Top Five Playoff Moments in Celtics History

http://hardwoodhoudini.com/2015/09/06/top-five-playoff-moments-in-celtics-history/



Top Five Playoff Moments in Celtics History
by Michael Hilperts 1d ago



While ‘moments’ is a broad term, in choosing my top-five Celtics moments, I wanted to include the top snapshots into Celtics history. By snapshots, I mean quick, yet historically-significant clips of Celtics history.



#5. Paul Pierce Emerges from the Tunnel After Exiting the Game via Wheelchair

2008 NBA Finals – Game 1: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Boston Celtics





Nowadays, this moment has become the punchline to a joke, considering – in hindsight – Pierce somewhat overreacted. However, at the time, the moment he emerged from the tunnel was nothing short of epic.

In defense of Paul Pierce, I’m sure he was in a lot of pain following his collision with Kendrick Perkins, and was afraid he’d miss the remainder of the Finals. After all this was Pierce’s first Finals game.

As soon as Pierce came back into the game, he sank two three-pointers to close out the third period and put the C’s in an ideal position to close out the Lakers.

The Celtics would win game one and ultimately win their 17th Championship in six games.


#4.  Boston Celtics Comeback 26 Points to Beat the New Jersey Nets

2002 Eastern Conference Finals – Game 3: New Jersey Nets vs. Boston Celtics




In his first full season with the Boston Celtics, recently-promoted head coach Jim O’Brien was tasked with reviving Celtics’ pride, which had been slowly dying since the big three retired. His young squad performed far better than they had under Rick Pitino, and while the Celtics finished with only 49 wins, it was still proved enough to claim a three seed. This would be Celtics stars Antoine Walker and Paul Pierce‘s first playoff series of their careers.

The team squared off against the one-seeded New Jersey Nets – starring Kenyon Martin, Richard Jefferson and Jason Kidd. The Celtics would manage to win game two in New Jersey – but by the end of the third quarter in game three – the Celtics found themselves down 26 points.

Yet behind Walker’s surprisingly-efficient play and Pierce’s clutch gene, the team managed to slowly chip away at the deficit. After finally securing a 3-point lead with only 23 seconds left, the Nets put the ball into the hands of three-point shooting big man, Keith Van Horn. Van Horn would let if fly from straight away behind the arc, only to get blocked by Antoine Walker. This would secure the victory for the Celtics and make it the biggest playoff comeback of all-time (biggest regular season comeback would be in 1997 when the Utah Jazz defeated Denver Nuggets after being down 36 points).

The Nets would unfortunately go on to win the series thanks to Jason Kidd, who simply played out of his mind, averaging 17.5 PPG, 11.2 RPG and 10.2 APG in the series.


#3. Celtics Cut Lakers’ Comeback Bid Short to Win 1969 Finals

1969 NBA Finals – Game 7: Boston Celtics vs. Los Angeles Lakers





The 1969 NBA Finals was the perfect storybook ending for a Celtics dynasty that stands above all other sports dynasties. In the span of thirteen years, Bill Russell and the Boston Celtics won 11 championships.

However, this 1969 squad wasn’t the same team that had won eight in a row from ’59-’66. Of course, wily veterans Sam Jones and player-coach, Bill Russell had been there, but the cast of youngsters they led had not been around. However, this team’s marquee player by this point was rising superstar, John Havlicek.

After the Celtics jumped ahead 91-76, Elgin Baylor and Jerry West began digging the Lakers out of their hole. The Celtics had to begin triple-teaming the hot-handed West, opting to leave the other Lakers’ shooters wide-open. With 1:15 left in the fourth quarter, the Lakers had cut the lead down to one point, with the scored 103-102. The momentum was all in their favor until an Elgin Baylor turnover led to a Celtics fast break with only one minute left.

The Lakers wound up slowing down the fast break and even managed to knock the ball out of John Havlicek’s hands. Unfortunately, the ball bounced right into the hands of Don Nelson, who proceeded to hit an off-balance jump shot from the free throw line, making the score 105-102. This shot ultimately secured the win for the Boston Celtics.

This would be the last NBA game for both Sam Jones and Bill Russell. Go to 29:14 in the above video to enjoy the postgame interview with Red Auerbach and the infinitely-charismatic Sam Jones.


#2. Larry Bird Steals the Ball and Passes it to Dennis Johnson to Secure the Win

1987 Eastern Conference Finals – Game 5: Detroit Pistons vs. Boston Celtics





With the Celtics down one with 15 seconds left, Bird opted to drive to the lane, only for Dennis Rodman to swat the ball out of bounds. However, Bird tried to save the ball but failed to, leaving the Pistons with the ball with only five seconds left.

From there, Isiah Thomas tried to inbound the ball to Bill Laimbeer in the low post, but out of nowhere Larry Bird intercepted the lazy pass and in turn, passed the ball to Dennis Johnson, who – in the famous words of Johnny Most – “lay(ed) it in”.

This moment would live on as perhaps the most famous moment during the original big three-era. Ironically, this squad did not go on to win the championship that year. It’d be the Lakers who’d win in ’87, immortalized by the famous Magic Johnson hook-shot, which serves to symbolize the doom of the 80’s Celtics.

While this play call by Johnny Most is perhaps one of the most famous play calls in American sports, it may be Most’s second-most famous play-call – with the following call being his most famous.



#1. Havlicek Stole the Ball

1965 Eastern Conference Finals – Game 7: Philadelphia 76ers vs. Boston Celtics





Although the Celtics were up one with five seconds remaining, Wilt Chamberlain‘s Philadelphia 76ers had the ball in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals. All they had to do was inbound the ball to Chamberlain and give him five seconds to post-up on the much shorter Bill Russell. While Russell was an elite defender who’d stopped Chamberlain many times before, Celtics fans were visibly frightened.

Hal Greer inbounded for the 76ers but had trouble finding an open man, let alone Chamberlain. Havlicek was meanwhile counting down from five before he peaked over his shoulder and saw the ball flying over his head. He jumped up, stole the ball, tipped it to Sam Jones and then the rest was history. Understated fact about that game was how integral Sam Jones was in winning that game, seeing as he scored 37 points that night.

This play would go on to define Johnny Most’s career and in large part the 60’s Celtics. To this day, it lives on as arguably the most famous play call in NBA history.



bob
MY NOTE:  The comeback win against the Nets in the EC Finals is the #4 "moment" in Celtics playoff history and Pierce's personal return from the undead in game 1 of the 2008 Championship series is #5, but the 24 point comeback against the Lakers in game 4 of the 2008 Championship series doesn't make the cut? That game 4 comeback was a back breaker for the Lakers.

Does anybody have any they would elevate into this group?


.

Hi,
I'd like to nominate another return - Rondo's return after his elbow bent in the wrong direction.

AK

Here's the box score for game # 7 for the 1956-57 championship. Great 2 point win in double overtime. That was the first of many that were to follow.

swish

MIN FGM FGA FTM FTA REB AST PF PTS
Jack Coleman 36 4 12 2 5 5 7 6 10
Cliff Hagan 40 7 15 10 14 16 0 6 24
Alex Hannum 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0
Ed Macauley 21 2 3 5 8 8 1 6 9
Slater Martin 56 6 16 11 12 8 7 3 23
Jack McMahon 37 3 10 0 0 5 5 6 6
Med Park 21 3 5 1 2 4 1 1 7
Bob Pettit 56 14 34 11 13 19 3 4 39
Chuck Share 21 0 6 5 8 6 0 4 5
Totals 39 102 45 62 77 24 37 123

Team Rebounds: 6


Boston Celtics

MIN FGM FGA FTM FTA REB AST PF PTS
Bob Cousy 58 2 20 8 10 3 11 4 12
Tom Heinsohn 45 17 33 3 11 23 2 6 37
Jim Loscutoff 18 0 4 3 3 2 0 5 3
Jack Nichols 9 4 7 0 0 1 0 3 8
Andy Phillip 10 2 2 1 2 1 3 3 5
Frank Ramsey 28 6 13 4 7 8 1 2 16
Arnie Risen 20 6 12 4 8 10 0 6 16
Bill Russell 54 7 17 5 10 32 2 5 19
Bill Sharman 48 3 20 3 3 1 3 3 9
Totals 47 128 31 54 84 22 37 125

Team Rebounds: 3


1 2 3 4 OT O2 F
St. Louis Hawks 28 25 24 26 10 10 123
Boston Celtics 26 25 32 20 10 12 125

Head Coaches: St. Louis Hawks - Alex Hannum, Boston Celtics - Red Auerbach
Attendance: 13909
Referees: Sid Borgia, Mendy Rudolph
Start Time: 2:30PM ET


Sources: BG W G7 SB


This work is licensed

swish wrote:Here's the box score for game # 7 for the 1956-57 championship. Great 2 point win in double overtime. That was the first of many that were to follow.

swish

MIN FGM FGA FTM FTA REB AST PF PTS
Jack Coleman 36 4 12 2 5 5 7 6 10
Cliff Hagan 40 7 15 10 14 16 0 6 24
Alex Hannum 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0
Ed Macauley 21 2 3 5 8 8 1 6 9
Slater Martin 56 6 16 11 12 8 7 3 23
Jack McMahon 37 3 10 0 0 5 5 6 6
Med Park 21 3 5 1 2 4 1 1 7
Bob Pettit 56 14 34 11 13 19 3 4 39
Chuck Share 21 0 6 5 8 6 0 4 5
Totals  39 102 45 62 77 24 37 123

Team Rebounds: 6


Boston Celtics

MIN FGM FGA FTM FTA REB AST PF PTS
Bob Cousy 58 2 20 8 10 3 11 4 12
Tom Heinsohn 45 17 33 3 11 23 2 6 37
Jim Loscutoff 18 0 4 3 3 2 0 5 3
Jack Nichols 9 4 7 0 0 1 0 3 8
Andy Phillip 10 2 2 1 2 1 3 3 5
Frank Ramsey 28 6 13 4 7 8 1 2 16
Arnie Risen 20 6 12 4 8 10 0 6 16
Bill Russell 54 7 17 5 10 32 2 5 19
Bill Sharman 48 3 20 3 3 1 3 3 9
Totals  47 128 31 54 84 22 37 125

Team Rebounds: 3


1 2 3 4 OT O2  F
St. Louis Hawks 28 25 24 26 10 10  123
Boston Celtics 26 25 32 20 10 12  125

Head Coaches: St. Louis Hawks - Alex Hannum, Boston Celtics - Red Auerbach
Attendance: 13909
Referees: Sid Borgia, Mendy Rudolph
Start Time: 2:30PM ET


Sources: BG W G7 SB


This work is licensed
 

And here's a picture of that club.

http://www.nba.com/celtics/history/Championship_56_57.html

swish

Its hard to believe that they won the game when you consider that their all-star backcourt of Cousy and Sharman were 5 for 40 ( 12.5 % ) from the field.

swish

These are Not top 5

Dboss

Such as...

How about June 4, 1976 game 5 triple overtime win against the Suns with Glen McDonald scores the last 6 points for Boston.  That has to be a top 5 Playoff Moment.  Some even said it was the greatest game ever in playoff history

How about Henderson steal and layup against LA in game 2 of the 1984 finals.  Mr Larry Bird himself said that if they don't win that game LA would probably have swept the series.

dboss

Yeah,the 24 point comeback in LA has to be up there, especially since it led to a title. The Bird stole the ball is probably appropriately ranked although it could be bumped to third.

I distinctly remember where I was when I saw that one. But I also remember as great a play that was, the Celtics didn't match up well against the Lakers that year and although I knew that Detroit was going to fall after the incredible steal by Larry, my gut told me we would come up short in the finals, unlike what happened in '84 and '86. I actually almost missed the play. I had to watch it on my grandmother's tv downstairs!

The 80's Celtics/Lakers dominance was league-saving. Games were on delay. But they still drew huge audiences.

Dboss, agreed on the 1976 Suns 3OT. That has to be up there, too.

db

And while the Havlicek Stole the Ball led to a title and is the most memorable, the '69 Game 7 I would argue should be #1 because of all the balloons that were left in the rafters. And of course, it was against the Lakers who clearly thought Game 7 was theirs before they ever got to the arena...

Man, that had to suck...! BTW, how did they finally get those balloons down? Did they wait a couple of days, dropped them anyway after everyone cleared out? Does anybody know?

db