Boston Celtics Seasons

Boston Celtics Seasons

This is a list of seasons completed by the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association. It documents the team's season-by-season records, including post-season records, and also includes year-end awards won by the team's players and/or coaches.

With 17 NBA Championships, the Celtics have won the most for any NBA franchise, while the 1959-to-1966 domination of the NBA Championship, with eight straight titles, is the longest consecutive championship winning streak of any North American professional sports team to date.

The Celtics are 21–8 in the 7th game of a playoff series, and are 7-1 in Game 7 of the NBA Finals.


NBA champions Conference champions * Division champions ^ Playoff berth #
Season Team Conference Finish Division Finish Wins Losses Win% Playoffs Awards Head Coach
1946–47 1946–47 East 5th Eastern 5th 22 38 .367 Did not qualify for the playoffs John Russell
1947–48 1947–48 East 3rd Eastern 3rd 20 28 .417 Lost Quarterfinals (Chicago Stags, 1–2) John Russell
1948–49 1948–49 East 5th Eastern 5th 25 36 .410 Did not qualify for the playoffs Alvin Julian
1949–50 1949–50 East 6th Eastern 6th 22 46 .324 Did not qualify for the playoffs Alvin Julian
1950–51 1950–51 East 2nd Eastern 2nd 39 30 .565 Lost Division Semifinals (New York Knicks, 0–2) Ed Macauley Red Auerbach
1951–52 1951–52 East 2nd Eastern 2nd 39 27 .591 Lost Division Semifinals (New York Knicks, 1–2) Red Auerbach
1952–53 1952–53 East 3rd Eastern 3rd 46 25 .648 Won Division Semifinals (Syracuse Nationals, 2–0)
Lost Division Finals (New York Knicks, 1–3)		 Red Auerbach
1953–54 1953–54 East T-2nd Eastern T-2nd 42 30 .583 Lost Round-Robin (Syracuse Nationals, 0–2)
Won Round-Robin (New York Knicks, 2–0)
Lost Division Finals (Syracuse Nationals, 0–2)		 Bob Cousy Red Auerbach
1954–55 1954–55 East 3rd Eastern 3rd 36 36 .500 Won Division Semifinals (New York Knicks, 2–1)
Lost Division Finals (Syracuse Nationals, 1–3)		 Bill Sharman Red Auerbach
1955–56 1955–56 East 2nd Eastern 2nd 39 33 .542 Lost Division Semifinals (Syracuse, 1–2) Red Auerbach
1956–57 1956–57 East 1st Eastern 1st 44 28 .611 Won Division Finals (Syracuse Nationals, 3–0)
Won NBA Finals (St. Louis Hawks, 4–3)		 Bob Cousy
Tom Heinsohn 		Red Auerbach
1957–58 1957–58 East 1st Eastern 1st 49 23 .681 Won Division Finals (Philadelphia Warriors, 4–1)
Lost NBA Finals (St. Louis Hawks, 2–4)		 Bill Russell Red Auerbach
1958–59 1958–59 East 1st Eastern 1st 52 20 .722 Won Division Finals (Syracuse Nationals, 4–3)
Won NBA Finals (Minneapolis Lakers, 4–0)		 Red Auerbach
1959–60 1959–60 East 1st Eastern 1st 59 16 .787 Won Division Finals (Philadelphia Warriors, 4–2)
Won NBA Finals (St. Louis Hawks, 4–3)		 Red Auerbach
1960–61 1960–61 East 1st Eastern 1st 57 22 .722 Won Division Finals (Syracuse Nationals, 4–1)
Won NBA Finals (St. Louis Hawks, 4–1)		 Bill Russell Red Auerbach
1961–62 1961–62 East 1st Eastern 1st 60 20 .750 Won Division Finals (Philadelphia Warriors, 4–3)
Won NBA Finals (Los Angeles Lakers, 4–3)		 Bill Russell Red Auerbach
1962–63 1962–63 East 1st Eastern 1st 58 22 .725 Won Division Finals (Cincinnati Royals, 4–3)
Won NBA Finals (Los Angeles Lakers, 4–2)		 Bill Russell Red Auerbach
1963–64 1963–64 East 1st Eastern 1st 59 21 .738 Won Division Finals (Cincinnati Royals, 4–1)
Won NBA Finals (San Francisco Warriors, 4–1)		 Red Auerbach
1964–65 1964–65 East 1st Eastern 1st 62 18 .775 Won Division Finals (Philadelphia 76ers, 4–3)
Won NBA Finals (Los Angeles Lakers, 4–1)		 Bill Russell
Red Auerbach 		Red Auerbach
1965–66 1965–66 East 2nd Eastern 2nd 54 26 .675 Won Division Semifinals (Cincinnati Royals, 3–2)
Won Division Finals (Philadelphia 76ers, 4–1)
Won NBA Finals (Los Angeles Lakers, 4–3)		 Red Auerbach
1966–67 1966–67 East 2nd Eastern 2nd 60 21 .741 Won Division Semifinals (New York Knicks, 3–1)
Lost Division Finals (Philadelphia 76ers, 1–4)		 Bill Russell
1967–68 1967–68 East 2nd Eastern 2nd 54 28 .659 Won Division Semifinals (Detroit Pistons, 4–2)
Won Division Finals (Philadelphia 76ers, 4–3)
Won NBA Finals (Los Angeles Lakers, 4–2)		 Bill Russell
1968–69 1968–69 East 4th Eastern 4th 48 34 .585 Won Division Semifinals (Philadelphia 76ers, 4–1)
Won Division Finals (New York Knicks, 4–2)
Won NBA Finals (Los Angeles Lakers, 4–3)		 Bill Russell
1969–70 1969–70 East 6th Eastern 6th 34 48 .415 Did not qualify for the playoffs Tom Heinsohn
1970–71 1970–71 East 5th Atlantic 3rd 44 38 .537 Did not qualify for the playoffs Dave Cowens Tom Heinsohn
1971–72 1971–72 East 1st Atlantic 1st 56 26 .683 Won Conference Semifinals (Atlanta Hawks, 4–2)
Lost Conference Finals (New York Knicks, 1–4)		 Tom Heinsohn
1972–73 1972–73 East 1st Atlantic 1st 68 14 .829 Won Conference Semifinals (Atlanta Hawks, 4–2)
Lost Conference Finals (New York Knicks, 3–4)		 Dave Cowens
Tom Heinsohn 		Tom Heinsohn
1973–74 1973–74 East 1st Atlantic 1st 56 26 .683 Won Conference Semifinals (Buffalo Braves, 4–2)
Won Conference Finals (New York Knicks, 4–1)
Won NBA Finals (Milwaukee Bucks, 4–3)		 John Havlicek Tom Heinsohn
1974–75 1974–75 East T-1st Atlantic 1st 60 22 .732 Won Conference Semifinals (Houston Rockets, 4–1)
Lost Conference Finals (Washington Bullets, 2–4)		 Tom Heinsohn
1975–76 1975–76 East 1st Atlantic 1st 54 28 .659 Won Conference Semifinals (Buffalo, 4–2)
Won Conference Finals (Cleveland Cavaliers, 4–2)
Won NBA Finals (Phoenix Suns, 4–2)		 Jo Jo White Tom Heinsohn
1976–77 1976–77 East T-4th Atlantic 2nd 44 38 .537 Won First Round (San Antonio Spurs, 2–0)
Lost Conference Semifinals (Philadelphia 76ers, 3–4)		 Tom Heinsohn
1977–78 1977–78 East 8th Atlantic 3rd 32 50 .390 Did not qualify for the playoffs Tom Heinsohn
Tom "Satch" Sanders
1978–79 1978–79 East 10th Atlantic 5th 29 53 .354 Did not qualify for the playoffs Tom "Satch" Sanders
Dave Cowens
1979–80 1979–80 East 1st Atlantic 1st 61 21 .744 Won Conference Semifinals (Houston Rockets, 4–0)
Lost Conference Finals (Philadelphia 76ers, 1–4)		 Bill Fitch
Larry Bird
Red Auerbach 		Bill Fitch
1980–81 1980–81 East T-1st Atlantic 1st 62 20 .756 Won Conference Semifinals (Chicago Bulls, 4–0)
Won Conference Finals (Philadelphia 76ers, 4–3)
Won NBA Finals (Houston Rockets, 4–2)		 Cedric Maxwell
Nate Archibald 		Bill Fitch
1981–82 1981–82 East 1st Atlantic 1st 63 19 .768 Won Conference Semifinals (Washington Bullets, 4–1)
Lost Conference Finals (Philadelphia 76ers, 3–4)		 Larry Bird Bill Fitch
1982–83 1982–83 East 2nd Atlantic 2nd 56 26 .683 Won First Round (Atlanta Hawks, 2–1)
Lost Conference Semifinals (Milwaukee Bucks, 0–4)		 Bill Fitch
1983–84 1983–84 East 1st Atlantic 1st 62 20 .756 Won First Round (Washington Bullets, 3–1)
Won Conference Semifinals (New York Knicks, 4–3)
Won Conference Finals (Milwaukee Bucks, 4–1)
Won NBA Finals (Los Angeles Lakers, 4–3)		 Larry Bird
Kevin McHale 		K.C. Jones
1984–85 1984–85 East 1st Atlantic 1st 63 19 .768 Won First Round (Cleveland Cavaliers, 3–1)
Won Conference Semifinals (Detroit Pistons, 4–2)
Won Conference Finals (Philadelphia 76ers, 4–1)
Lost NBA Finals (Los Angeles Lakers, 2–4)		 Larry Bird
Kevin McHale 		K.C. Jones
1985–86 1985–86 East 1st Atlantic 1st 67 15 .817 Won First Round (Chicago Bulls, 3–0)
Won Conference Semifinals (Atlanta Hawks, 4–1)
Won Conference Finals (Milwaukee Bucks, 4–0)
Won NBA Finals (Houston Rockets, 4–2)		 Larry Bird
Bill Walton 		K.C. Jones
1986–87 1986–87 East 1st Atlantic 1st 59 23 .720 Won First Round (Chicago Bulls, 3–0)
Won Conference Semifinals (Milwaukee Bucks, 4–3)
Won Conference Finals (Detroit Pistons, 4–3)
Lost NBA Finals (Los Angeles Lakers, 2–4)		 K.C. Jones
1987–88 1987–88 East 1st Atlantic 1st 57 25 .695 Won First Round (New York Knicks, 3–1)
Won Conference Semifinals (Atlanta Hawks, 4–3)
Lost Conference Finals (Detroit Pistons, 2–4)		 K.C. Jones
1988–89 1988–89 East 8th Atlantic 3rd 42 40 .512 Lost First Round (Detroit Pistons, 0–3) Jimmy Rodgers
1989–90 1989–90 East 4th Atlantic 2nd 52 30 .634 Lost First Round (New York Knicks, 2–3) Jimmy Rodgers
1990–91 1990–91 East 2nd Atlantic 1st 56 26 .683 Won First Round (Indiana Pacers, 3–2)
Lost Conference Semifinals (Detroit Pistons, 2–4)		 Chris Ford
1991–92 1991–92 East T-3rd Atlantic T-1st 51 31 .622 Won First Round (Indiana Pacers, 3–0)
Lost Conference Semifinals (Cleveland Cavaliers, 3–4)		 Chris Ford
1992–93 1992–93 East 4th Atlantic 2nd 48 34 .585 Lost First Round (Charlotte Hornets, 1–3) Chris Ford
1993–94 1993–94 East 10th Atlantic 5th 32 50 .390 Did not qualify for the playoffs Chris Ford
1994–95 1994–95 East 8th Atlantic 3rd 35 47 .427 Lost First Round (Orlando Magic, 1–3) Chris Ford
1995–96 1995–96 East 11th Atlantic 5th 33 49 .402 Did not qualify for the playoffs M.L. Carr
1996–97 1996–97 East 15th Atlantic 7th 15 67 .183 Did not qualify for the playoffs M.L. Carr
1997–98 1997–98 East T-12th Atlantic 6th 36 46 .439 Did not qualify for the playoffs Rick Pitino
1998–99 1998–99 East 12th Atlantic 5th 19 31 .380 Did not qualify for the playoffs Rick Pitino
1999–00 1999–00 East 10th Atlantic 5th 35 47 .427 Did not qualify for the playoffs Rick Pitino
2000–01 2000–01 East 9th Atlantic 5th 36 46 .439 Did not qualify for the playoffs Rick Pitino
Jim O'Brien
2001–02 2001–02 East 3rd Atlantic 2nd 49 33 .598 Won First Round (Philadelphia 76ers, 3–2)
Won Conference Semifinals (Detroit Pistons, 4–1)
Lost Conference Finals (New Jersey Nets, 2–4)		 Jim O'Brien
2002–03 2002–03 East 6th Atlantic 3rd 44 38 .537 Won First Round (Indiana Pacers, 4–2)
Lost Conference Semifinals (New Jersey Nets, 0–4)		 Jim O'Brien
2003–04 2003–04 East 8th Atlantic 4th 36 46 .439 Lost First Round (Indiana Pacers, 0–4) Jim O'Brien
John Carroll
2004–05 2004–05 East 3rd Atlantic 1st 45 37 .549 Lost First Round (Indiana Pacers, 3–4) Doc Rivers
2005–06 2005–06 East 11th Atlantic 3rd 33 49 .402 Did not qualify for the playoffs Doc Rivers
2006–07 2006–07 East 15th Atlantic 5th 24 58 .293 Did not qualify for the playoffs Doc Rivers
2007–08 2007–08 East 1st Atlantic 1st 66 16 .805 Won First Round (Atlanta Hawks, 4–3)
Won Conference Semifinals (Cleveland Cavaliers, 4–3)
Won Conference Finals (Detroit Pistons, 4–2)
Won NBA Finals (Los Angeles Lakers, 4–2)		 Paul Pierce
Kevin Garnett
Danny Ainge 		Doc Rivers
2008–09 2008–09 East 2nd Atlantic 1st 62 20 .756 Won First Round (Chicago Bulls, 4–3)
Lost Conference Semifinals (Orlando Magic, 3–4)		 Doc Rivers
2009–10 2009–10 East 4th Atlantic 1st 50 32 .610 Won First Round (Miami Heat, 4–1)
Won Conference Semifinals (Cleveland Cavaliers, 4–2)
Won Conference Finals (Orlando Magic, 4–2)
Lost NBA Finals (Los Angeles Lakers, 3–4)		 Doc Rivers
2010-11 2010-11 East 3rd Atlantic 1st 56 26 .683 Won First Round (New York Knicks, 4–0)
Lost Conference Semifinals (Miami Heat, 1–4)		 Doc Rivers
2011-12 2011-12 East 4th Atlantic 1st 39 27 .591 Won First Round (Atlanta Hawks, 4–2)
Won Conference Semifinals (Philadelphia 76ers, 4–3)
Lost Conference Finals (Miami Heat, 3–4)		 Doc Rivers

Read more about Boston Celtics Seasons:  All-time Records

Famous quotes containing the words boston and/or seasons:

    “In Boston they ask, “How much does he know?” In New York, “How much is he worth?” In Philadelphia, “Who were his parents?””
    —Mark Twain [Samuel Langhorne Clemens] (1835–1910)

    “I say this because there is an uneasiness in things just now. Waiting for something to be over before you are forced to notice it. The pollarded trees scarcely bucking the wind and yet it’s keen, it make you fall over. Clabbered sky. Seasons that pass with a rush.”
    —John Ashbery (b. 1927)