1979–80 Boston Celtics season

NBA basketball team season

NBA professional basketball team season
1979–80 Boston Celtics season
Division champions
Head coachBill Fitch
General managerRed Auerbach
Owner(s)Harry T. Mangurian Jr.
ArenaBoston Garden
Hartford Civic Center
Results
Record61–21 (.744)
PlaceDivision: 1st (Atlantic)
Conference: 1st (Eastern)
Playoff finishEastern Conference finals
(lost to 76ers 1–4)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
TelevisionWBZ-TV
RadioWBZ
< 1978–79 1980–81 >

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]

Draft picks

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

Roster

1979–80 Boston Celtics roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB From
G 7 Archibald, Nate 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 150 lb (68 kg) 1948–09–02 UTEP
F 33 Bird, Larry 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1956–12–07 Indiana State
F 30 Carr, M. L. 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 1951–01–09 Guilford
G 12 Chaney, Don 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1946–03–22 Houston
F/C 18 Cowens, Dave (C) 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1948–10–25 Florida State
F/C 45 Fernsten, Eric 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 1953–11–01 San Francisco
G 42 Ford, Chris 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1949–01–11 Villanova
G 43 Henderson, Gerald 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1956–01–16 VCU
F 32 Judkins, Jeff 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1956–03–23 Utah
G 44 Maravich, Pete 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 197 lb (89 kg) 1947–06–22 LSU
F 31 Maxwell, Cedric 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 1955–11–21 Charlotte
C 53 Robey, Rick 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1956–01–30 Kentucky
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured Injured

Roster
Last transaction: January 22, 1980

Regular season

Season standings

  • 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 NJN 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

References

  1. ^ "1980 NBA Eastern Conference Finals - 76ers vs. Celtics". Basketball-Reference.com. Basketball Reference. Retrieved February 2, 2024.
  2. ^ Papanek, John (May 5, 1980). "THEN THE CELTICS BLINKED". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved February 2, 2024.

See also

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Boston Celtics
  • Founded in 1946
  • Based in Boston, Massachusetts
Franchise
Arenas
Personnel
Owner(s)
Boston Basketball Partners
President
Rich Gotham
General manager
Brad Stevens
Head coach
Joe Mazzulla
G League affiliate
Retired numbers
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Bold indicates NBA Finals victory