoma State 4 Ryan Gomes PF 6 7 250 1982–09–01 Providence 5 Gerald Green SG 6 8 200 1986–01–26 Gulf Shores Academy (TX) 7 Al Jefferson C 6 10 256 1985–01–04 Prentiss HS (MS) 41 Michael Olowokandi C 7 0 270 1975–04–03 Pacific 43 Kendrick Perkins C 6 10 280 1984–11–10 Clifton J. Ozen HS (TX) 34 Paul Pierce SF 6 6 230 1977–10–13 Kansas 51 Kevinn Pinkney PF 6 10 245 1983–10–20 Nevada 0 Leon Powe PF 6 8 240 1984–01–22 University of California, Berkeley 50 Theo Ratliff C 6 10 235 1973–04–17 Wyoming 12 Allan Ray SG 6 2 190 1984–06–17 Villanova 9 Rajon Rondo PG 6 1 171 1986–02–22 University of Kentucky 44 Brian Scalabrine PF 6 9 235 1978–03–18 USC 55 Wally Szczerbiak PF 6 7 244 1977–03–05 Miami (OH) 30 Sebastian Telfair PG 6 0 160 1985–06–09 Lincoln HS (NY) 13 Delonte West PG 6 4 180 1983–07–26 St. Joseph's Doc Rivers Tony Brown Kevin Eastman Armond Hill Clifford Ray Dave Wohl https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/BOS/2007.html 2007-04-14 Regular season Standings BOS BOS Game log Player statistics Regular season Boston Celtics |- | Allen, Tony Tony Allen | 33 || 18 || 24.4 || style="Boston Celtics;"| .514 || .242 || .784 || 3.8 || 1.7 || 1.5 || .4 || 11.5 |- | Gomes, Ryan Ryan Gomes | 73 || style="Boston Celtics;"| 60 || 31.2 || .467 || .381 || .811 || 5.6 || 1.6 || .7 || .2 || 12.1 |- | Green, Gerald Gerald Green | style="Boston Celtics;"| 81 || 26 || 22.0 || .419 || .368 || .805 || 2.6 || 1.0 || .5 || .3 || 10.4 |- | Jefferson, Al Al Jefferson | 69 || style="Boston Celtics;"| 60 || 33.6 || style="Boston Celtics;"| .514 || .000 || .681 || style="Boston Celtics;"| 11.0 || 1.3 || .7 || style="Boston Celtics;"| 1.5 || 16.0 |- | Olowokandi, Michael Michael Olowokandi | 24 || 0 || 9.8 || .413 || . || .667 || 2.0 || .2 || .3 || .5 || 1.7 |- | Perkins, Kendrick Kendrick Perkins | 72 || 53 || 21.9 || .491 || .000 || .600 || 5.2 || 1.3 || .3 || 1.3 || 4.5 |- | Pierce, Paul Paul Pierce | 47 || 46 || style="Boston Celtics;"| 37.0 || .439 || .389 || .796 || 5.9 || 4.1 || 1.0 || .3 || style="Boston Celtics;"| 25.0 |- | Pinkney, Kevinn Kevinn Pinkney | 6 || 0 || 16.7 || .444 || style="Boston Celtics;"| .500 || .667 || 2.5 || .8 || .5 || .5 || 5.2 |- | Powe, Leon Leon Powe | 63 || 2 || 11.4 || .446 || .000 || .736 || 3.4 || .2 || .2 || .3 || 4.2 |- | Ratliff, Theo Theo Ratliff | 2 || 2 || 22.0 || .333 || . || .750 || 3.5 || .0 || .5 || style="Boston Celtics;"| 1.5 || 2.5 |- | Ray, Allan Allan Ray | 47 || 5 || 15.1 || .386 || .414 || .764 || 1.5 || .9 || .4 || .1 || 6.2 |- | Rondo, Rajon Rajon Rondo | 78 || 25 || 23.5 || .418 || .207 || .647 || 3.7 || 3.8 || style="Boston Celtics;"| 1.6 || .1 || 6.4 |- | Scalabrine, Brian Brian Scalabrine | 54 || 17 || 19.0 || .403 || .400 || .783 || 1.9 || 1.1 || .4 || .3 || 4.0 |- | Szczerbiak, Wally Wally Szczerbiak | 32 || 19 || 28.1 || .415 || .415 || style="Boston Celtics;"| .897 || 3.1 || 1.7 || .6 || .1 || 15.0 |- | Telfair, Sebastian Sebastian Telfair | 78 || 30 || 20.2 || .371 || .289 || .818 || 1.4 || 2.8 || .6 || .1 || 6.1 |- | West, Delonte Delonte West | 69 || 47 || 32.2 || .427 || .365 || .853 || 3.0 || style="Boston Celtics;"| 4.4 || 1.1 || .5 || 12.2 |} Transactions Trades June 28, 2006 To Boston Celtics Theo Ratliff, Sebastian Telfair and 2008 2nd-round pick To Portland Trail Blazers Dan Dickau, Raef LaFrentz, and the 7th pick in the 2006 NBA draft (Randy Foye) June 28, 2006 To Boston Celtics Brian Grant, and the 21st pick in the 2006 NBA draft (Rajon Rondo) To Phoenix Suns Future 1st-round pick June 28, 2006 To Boston Celtics The 49th pick in the 2006 NBA draft (Leon Powe) To Denver Nuggets Future 2nd-round pick October 13, 2006 To Boston Celtics Luke Jackson, and cash considerations To Cleveland Cavaliers Dwayne Jones Free agents 52% Additions Player Signed Former team Allan Ray July 6 Miami Heat Kevin Pittsnogle July 26 West Virginia Mountaineers Michael Olowokandi October 2 Houston Rockets Kevinn Pinkney April 4 Bakersfield Jam Subtractions Player Left New team Orien Greene June 30 Boston Celtics Kevin Pittsnogle October 20 Pittsburgh Xplosion Luke Jackson October 26 Seattle SuperSonics Brian Grant October 26 Chicago Bulls Kevinn Pinkney April 18 Pallacanestro Biella See also 2006–07 NBA season References External links 2006–07 Boston Celtics season at Basketball Reference Category:Boston Celtics seasons Boston Celtics Boston Celtics Boston Celtics Celtics Celtics