1983–84 Boston Celtics season
| 1983–84 Boston Celtics season | |
|---|---|
|
NBA Champions | |
|
Conference Champions | |
|
Division Champions | |
| Fifteenth NBA Championship | |
| Head coach | K. C. Jones |
| General manager | Red Auerbach |
| Owner(s) | Don Gaston, Alan N. Cohen, Paul Dupee |
| Arena |
Boston Garden Hartford Civic Center |
| Results | |
| Record | 62–20 (.756) |
| Place |
Division: 1st (Atlantic) Conference: 1st (Eastern) |
| Playoff finish | NBA Champions |
|
Stats @ Basketball-Reference.com | |
| Local media | |
| Television | SportsChannel New England, WBZ, WTXX |
| Radio | WRKO, WTIC |
The 1983–84 Boston Celtics were champions of the National Basketball Association (NBA) led by regular season and finals MVP Larry Bird.
Offseason
NBA Draft
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | School/Club Team |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 21 | Greg Kite | Center |  United States |
BYU |
Regular season
Season standings
| Atlantic Division | W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| y-Boston Celtics | 62 | 20 | .756 | – | 33–8 | 29–12 | 13–11 |
| x-Philadelphia 76ers | 52 | 30 | .634 | 10 | 32–9 | 20–21 | 15–9 |
| x-New York Knicks | 47 | 35 | .573 | 15 | 29–12 | 18–23 | 12–12 |
| x-New Jersey Nets | 45 | 37 | .549 | 17 | 29–12 | 16–25 | 12–12 |
| x-Washington Bullets | 35 | 47 | .427 | 27 | 25–16 | 10–31 | 8–16 |
| # | Eastern Conference | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team | W | L | PCT | GB | |
| 1 | z-Boston Celtics | 62 | 20 | .756 | – |
| 2 | y-Milwaukee Bucks | 50 | 32 | .610 | 12 |
| 3 | x-Philadelphia 76ers | 52 | 30 | .634 | 10 |
| 4 | x-Detroit Pistons | 49 | 33 | .598 | 13 |
| 5 | x-New York Knicks | 47 | 35 | .573 | 15 |
| 6 | x-New Jersey Nets | 45 | 37 | .549 | 17 |
| 7 | x-Atlanta Hawks | 40 | 42 | .488 | 22 |
| 8 | x-Washington Bullets | 35 | 47 | .427 | 27 |
| 9 | Cleveland Cavaliers | 28 | 54 | .341 | 34 |
| 10 | Chicago Bulls | 27 | 55 | .329 | 35 |
| 11 | Indiana Pacers | 26 | 56 | .317 | 36 |
- z – clinched division title
- y – clinched division title
- x – clinched playoff spot
Record vs. opponents
| 1983-84 NBA Records | |||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | — | 0–5 | 4–2 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 3–3 | 4–1 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–2 |
| Boston | 5–0 | — | 5–0 | 6–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 5–1 | 4–2 | 3–3 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–2 |
| Chicago | 2–4 | 0–5 | — | 2–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–4 |
| Cleveland | 3–3 | 0–6 | 4–2 | — | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 2–3 | 1–5 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 4–1 |
| Dallas | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | — | 4–2 | 0–2 | 4–1 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 3–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 2–3 | 4–2 | 4–1 | 1–4 | 4–2 | 0–2 |
| Denver | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–4 | — | 1–1 | 2–3 | 4–2 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 1–4 | 3–3 | 3–2 | 2–3 | 3–3 | 0–2 |
| Detroit | 4–2 | 2–4 | 5–1 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | — | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 1–4 | 4–2 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 |
| Golden State | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–4 | 3–2 | 1–1 | — | 2–3 | 2–0 | 4–1 | 3–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–5 | 2–4 | 3–2 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 1–4 | 2–0 |
| Houston | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 3–2 | — | 1–1 | 2–4 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–3 | 1–4 | 2–4 | 2–3 | 3–2 | 1–5 | 0–2 |
| Indiana | 2–4 | 1–5 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | — | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–5 | 1–5 | 2–4 | 0–5 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–4 |
| Kansas City | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 1–4 | 4–2 | 2–0 | — | 0–5 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–3 | 2–3 | 5–1 | 3–2 | 1–4 | 3–3 | 2–0 |
| Los Angeles | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–3 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 5–0 | — | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 5–1 | 2–3 | 4–2 | 3–3 | 4–1 | 1–1 |
| Milwaukee | 3–3 | 1–5 | 4–2 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | — | 4–2 | 4–1 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 5–1 |
| New Jersey | 3–3 | 2–4 | 4–2 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–4 | — | 3–3 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–2 |
| New York | 1–4 | 3–3 | 4–1 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–4 | 3–3 | — | 2–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–2 |
| Philadelphia | 1–5 | 4–2 | 3–2 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 5–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 3–3 | 4–2 | — | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–2 |
| Phoenix | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 3–2 | 0–2 | 5–1 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 3–3 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | — | 2–4 | 5–0 | 4–2 | 2–4 | 1–4 | 2–0 |
| Portland | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–2 | — | 4–1 | 4–2 | 4–2 | 1–4 | 1–1 |
| San Antonio | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 1–5 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–5 | 1–4 | — | 4–1 | 2–3 | 4–2 | 1–1 |
| San Diego | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–4 | 2–3 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 1–4 | — | 3–3 | 2–3 | 1–1 |
| Seattle | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 2–4 | 3–2 | 3–3 | — | 1–4 | 1–1 |
| Utah | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–4 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 4–1 | 4–1 | 2–4 | 3–2 | 4–1 | — | 1–1 |
| Washington | 2–4 | 2–4 | 4–2 | 1–4 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 4–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–5 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | — |
Player stats
Note: GP= Games played; REB= Rebounds; AST= Assists; STL = Steals; BLK = Blocks; PTS = Points; AVG = Scoring Average
| Player | GP | REB | AST | STL | BLK | PTS | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Larry Bird | 79 | 796 | 520 | 144 | 69 | 1908 | 24.2 |
| Robert Parish | 80 | 857 | 139 | 55 | 116 | 1520 | 19.0 |
| Kevin McHale | 82 | 610 | 104 | 23 | 126 | 1511 | 18.4 |
| Dennis Johnson | 80 | 280 | 338 | 93 | 57 | 1053 | 13.2 |
| Cedric Maxwell | 80 | 461 | 205 | 63 | 24 | 955 | 11.9 |
| Gerald Henderson | 78 | 147 | 300 | 117 | 14 | 908 | 11.6 |
| Danny Ainge | 71 | 116 | 162 | 41 | 4 | 384 | 5.4 |
| Scott Wedman | 68 | 139 | 67 | 27 | 7 | 327 | 4.8 |
| Quinn Buckner | 79 | 137 | 214 | 84 | 3 | 324 | 4.1 |
| M.L. Carr | 60 | 75 | 49 | 17 | 4 | 185 | 3.1 |
| Greg Kite | 35 | 62 | 7 | 1 | 5 | 65 | 1.9 |
| Carlos Clark | 31 | 17 | 17 | 8 | 1 | 54 | 1.7 |
Playoffs
Eastern Conference First Round
Boston defeats the Washington Bullets three games to one (3-1) in a best of five series.
Eastern Conference SemiFinals
Boston defeats the New York Knicks four games to three (4-3) in a best of seven series.
Eastern Conference Finals
Boston defeats the Milwaukee Bucks four games to one (4-1) in a best of seven series.
NBA finals
Game One
The Lakers opened the series with a 115-109 victory at Boston Garden.
Game Two
In Game 2, the Lakers led 113-111 with 18 seconds left when Gerald Henderson stole a James Worthy pass to score a game tying layup and the Celtics eventually prevailed in overtime 124-121.
Game Three
In Game 3, the Lakers raced to an easy 137-104 victory as Magic Johnson dished out 21 assists. After the game, Larry Bird said his team played like "sissies" in an attempt to light a fire under his teammates.
Game Four
In Game 4, the Lakers had a five-point lead with less than a minute to play, but made several execution errors as the Celtics tied the game and then came away with a 129-125 victory in overtime. The game was also marked by Celtic forward Kevin McHale's takedown of Laker forward Kurt Rambis on a breakaway layup which triggered the physical aspect of the rivalry. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar would go after Larry Bird later on in the third quarter, and 1981 Finals MVP Cedric Maxwell further antagonized the Lakers by following a missed James Worthy free throw by crossing the lane with his hands around his own neck, symbolizing that Worthy was "choking" under pressure. Also, Bird pushed Michael Cooper to the baseline following the inbound play during the second quarter.
Game Five
In Game 5, the Celtics took a 3-2 series lead as Larry Bird scored 34 points. The game was known as the "Heat Game", as it was played under 97-degree heat, and without any air conditioning, at Boston Garden. The Celtics did not warm up with their sweat pants on because of extreme heat, and oxygen tanks were provided to give air to exhausted players.
Game Six
In Game 6, the Lakers evened the series with a 119-108 victory. In the game the Lakers answered the Celtics' rough tactics when Laker forward James Worthy shoved Cedric Maxwell into a basket support. After the game a Laker fan threw a beer at Celtics guard M.L. Carr as he left the floor, causing him to label the series "all-out-war."
Game Seven
In Game 7, the heat that was an issue in Game 5 was not so bad (indoor temperatures hovered around 91 degrees during the game, due to additional fans being brought in to try to cool the air). The Celtics were led by Cedric Maxwell who had 24 points, eight rebounds and eight assists as they came away with a 111-102 victory. In the game the Lakers rallied from a 14-point-deficit to three with one minute remaining when Cedric Maxwell knocked the ball away from Magic Johnson. Dennis Johnson responded by sinking two free throws to seal the victory. Larry Bird was named MVP of the series.
The series was the eighth time in NBA history that the Celtics and Lakers met in the NBA finals, with Boston winning each time.
Award winners
- Larry Bird, NBA Free Throw Percentage Leader (88.8%)
- Larry Bird, NBA Most Valuable Player
- Larry Bird, NBA Finals Most Valuable Player
- Larry Bird, All-NBA First Team
- Kevin McHale, Sixth Man of the Year Award