The Celtics' lore is largely predicated on the sheer number of championships won by the Boston Celtics. 191 likes. College … Larry Bird. All-Time Boston Celtics on NBA 2K21. he latest episode of the ESPN documentary “The Last Dance” continued to shed light on not just the final season of Michael Jordan with the Chicago Bulls but also some of the more memorable basketball moments of that time. #14 Don Nelson They've also had some of the best players to ever play the game on their teams over the years. The talent level of the starting five was the best ever. However, while there have been a lot of great iterations, here are the Celtics squads that stand the test of time as the best of the best. All Right Reserved. He averaged 17.2 points per game in the regular season, but that average jumped to 21.5 during the postseason, and he was the 1976 Finals MVP. 3. Anything is possible. T. The team's most recent title was won 13 years ago when it defeated the Los Angeles Lakers powered by its "Big 4" (Kevin Garnett, Paul … All-Time Celtics Team. He joined Boston after missing a year with an Achilles injury. Pettit’s career numbers are truly staggering, with him averaging 26.4 points and 16.2 rebounds per game. Best player: Bill Russell(14.1 points, 24.1 rebounds, 5.3 assists). No team in league history has more NBA championships than the Boston Celtics. Which team was the best to grace the court in Celtics’ colors? Who went No. We held a snake-style draft that included every player and coach who has represented the Celtics during their storied franchise history. This Celtics team, led then by a core of John Havlicek and Don Nelson, were one of two Celtics teams in the 1970s to win a championship. Tom Heinsohn. Havlicek was named to 13 All-Star teams and 8 NBA All-Defensive teams. This list features the 50 best in the teams history through 2017. Ray Allen for three. Who went No. This debate has made its way across the interwebs in recent days, and it’s time to end it. This team dominated, as the Celtics did throughout Russell’s career. 1985-86 Celtics. Widely considered to be one of the best teams in NBA history, the ’86 Celtics were a dominant force. Ryan also talks about the trash-talking greatness of Larry Bird, and whether he feels the '86 Celtics are the best basketball team … Allen Iverson in his prime, Vince Carter leaping over small buildings and Tim Duncan swatting shots like it’s nothing. With 17 championships, a .591 winning percentage and 38 Hall of Famers, the Celtics have a long and proud history. What made this team better than any other 50s/60s Celtics was the collection of players assembled on this roster. The Celtics have won 17 championships across generations, retiring 23 jerseys along the way. 13. And as 17-time champs, it only makes sense that Boston has fielded some pretty great teams throughout the years. But who was the best of the best? That changed in 1981 when Boston went 62-20 under second-year head coach Bill Fitch. 13 Images. However, it finished the season with a rating of 1801 and, throughout the season, ended up with an average mark of 1735. Position: Small forward. Bird was the leader of a team that had one priority: Winning a championship. It had been four seasons since the Celtics won a championship. They could beat you with a dominant inside game or with great outside shooting. The Boston Celtics are the most prolific team in NBA history, so creating an all-time roster is no easy feat. I'm a big fan of the Bulls, and I am currently writing about the Philadelphia 76ers, The Game Haus aims to bring unbiased, factually sound opinions to audiences across a range of mediums that are not readily accessible in the day-to-day media outlets. Celtics. The Best Boston Celtics of All Time Larry Bird Bill Russell John Havlicek Kevin McHale Bob Cousy Robert Parish Paul Pierce Kevin Garnett Dennis Johnson Sam Jones Dave Cowens Jo Jo White Ray Allen Nate Archibald Tom Heinsohn Reggie Lewis … He was a 9-time NBA All-Star and won a total of 4 NBA titles, including one with Golden State. Kicking off the top ten greatest Celtics of all-time is Jo Jo White who played a decade with the team in the 1970s. Coming off a torn Achilles and being over 30, Tiny wasn’t expected to do much with the Celtics. The gamble paid off and Walton was exactly what the team needed as the league’s Sixth-Man of the Year. Bill Russell was at his prime, dominating the glass with nearly 25 rebounds per game. The Boston Celtics are one of the most successful American sports franchises of all time. This ranks him inside the top 10 all time in both categories. Larry Bird told Dan Shaughnessy that the 1985-86 Championship Celtics were the best team he ever played on, and Ainge took that a step further. Best player: Larry Bird(25.8 points, 9.8 rebounds, 6.8 assists). The Boston Celtics had a big-time rest advantage against the Phoenix Suns on Thursday night. This article highlights some of the greatest sports teams in history, whether college or professional. Author: SI Staff Publish date: Jun 5, 2008. Boston Celtics coach Brad Stevens first learned of Clarke’s passing as he was on his way to his postgame interview. From Our Haus to Yours. Franchise fantasy draft for the best all-time Boston Celtics team. It was the first season with the Big Three--Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Ray Allen--and was a magical year in Boston. All-Time Celtics Team. PSA grading just upped their rates. They've also had some of the best players to ever play the game on their teams over the years. Two-time champion and 1981 finals MVP Cedric Maxwell was truly magnificent for the Celtics. 1985-86 Celtics… Parish is the NBA’s All-time leader in regular season games played at 1,611. The 1987-88 Celtics were the fourth-best offensive team of the past 35 years, helping them roll to 57 wins and, seemingly, another Finals showdown against the Lakers. What were the biggest surprises? While his career with the Celtics was not as impressive, he contributed as the quintessential pass-first point guard. 1? Six-time All-Star and five-time All-NBA honors, Archibald had an extraordinary career. Actually, scratch that, there is no argument—he is. Experience: 13 years, all with Celtics (1979-92) Career stats: 24.3 PPG, 10.0 RPG, 6.3 APG. This team was the greatest to never win the championship until the 73-9 Warriors arrived on the scene. This seems unfairly low for the team with the best regular-season record in Celtics history, but this team, unfortunately, was knocked out in the Eastern Conference Finals. Future Hall of Famer Kevin Durant, who played his college basketball at the University of Texas, showed plenty of respect to the Houston Rockets when asked to select his all-time NBA team. 1996 Bulls, 2001 Lakers, 1986 Celtics. He was also named one of the NBA’s 50 greatest players in 1996, the 50th anniversary of the league. Boston Celtics All-Time Head-to-Head Records Against each NBA Team Historical stats about the games played between the Celtics and all the other NBA teams including NBA Season and Playoffs total games, wins, losses, winning percentage for each team and detailed data about the two franchises. - Page 4 Other than Garnett (who won Defensive Player of the Year), Pierce and Allen, Boston also had defensive anchor Kendrick Perkins, a young, emerging Rajon Rondo, Tony Allen, James Posey, Eddie House and Leon Powe. Antoine Walker is one of the most beloved Celtics of all time, as he and Paul Pierce helped to carry the team through the late 90s and early 2000s. Entering the 2018-19 season, James' new team, the Los Angeles Lakers, have won 16 NBA championships, one shy of matching their rivals, the Boston Celtics, from the … White made seven straight All-Star teams in Celtics green, and he saved his best for when it mattered the most. Home; Esports. Not only were they the only 60-win team, but they also won eight more games than the Lakers, who finished as the second-best team in the league. The Boston Celtics are one of the most storied franchises in all of sports. 2. This was the Celtics’ last championship before Garnett and Pierce brought back another championship. 1. Gallery. He checks in as Boston’s third-best defender of all time after racking up some impressive defensive numbers during his illustrious Celtics career. This list shows the NBA games with the largest margins of victory in Celtics history, in the Regular Season and the Playoffs. And yet, by managing to have a composite Elo rating of 1784, these Celtics are easily among the best teams of all time. 1? After losing in the finals to the Lakers in the Finals the year before, Boston added former MVP but often-injured (and older) Bill Walton to serve as the team’s sixth man. 2001 NBA All-Star Game . Keith talking about the iconic Lisbon Lions who were the 1st team in the Britain to win the European Cup. The C's had back-to-back off days for the first time since the All-Star Break. Kevin Garnett was at the top of his defensive game, Paul Pierce was scoring 20 points a night, Ray Allen was knocking down three after three, and Rajon Rondo was beginning to realize his talents as a sophomore. With 17 championships, a .591 winning percentage and 38 Hall of Famers, the Celtics have a long and proud history. All those 17 teams have cemented their spots in sports history, while a few have stood out and tend to make their way into the "Best Teams of All Time" conversation. Boston Celtics All-Decade Team for the 2010s Starters Guard: Rajon Rondo. Although Pierce claimed the credit in the postseason, this team relied on the performances of Garnett, who claimed the DPOY that season. This debate has made its way across the interwebs in recent days, and it’s time to end it. Best player: Larry Bird(24.2 points, 10.1 rebounds, 6.6 assists). Meanwhile, the Suns had survived a tight battle with the Philadelphia 76ers the previous night and nearly had to go to overtime because of a ridiculous shot by Joel Embiid. Facebook Twitter Youtube. Add Walton to a prime-era Bird and McHale along with an underrated Dennis Johnson, Danny Ainge, Scott Wedman and newly-acquired point guard Jerry Sichting and this was one of the most complete teams in league history. We cover the latest news in Call of Duty, CS:GO, League of Legends, Dota 2, Fighting Games, NBA 2K, Halo, Hearthstone, Overwatch, Pokemon, Rocket League, Smite, Starcraft II, Fantasy Sports, MLS, EPL, MLB, NASCAR, NBA, NCAAB, NCAAF, NFL, NHL, and PGA. The Boston Celtics, with their 17 championships, are arguably the most successful franchise in basketball, if not all of sports. Because of this, I believe they deserve a spot above the Celtics in the Top 10 greatest NBA teams of all time. That year, the Celtics would coast through the postseason with a 15-3 record, only losing once before their NBA Finals matchup with the Houston Rockets in which they won in six games. Jones and Tommy Heinsohn and it made for quite the team. By NBA.com Staff. This team was full of talent, though. #lisbonlions #celticfc #europeancup. All-Time Boston Celtics on NBA 2K21 Founded in 1946, the Celtics in its history, had won 17 … 1953-54 Minneapolis Lakers: Capped off three straight championships but were unable to defend their title the following season after George Mikan gave up half the team as known Communists during a Congressional hearing. However, they were not built for long term success, which meant that they don’t have the same legacy as other great Celtics teams. After winning 67 games, the second-most in franchise history, they then dropped just three games throughout the playoffs, two in the Finals and one in Michael Jordan’s 63 point game. The Greatest NBA Teams Of All Time. However, this team was incredible. This team was insane. SI Staff. They then struggled a little in the playoffs, getting taken to Game 7 twice, but reached the Finals to play Kobe Bryant and the Lakers. Position: Shooting guard. The Best Sports Teams of All Time. Bill Russell, Larry Bird headline Boston Celtics All-Time "Dream Team" | RSN. Obviously, given how many great teams the franchise has, it’s going to be truly subjective. The Boston Celtics are one of the most successful American sports franchises of all time. If it seems like the Celtics always play the Pistons on a back to back, it’s because they do. Widely considered to be one of the best teams in NBA history, the ’86 Celtics were a dominant force. This was the beginning of Larry Bird’s run of dominance, where he won three MVPs in a row, which was tied for the longest run in the league’s history. Add in Hall of Famers Satch Sanders, K.C. Playing for the arguably best Celtics team in NBA history (81’ Celtics), Maxwell shined in the playoffs scoring roughly 16 points per game, playing consistent defense, and being the heart and soul of the team. Though there are aplenty, here are my picks for the top five Celtics teams, of all time. Headlined by the talents of Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and sharpshooter Ray Allen, the team steamrollered the league on their way to 66 wins. Maxwell is a Celtic legend. A roster based around the greatest Celtics to ever play would undoubtedly be one of the greatest ever assembled. Before we get into the specifics on what puts the 1986 Celtics ahead of the other all-time great teams, we’ll start with an overview of the team. Let's figure out the best out of all our teams. 33 retired by Celtics What does this mean for your NBA cards. The Celtics are tied for the most titles in NBA history, but their GM, Danny Ainge, is far and away the all-time leader in almost trading for superstars. Kevin Garnett. In its more ... Read more The Best NBA Players Of All Time Sports: Facebook Twitter Esports: Facebook Twitter, @2021 - thegamehaus.com. All-Time Roster for the Boston Celtics The middle of a stretch where the Celtics won 11 titles in 13 seasons, the 1965 Celtics were loaded with Hall of Fame talent, most of whom were in their primes. The cagey Knicks led the league in defense, were the best-balanced team in the league, and had sandbagged their last three games while resting up for the playoffs. But Russell and Garnett would be really fun to watch, just two of the best defensive, athletic players of all time. 16.4 ppg, 8.4 rpg, three-time All-Star, 2007-08 defensive POY. Partner of iOne Digital / Cassius Network. A great basketball player can take over a game almost single-handedly. The 1980-81 season was the beginning of a dominant stretch for Boston. Boston Celtics All-Decade Team for the 2010s Starters Guard: Rajon Rondo. Moreover, while this isn’t real-time Boston news or anything, it’s always good to look back at the team’s lore. The Boston Celtics pulled off one of the greatest heists in NBA trade history in 2013. The peak Elo rating for this team was 1816. Career Accomplishments with Boston: Three NBA titles, two NBA Finals MVPs, three MVPs, 12-time NBA All-Star, nine-time All-NBA first team, 1980 Rookie of the Year, No. This team was led by Larry Bird in only his second year, Robert Parish, Cedric Maxwell, Tiny Archibald at point guard, Chris Ford and a rookie Kevin McHale. Archibald is a Hall of Famer, but his best years came prior to his time with the Celtics. Considering how good this team was, they should probably be higher, but they played in a weaker era than any team after them, which is why they are coming in at No. This team is the third-best Celtics team by their regular-season record in the 82 game era. Overwatch. CP. The Boston Celtics have been the home to numerous NBA stars. Celtics selected in different versions of the NBA Draft. Perhaps more than any other team sport, basketball allows for excellent players to make themselves stand out from those who are merely good. If there is a team that can be considered one of the greatest, it would be this 1964-65 Boston Celtics team. The National Basketball Association’s most successful franchise, the Boston Celtics, has existed since the league’s founding. The Boston Celtics are one of the most storied franchises in all of sports. During a recent appearance on the “Million Dollaz Worth of Game” podcast , Durant named Hakeem Olajuwon and Tracy McGrady to his all-time team comprised of 12 players (i.e. This season marked the true beginning of the Big 3 of Bird, Kevin McHale and Robert Parish, and the apex of the Celtic’s battle with the Lakers for dominance in the 1980s. Designed and Developed by, Top Pitching Matchups of the Week: April…, Phillip Adams Shooting Supposedly tied to New…, Sean Reid-Foley is Exactly What the Mets…, 5-Star Recruit Michael Foster Joins NBA’s G…, College Basketball Week 11 Weekend Preview, Best and Worst NHL Teams to Start the Season, Trevor Lawrence is becoming one of the most marketable athletes in football, 3 Modern Players who Would Have Done Better in a Previous era. Discuss The Greatest Celtics Team of All Time. He is 4th in the Boston scoring list and number 1 in blocks. How did the team that won the most (regular season) games in team history end up fifth on the list? In today’s post, a case is going to be made for the 1986 Celtics are the best NBA team ever. The Greatest NBA Teams Of All Time 6/04/20 2:44PM 1953-54 Minneapolis Lakers: Capped off three straight championships but were unable to defend their title the following season after George Mikan gave up half the team as known Communists during a Congressional hearing. Celtics lore is resplendent with flashes of parquet floors, Red Auerbach victory cigars, clutch shooting, raucous home crowds, and a fierce rivalry with their only real NBA competition: the Los Angeles Lakers. He was a three-time Offensive Player of the Year and is a Pro Football Hall of Famer. With their unbeatable trio of Bird, Parish and Kevin McHale, which could possibly have been the first Big-3 in NBA history, the Celtics steamrollered their opposition. 1985-1986 Boston Celtics Founded in 1946, the Celtics in its history, had won 17 titles out of 21 NBA Finals appearances. Copyright © ClutchPoints. Follow us on Social Media for updates! Another strong candidate: the Larry Bird-led Celtics teams of the 1980s.. The 2001 NBA All-Star spectacular is one of the best NBA games of all time out of sheer talent alone. Though this team lost in the Eastern Conference Finals to the New York Knicks, they still featured a dominant All-Star trio of John Havlicek, Dave Cowens and Jo Jo White while adding major contributors such as Paul Silas, Don Chaney and Don Nelson to the bunch. The 1986 Celtics are the best NBA Team of all time. Rajon Rondo is the best Celtics point guard since 2000, and there isn’t even an argument against him. YOU MAY LIKE. Which team was the best to grace the court in Celtics’ colors? Kyrie is obviously one of the best scoring guards the Celtics have ever had. This Celtics’ team came in the second half of the 1960s dynasty. The 2007-08 Celtics came just short of being the best group in franchise history. 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