1980–81 Boston Celtics season
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.
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 @ Basketball-Reference.com | |
Local media | |
Television | WBZ-TV, WATR |
Radio | WBZ Radio, WTIC |
![](../I/Boston_Celtics_at_Dallas_Mavericks_1981-03-03_(ticket).jpg.webp)
Offseason
NBA draft
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
1980–81 Boston Celtics roster | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Players | Coaches | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Regular season
Season standings
Atlantic Division | 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 |
# | Eastern Conference | ||||
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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
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
Regular season
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
1981 playoff game log: 12–5 (Home: 7–2; Road: 5–3) | |
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Eastern Conference Semifinals: 4–0 (Home: 2–0; Road: 2–0)
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Eastern 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 playoff schedule |
Player stats
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 |
Playoffs
Eastern Conference First Round
The Celtics have a first-round bye.
Eastern Conference Semifinals
Boston defeats the Chicago Bulls four games to none (4-0) in a best of seven series.
(1) Boston Celtics vs. (5) Chicago Bulls: Celtics win series 4–0
- Game 1 @ Boston (April 5): Boston 121, Chicago 109
- Game 2 @ Boston (April 7): Boston 106, Chicago 97
- Game 3 @ Chicago (April 10): Boston 113, Chicago 107
- Game 4 @ Chicago (April 12): Boston 109, Chicago 103
Last Playoff Meeting: Not available (first playoff series)
Eastern Conference Finals
Boston defeats the Philadelphia 76ers four games to three (4-3) in a best of seven series after making a comeback when they were losing 3-1.
(1) Boston Celtics vs. (3) Philadelphia 76ers: Celtics win series 4–3
- Game 1 @ Boston (April 21): Philadelphia 105, Boston 104 (Andrew Toney hits the game-winning free throws with 2 seconds left)
- Game 2 @ Boston (April 22): Boston 118, Philadelphia 99
- Game 3 @ Philadelphia (April 24): Philadelphia 110, Boston 100
- Game 4 @ Philadelphia (April 26): Philadelphia 107, Boston 105
- Game 5 @ Boston (April 29): Boston 111, Philadelphia 109
- Game 6 @ Philadelphia (May 1): Boston 100, Philadelphia 98
- Game 7 @ Boston (May 3): Boston 91, Philadelphia 90
Last Playoff Meeting: 1980 Eastern Conference Finals (Philadelphia won 4-1)
NBA Finals
(E1) Boston Celtics vs. (W6) Houston Rockets: Celtics win series 4–2
- Game 1 @ Boston (May 5): Boston 98, Houston 95 (Larry Bird's famous play of following a missed jumper, jumping for the rebound, and switching ball from his right to left hand as his momentum was carrying him out of bounds as he scored.)
- Game 2 @ Boston (May 7): Houston 92, Boston 90
- Game 3 @ Houston (May 9): Boston 94, Houston 71
- Game 4 @ Houston (May 10): Houston 91, Boston 86
- Game 5 @ Boston (May 12): Boston 109, Houston 80
- Game 6 @ Houston (May 14): Boston 102, Houston 91
Last Playoff Meeting: 1980 Eastern Conference Semifinals (Boston won 4-0)
Award winners
- 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
- "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2010-03-21. Retrieved 2009-04-15.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)