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1976–77 Boston Celtics season

1976–77 Boston Celtics season

The 1976–77 Boston Celtics season was the 31st season of the Boston Celtics in the National Basketball Association (NBA).

Even though the Celtics were the defending NBA champions, they were an aging team in transition. 35-year-old Don Nelson retired as a player, but the key contributors left were aging, namely John Havlicek (age 36), Jo Jo White (31), and Paul Silas (33). The Celtics took steps to get younger in the frontcourt by sending Silas to the Denver Nuggets in a three-way that ended up bringing Detroit Pistons forward Curtis Rowe. The Celtics also traded a first-round draft pick to the Portland Trail Blazers for Sidney Wicks. Wicks and Rowe would provide athleticism, the Celtics felt, and, more importantly, allow John Havlicek to return to a sixth-man role and not log as many minutes as in the past.

1976–77Boston Celticsseason
Head coachTom Heinsohn
General managerRed Auerbach
ArenaBoston Garden
Hartford Civic Center
Results
Record44–38 (.537)
PlaceDivision: 2nd (Atlantic)
Conference: 4th (Eastern)
Playoff finishEast Semifinals
(Lost to 76ers 3–4)
Stats @ **Basketball-Reference.com [2] **
Local media
TelevisionWBZ-TV
RadioWBZ

Draft picks

The Celtics picked 16th in the 1976 NBA draft and selected Norm Cook, a 6–8, 210-lb. junior-eligible forward from the University of Kansas. Cook, however, didn't contribute much, playing in only 25 games and averaging 2.5 points per game.[1]

Roster

Boston Celtics roster
    PlayersCoaches
    Pos.No.NameHeightWeightDOB (YYYY-MM-DD)From
    C34United StatesArd, Jim6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)215 lb (98 kg)Cincinnati
    F31United StatesBoswell, Tom6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)220 lb (100 kg)South Carolina
    F52United StatesCook, Norm6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)210 lb (95 kg)Kansas
    F/C18United StatesCowens, Dave6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)230 lb (104 kg)Florida State
    G/F17United StatesHavlicek, John6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)203 lb (92 kg)Ohio State
    F/C33United StatesKuberski, Steve6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)215 lb (98 kg)Bradley
    F41United StatesRowe, Curtis6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)225 lb (102 kg)UCLA
    F20United StatesSaunders, Fred6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)210 lb (95 kg)Syracuse
    G11United StatesScott, Charlie6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)175 lb (79 kg)North Carolina
    G27United StatesStacom, Kevin6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)185 lb (84 kg)Providence
    G10United StatesWhite, Jo Jo6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)190 lb (86 kg)Kansas
    F12United StatesWicks, Sidney6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)225 lb (102 kg)UCLA
    Head coach
    • United StatesTom Heinsohn
    Assistant coach(es)
    • United StatesJohn Killilea
    Legend
    • (C) Team captain
    • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
    • (FA) Free agent
    • (S) Suspended
    • InjuredInjured
    Roster [3]

    Regular season

    The Celtics started the season 4-0 (with their first two games entering overtime, as well having another overtime game during their sixth game of the season), but Wicks and Rowe had trouble fitting in with Celtic coach Tom Heinsohn's system, and the team played .500 ball for most of the season. Charlie Scott suffered a broken foot and only played 31 games, which meant Havlicek had to log more minutes, primarily at off-guard. Depth was a problem for the Celtics, as backup center Jim Ard was the only reliable reserve. Havlicek, White, and Cowens carried most of the scoring load for the team all season.

    Season standings

    Atlantic Division
      		WLPCTGBHomeRoadDiv
      y-Philadelphia 76ers5032.610–32–918–2311–5
      x-Boston Celtics4438.537628–1316–259–7
      New York Knicks4042.4881026–1514–278–8
      Buffalo Braves3052.3662023–187–346–10
      New York Nets2260.2682810–3112–296–10

      		Eastern Conference
        TeamWLPCTGB
        1z-Philadelphia 76ers5032.610–
        2y-Houston Rockets4933.5981
        3x-Washington Bullets4834.5852
        4x-Boston Celtics4438.5376
        5x-San Antonio Spurs4438.5376
        6x-Cleveland Cavaliers4339.5247
        7New York Knicks4042.48810
        8New Orleans Jazz3547.42715
        9Atlanta Hawks3151.37819
        10Buffalo Braves3052.36620
        11New York Nets2260.26828

        Record vs. opponents

        1976–77 NBA Records
        TeamATLBOSBUFCHICLEDENDETGSWHOUINDKCKLALMILNOJNYKNYNPHIPHOPORSASSEAWAS
        Atlanta—0–44–02–22–22–20–40–41–30–41–22–22–21–31–33–11–30–43–14–01–21–3
        Boston4–0—3–12–21–33–12–21–32–21–23–12–13–12–22–23–11–32–21–34–02–20–4
        Buffalo0–41–3—1–32–22–23–10–31–31–30–31–33–13–11–32–22–23–11–30–43–10–4
        Chicago2–22–23–1—3–11–32–22–21–32–22–23–13–14–02–22–12–22–20–43–12–21–2
        Cleveland2–23–12–21–3—2–21–32–21–32–13–12–24–02–22–23–11–32–12–22–23–11–3
        Denver2–21–32–23–12–2—3–12–23–03–13–12–23–13–12–23–11–33–12–21–24–02–2
        Detroit4–02–21–32–23–11–3—3–12–22–24–01–33–13–11–23–12–22–22–21–21–31–3
        Golden State4–03–13–02–22–22–21–3—2–14–01–32–21–31–31–33–13–14–01–32–21–33–1
        Houston3–12–23–13–13–10–32–21–2—4–02–22–23–12–22–22–21–33–13–12–23–13–1
        Indiana4–02–13–12–21–21–32–20–40–4—2–21–32–22–22–24–02–22–20–42–22–20–4
        Kansas City2–11–33–02–21–31–30–43–12–22–2—1–32–22–24–04–01–33–12–21–31–32–2
        Los Angeles2–21–23–11–32–22–23–12–22–23–13–1—3–13–01–34–02–23–13–13–13–14–0
        Milwaukee2–21–31–31–30–41–31–33–11–32–22–21–3—1–21–33–11–21–32–23–11–31–3
        New Orleans3–12–21–30–42–21–31–33–12–22–22–20–32–1—3–12–20–43–12–21–31–32–2
        N.Y. Knicks3–12–23–12–22–22–22–13–12–22–20–43–13–11–3—2–21–32–21–31–31–22–2
        N.Y. Nets1–31–32–21–21–31–31–31–32–20–40–40–41–32–22–2—1–32–20–31–31–31–3
        Philadelphia3–13–12–22–23–13–12–21–33–12–23–12–22–14–03–13–1—1–22–21–32–23–1
        Phoenix4–02–21–32–21–21–32–20–41–32–21–31–33–11–32–22–22–1—1–31–33–11–3
        Portland1–33–13–14–02–22–22–23–11–34–02–21–32–22–23–13–02–23–1—2–23–11–2
        San Antonio0–40–44–01–32–22–12–12–22–22–23–11–31–33–13–13–13–13–12–2—3–12–2
        Seattle2–12–21–32–21–30–43–13–11–32–23–11–33–13–12–13–12–21–31–31–3—3–1
        Washington3–14–04–02–13–12–23–11–31–34–02–20–43–12–22–23–11–33–12–12–21–3—

        Postseason

        Due to identical 44-38 regular season records, good enough for fourth and fifth place in the Eastern Conference, the Celtics and San Antonio Spurs met in the opening round of the 1977 NBA Playoffs. The Celtics dispatched the Spurs easily, winning two games to none for the right to face the Philadelphia 76ers. The 76ers and Celtics played a hard-fought seven-game series, with the Sixers prevailing in the seventh game 83–77.

        References

        [1]
        Citation Linkwww.basketball-reference.comhttps://www.basketball-reference.com/players/c/cookno01.html
        Sep 21, 2019, 3:10 AM
        [2]
        Citation Linkwww.basketball-reference.comBasketball-Reference.com
        Sep 21, 2019, 3:10 AM
        [3]
        Citation Linkwww.basketball-reference.comRoster
        Sep 21, 2019, 3:10 AM
        [4]
        Citation Linkwww.basketball-reference.comhttps://www.basketball-reference.com/players/c/cookno01.html
        Sep 21, 2019, 3:10 AM
        [5]
        Citation Linken.wikipedia.orgThe original version of this page is from Wikipedia, you can edit the page right here on Everipedia.Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.Additional terms may apply.See everipedia.org/everipedia-termsfor further details.Images/media credited individually (click the icon for details).
        Sep 21, 2019, 3:10 AM