1979–80 Boston Celtics season

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.^[1][2]

1979–80 Boston Celtics season
Division champions
Head coach	Bill Fitch
General manager	Red Auerbach
Owner(s)	Harry T. Mangurian Jr.
Arena	Boston Garden Hartford Civic Center
Results
Record	61–21 (.744)
Place	Division: 1st (Atlantic) Conference: 1st (Eastern)
Playoff finish	Eastern Conference finals (lost to 76ers 1–4)
Stats at Basketball Reference
Local media
Television	WBZ-TV
Radio	WBZ
< 1978–79 1980–81 >

Draft picks

Main article: 1979 NBA draft

Round	Pick	Player	Position	Nationality	College
3	53	Wayne Kreklow	SG	United States	Drake
3	61	Ernesto Malcolm	SG	Panama	Briar Cliff
4	68	Nick Galis	SG	United States	Seton Hall
5	90	Jimmy Allen		United States	New Haven
7	130	Steve Castellan	PF	United States	Virginia
8	149	Glenn Sudhop	C	United States	NC State
9	168	Kevin Sinnett		United States	Navy
10	186	Alton Byrd	PG	United States	Columbia

• Forward Larry Bird was selected in the previous year's draft, then played his senior season at Indiana State

Roster

1979–80 Boston Celtics roster

Players

Coaches

Pos. No. Player Height Weight DOB From G 7 Nate Archibald 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 150 lb (68 kg) 1948–09–02 UTEP F 33 Larry Bird 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1956–12–07 Indiana State F 30 M. L. Carr 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 1951–01–09 Guilford G 12 Don Chaney 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1946–03–22 Houston F/C 18 Dave Cowens 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1948–10–25 Florida State F/C 45 Eric Fernsten 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 1953–11–01 San Francisco G 42 Chris Ford 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1949–01–11 Villanova G 43 Gerald Henderson 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1956–01–16 VCU F 32 Jeff Judkins 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1956–03–23 Utah G 44 Pete Maravich 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 197 lb (89 kg) 1947–06–22 LSU F 31 Cedric Maxwell 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 1955–11–21 Charlotte C 53 Rick Robey 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1956–01–30 Kentucky

Head coach Bill Fitch Assistant(s) K. C. Jones Jimmy Rodgers Legend (DP) Unsigned draft pick (FA) Free agent (S) Suspended Injured Roster Updated: January 22, 1980

Regular season

Season standings

Atlantic Division v t e	W	L	PCT	GB	Home	Road	Div
y-Boston Celtics	61	21	.744	–	35–6	26–15	17–7
x-Philadelphia 76ers	59	23	.720	2	36–5	23–18	19–5
x-Washington Bullets	39	43	.476	22	24–17	15–26	9–15
New York Knicks	39	43	.476	22	25–16	14–27	8–16
New Jersey Nets	34	48	.415	27	22–19	12–29	7–17

#	Eastern Conference v t e
	Team	W	L	PCT	GB
1	z-Boston Celtics	61	21	.744	–
2	y-Atlanta Hawks	50	32	.610	11
3	x-Philadelphia 76ers	59	23	.720	2
4	x-Houston Rockets	41	41	.500	20
5	x-San Antonio Spurs	41	41	.500	20
6	x-Washington Bullets	39	43	.476	22
7	New York Knicks	39	43	.476	22
8	Cleveland Cavaliers	37	45	.451	24
8	Indiana Pacers	37	45	.451	24
10	New Jersey Nets	34	48	.415	27
11	Detroit Pistons	16	66	.195	44

Record vs. opponents

1979–80 NBA records
Team	ATL	BOS	CHI	CLE	DEN	DET	GSW	HOU	IND	KCK	LAL	MIL	NYN	NYK	PHI	PHO	POR	SAS	SDC	SEA	UTA	WAS
Atlanta	—	2–4	1–1	4–2	1–1	6–0	2–0	2–4	4–2	0–2	1–1	1–1	4–2	4–2	4–2	1–1	2–0	5–1	1–1	0–2	2–0	3–3
Boston	4–2	—	2–0	4–2	2–0	6–0	2–0	6–0	4–2	1–1	0–2	2–0	5–1	5–1	3–3	1–1	2–0	4–2	2–0	0–2	2–0	4–2
Chicago	1–1	0–2	—	2–0	2–4	1–1	4–2	1–1	0–2	3–3	1–5	1–5	1–1	0–2	1–1	1–5	3–3	0–2	4–2	2–4	2–4	0–2
Cleveland	2–4	2–4	0–2	—	1–1	6–0	2–0	2–4	2–4	2–0	1–1	0–2	3–3	3–3	1–5	1–1	0–2	4–2	1–1	0–2	1–1	3–3
Denver	1–1	0–2	4–2	1–1	—	1–1	3–3	1–1	1–1	0–6	1–5	3–3	1–1	1–1	0–2	1–5	2–4	1–1	3–3	1–5	3–3	1–1
Detroit	0–6	0–6	1–1	0–6	1–1	—	1–1	1–5	1–5	0–2	0–2	1–1	2–4	2–4	1–5	0–2	0–2	2–4	0–2	0–2	1–1	2–4
Golden State	0–2	0–2	2–4	0–2	3–3	1–1	—	1–1	1–1	3–3	1–5	0–6	2–0	0–2	0–2	2–4	2–4	0–2	3–3	0–6	3–3	0–2
Houston	4–2	0–6	1–1	4–2	1–1	5–1	1–1	—	4–2	0–2	0–2	1–1	3–3	3–3	2–4	1–1	1–1	3–3	2–0	1–1	2–0	2–4
Indiana	2–4	2–4	2–0	4–2	1–1	5–1	1–1	2–4	—	1–1	0–2	0–2	2–4	4–2	1–5	0–2	2–0	2–4	1–1	0–2	1–1	4–2
Kansas City	2–0	1–1	3–3	0–2	6–0	2–0	3–3	2–0	1–1	—	2–4	3–3	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–5	1–5	1–1	5–1	3–3	6–0	2–0
Los Angeles	1–1	2–0	5–1	1–1	5–1	2–0	5–1	2–0	2–0	4–2	—	3–3	2–0	2–0	1–1	3–3	2–4	2–0	5–1	4–2	6–0	1–1
Milwaukee	1–1	0–2	5–1	2–0	3–3	1–1	6–0	1–1	2–0	3–3	3–3	—	1–1	1–1	0–2	4–2	5–1	0–2	4–2	2–4	4–2	1–1
New Jersey	2–4	1–5	1–1	3–3	1–1	4–2	0–2	3–3	4–2	1–1	0–2	1–1	—	2–4	1–5	1–1	0–2	3–3	1–1	1–1	1–1	3–3
New York	2–4	1–5	2–0	3–3	1–1	4–2	2–0	3–3	2–4	1–1	0–2	1–1	4–2	—	0–6	2–0	2–0	4–2	1–1	0–2	1–1	3–3
Philadelphia	2–4	3–3	1–1	5–1	2–0	5–1	2–0	4–2	5–1	1–1	1–1	2–0	5–1	6–0	—	1–1	2–0	4–2	1–1	1–1	1–1	5–1
Phoenix	1–1	1–1	5–1	1–1	5–1	2–0	4–2	1–1	2–0	5–1	3–3	2–4	1–1	0–2	1–1	—	6–0	1–1	2–4	4–2	6–0	2–0
Portland	0–2	0–2	3–3	2–0	4–2	2–0	4–2	1–1	0–2	5–1	4–2	1–5	2–0	0–2	0–2	0–6	—	1–1	4–2	1–5	3–3	1–1
San Antonio	1–5	2–4	2–0	2–4	1–1	4–2	2–0	3–3	4–2	1–1	0–2	2–0	3–3	2–4	2–4	1–1	1–1	—	2–0	1–1	1–1	4–2
San Diego	1–1	0–2	2–4	1–1	3–3	2–0	3–3	0–2	1–1	1–5	1–5	2–4	1–1	1–1	1–1	4–2	2–4	0–2	—	3–3	5–1	1–1
Seattle	2–0	2–0	4–2	2–0	5–1	2–0	6–0	1–1	2–0	3–3	2–4	4–2	1–1	2–0	1–1	2–4	5–1	1–1	3–3	—	5–1	1–1
Utah	0–2	0–2	4–2	1–1	3–3	1–1	3–3	0–2	1–1	0–6	0–6	2–4	1–1	1–1	1–1	0–6	3–3	1–1	1–5	1–5	—	0–2
Washington	3–3	2–4	2–0	3–3	1–1	4–2	2–0	4–2	2–4	0–2	1–1	1–1	3–3	3–3	1–5	0–2	1–1	2–4	1–1	1–1	2–0	—

Game log

Regular season

1979–80 game log Total: 61–21 (home: 35–6; road: 26–15)
October: 7–2 (home: 3–0; road: 4–2) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 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
November: 10–2 (home: 8–0; road: 2–2) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 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
December: 12–5 (home: 5–1; road: 7–4) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 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
January: 11–4 (home: 7–3; road: 4–1) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 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
February: 9–2 (home: 6–0; road: 3–2) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 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
March: 12–6 (home: 6–2; road: 6–4) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Record 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
1979–80 schedule

Playoffs

1980 playoff game log
Conference semifinals: 4–0 (home: 2–0; road: 2–0) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Series 1 April 9 Houston W 119–101 Chris Ford (19) Cedric Maxwell (12) Tiny Archibald (9) Boston Garden 15,320 1–0 2 April 11 Houston W 95–75 Larry Bird (14) Cedric Maxwell (10) Tiny Archibald (7) Boston Garden 15,320 2–0 3 April 13 @ Houston W 100–81 Tiny Archibald (20) Cedric Maxwell (12) Tiny Archibald (10) The Summit 14,243 3–0 4 April 14 @ Houston W 138–121 Larry Bird (34) Larry Bird (10) Tiny Archibald (10) The Summit 13,106 4–0
Conference finals: 1–4 (home: 1–2; road: 0–2) Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Attendance Series 1 April 18 Philadelphia L 93–96 Larry Bird (27) Dave Cowens (10) Tiny Archibald (7) Boston Garden 15,320 0–1 2 April 20 Philadelphia W 96–90 Larry Bird (31) Cedric Maxwell (15) Tiny Archibald (8) Boston Garden 15,320 1–1 3 April 23 @ Philadelphia L 97–99 Larry Bird (22) Larry Bird (21) Tiny Archibald (7) Spectrum 18,276 1–2 4 April 25 @ Philadelphia L 90–102 Larry Bird (19) Larry Bird (13) Gerald Henderson (6) Spectrum 18,276 1–3 5 April 27 Philadelphia L 94–105 Archibald, Cowens (22) Larry Bird (14) Tiny Archibald (9) Boston Garden 15,320 1–4
1980 schedule