1979–80 Boston Celtics season

NBA basketball team season

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NBA professional basketball team 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.com

Local media

Television

Radio

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.

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.	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	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

Bill Fitch

Assistant coach(es)

Legend

(DP) Unsigned draft pick
(FA) Free agent
(S) Suspended
Injured

Roster
Last transaction: 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	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	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	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	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	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	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	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

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

v t e Boston Celtics
Founded in 1946 Based in Boston, Massachusetts
Franchise	History All-time roster Draft history Accomplishments and records Head coaches Seasons Current season
Arenas	Boston Arena Boston Garden Hartford Civic Center TD Garden
Personnel	Owner(s) Boston Basketball Partners President Rich Gotham General manager Brad Stevens Head coach Joe Mazzulla
G League affiliate	Maine Celtics
Retired numbers	00 1 2 3 5 6 10 14 15 16 17 18 19 21 22 23 24 25 31 32 33 34 35 LOSCY MIC
NBA championships	1957 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1968 1969 1974 1976 1981 1984 1986 2008 2024
Rivalries	Detroit Pistons Los Angeles Lakers Miami Heat New York Knicks Philadelphia 76ers
Culture and lore	Broadcasters Radio network Celtic Pride Celtics/Lakers: Best of Enemies Lakers versus Celtics and the NBA Playoffs Mike Gorman Johnny Most "Havlicek stole the ball" 1961 Boston Celtics boycott Auerbach Center North Station The Sports Museum of New England Reebok Pro Summer League Newhart Uncut Gems Extended Family Starting 5 Jaylen Brown & Jayson Tatum
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