1979–80 Boston Celtics season

NBA basketball team season August 2023 March 2026 February 2024 Boston Celtics 1980 yes 61 21 Atlantic 1 1 Bill Fitch Red Auerbach Harry T. Mangurian Jr. Boston GardenHartford Civic Center Eastern Conference finals(lost to 76ers 1–4) BOS WBZ-TV WBZ 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 4–1.1980 NBA Eastern Conference Finals - 76ers vs. Celtics https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/1980-nba-eastern-conference-finals-76ers-vs-celtics.html Basketball-Reference.com Basketball Reference 2 February 2024 enPapanek John THEN THE CELTICS BLINKED https://vault.si.com/vault/1980/05/05/then-the-celtics-blinked-in-the-eyeball-to-eyeball-cockpit-of-the-nba-playoffs-those-jones-boys-caldwell-below-and-bobby-caged-larry-bird-as-philly-triumphed-in-five-games https://web.archive.org/web/20200527165023/https://vault.si.com/vault/1980/05/05/then-the-celtics-blinked-in-the-eyeball-to-eyeball-cockpit-of-the-nba-playoffs-those-jones-boys-caldwell-below-and-bobby-caged-larry-bird-as-philly-triumphed-in-five-games dead May 27, 2020 2 February 2024 Sports Illustrated 5 May 1980 Draft picks 1979 NBA draft Round Pick Player Position Nationality College 3 53 Wayne Kreklow SGUnited States Drake 3 61 Ernesto Malcolm SG Briar Cliff 4 68 Nick Galis SGUnited States Seton Hall 5 90 Jimmy AllenUnited States New Haven 7 130 Steve Castellan PFUnited States Virginia 8 149 Glenn Sudhop CUnited States North Carolina State 9 168 Kevin SinnettUnited States Navy 10 186 Alton Byrd PGUnited States Columbia Forward Larry Bird was selected in the previous year's draft, then played his senior season at Indiana State Roster Boston Celtics 1979–80 7 Nate Archibald G 6 1 150 1948–09–02 UTEP 33 Larry Bird F 6 9 220 1956–12–07 Indiana State 30 M. L. Carr F 6 6 205 1951–01–09 Guilford 12 Don Chaney G 6 5 210 1946–03–22 Houston 18 Dave Cowens C/F 6 9 230 1948–10–25 Florida State 45 Eric Fernsten C/F 6 10 205 1953–11–01 San Francisco 42 Chris Ford G 6 5 190 1949–01–11 Villanova 43 Gerald Henderson G 6 2 175 1956–01–16 VCU 32 Jeff Judkins F 6 6 185 1956–03–23 Utah 44 Pete Maravich G 6 5 197 1947–06–22 LSU 31 Cedric Maxwell F 6 8 205 1955–11–21 Charlotte 53 Rick Robey C 6 11 230 1956–01–30 Kentucky Bill Fitch K. C. Jones Jimmy Rodgers https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/BOS/1980.html January 22, 1980 Regular season Season standings BOS BOS Game log Regular season Boston Celtics 1980 #006400 #FFFFFF Total: 61–21 (home: 35–6; road: 26–15) Boston Celtics October yes #FFFFFF #006400 3 0 4 2 |- | 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 Boston Celtics November #FFFFFF #006400 8 0 2 2 |- | 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 Boston Celtics December #FFFFFF #006400 5 1 7 4 |- | 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 Boston Celtics January #FFFFFF #006400 7 3 4 1 |- | 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 Boston Celtics February #FFFFFF #006400 6 0 3 2 |- | 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 Boston Celtics March #FFFFFF #006400 6 2 6 4 |- | 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 BOS 1980 Playoffs Boston Celtics 1980 #006400 #FFFFFF yes Boston Celtics #008040 white Conference semifinals yes yes no 2 0 2 0 |- | 1 | April 9 | Houston | W 119–101 | Chris Ford (19) | Cedric Maxwell (12) | Tiny Archibald (9) | Boston Garden15,320 | 1–0 |- | 2 | April 11 | Houston | W 95–75 | Larry Bird (14) | Cedric Maxwell (10) | Tiny Archibald (7) | Boston Garden15,320 | 2–0 |- | 3 | April 13 | @ Houston | W 100–81 | Tiny Archibald (20) | Cedric Maxwell (12) | Tiny Archibald (10) | The Summit14,243 | 3–0 |- | 4 | April 14 | @ Houston | W 138–121 | Larry Bird (34) | Larry Bird (10) | Tiny Archibald (10) | The Summit13,106 | 4–0 |- Boston Celtics #008040 white Conference finals yes no 1 2 0 2 |- | 1 | April 18 | Philadelphia | L 93–96 | Larry Bird (27) | Dave Cowens (10) | Tiny Archibald (7) | Boston Garden15,320 | 0–1 |- | 2 | April 20 | Philadelphia | W 96–90 | Larry Bird (31) | Cedric Maxwell (15) | Tiny Archibald (8) | Boston Garden15,320 | 1–1 |- | 3 | April 23 | @ Philadelphia | L 97–99 | Larry Bird (22) | Larry Bird (21) | Tiny Archibald (7) | Spectrum18,276 | 1–2 |- | 4 | April 25 | @ Philadelphia | L 90–102 | Larry Bird (19) | Larry Bird (13) | Gerald Henderson (6) | Spectrum18,276 | 1–3 |- | 5 | April 27 | Philadelphia | L 94–105 | Archibald, Cowens (22) | Larry Bird (14) | Tiny Archibald (9) | Boston Garden15,320 | 1–4 |- BOS yes 1980 References See also 1979–80 NBA season Category:Boston Celtics seasons Boston Celtics Boston Celtics Boston Celtics Celtics Celtics