Boston Celtics 1971-72 Roster and Stats

The 1971-72 Boston Celtics season marked a significant improvement from their previous campaign. Under the guidance of head coach Tom Heinsohn, the Celtics finished the regular season with a record of 56-26. This performance was a substantial leap from their 44-38 record the previous year, signaling a return to form for the storied franchise.

John Havlicek played a pivotal role in the team’s success, leading the Celtics in scoring with an average of 27.5 points per game. His efforts were complemented by Dave Cowens, who made a significant impact in his second season with the team, averaging 18.8 points and 15 rebounds per game. The duo’s performance was instrumental in Boston’s strong regular season showing.

The Celtics secured the Atlantic Division title, showcasing their dominance in the division. However, despite their impressive regular season, the Celtics faced challenges in the playoffs. In the Eastern Conference Finals, they were matched against the New York Knicks, a formidable opponent. The series was hard-fought, but the Celtics ultimately fell to the Knicks in a seven-game series, ending their playoff run.

Despite the playoff disappointment, the 1971-72 season laid the groundwork for future success. The team’s blend of veteran leadership and emerging talent set the stage for the Celtics to remain competitive in the years to come. The season is remembered as a crucial step in the Celtics’ journey back to the top of the NBA hierarchy.

Regular Season Record: 56-26
Playoff Result: Eastern Conference Semifinals: 4-2, Eastern Conference Finals: 1-4

Boston Celtics Roster and Stats for 1971-72 Season

POINTS

John Havlicek

27.5

REBOUNDS

Dave Cowens

15.2

ASSISTS

John Havlicek

7.5

	Regular Season							Playoffs
Player	GP	PTS	REB	AST	STL	BLK	3P%	GP	PTS	REB	AST	STL	BLK	3P%
John Havlicek	82	27.5	8.1	7.5	0.0	0.0	0.0	11	27.4	8.4	6.4	0.0	0.0	0.0
Jo Jo White	79	23.1	5.6	5.2	0.0	0.0	0.0	11	23.5	5.4	5.3	0.0	0.0	0.0
Dave Cowens	79	18.8	15.2	2.9	0.0	0.0	0.0	11	15.5	13.8	3.0	0.0	0.0	0.0
Don Nelson	82	13.8	5.5	2.2	0.0	0.0	0.0	11	13.2	5.5	1.9	0.0	0.0	0.0
Don Chaney	79	11.9	4.8	2.5	0.0	0.0	0.0	11	8.8	3.5	2.0	0.0	0.0	0.0
Tom Sanders	82	6.6	4.2	1.2	0.0	0.0	0.0	11	4.3	2.4	0.9	0.0	0.0	0.0
Steve Kuberski	71	6.3	4.4	0.6	0.0	0.0	0.0	11	11.6	5.7	0.3	0.0	0.0	0.0
Art Williams	81	5.1	3.1	4.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	11	5.9	2.5	3.0	0.0	0.0	0.0
Hank Finkel	78	3.2	3.2	0.8	0.0	0.0	0.0	8	2.5	3.0	0.4	0.0	0.0	0.0
Clarence Glover	25	2.6	1.8	0.2	0.0	0.0	0.0	3	2.0	1.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0
Garfield Smith	26	2.4	1.3	0.3	0.0	0.0	0.0	4	0.5	0.3	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0
Rex Morgan	28	2.0	1.1	0.6	0.0	0.0	0.0	4	0.8	1.3	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0

Boston Celtics in the 1972 NBA Playoffs

Playoffs Second Round vs. Atlanta Hawks

In the 1972 NBA Playoffs, the Boston Celtics faced a tough challenge in the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the New York Knicks. Despite John Havlicek's stellar performances, the Celtics were outmatched and ultimately lost the series 4-1 to the Knicks, who were the defending NBA champions at that time. The series highlighted the Celtics' need for more depth and a stronger defensive strategy to compete against elite teams.

Date	Opponent	Result	High Scorer
Mar 29, 1972	vs. Atlanta Hawks	W 126-108	John Havlicek (32 pts)
Mar 31, 1972	@ Atlanta Hawks	L 113-104	John Havlicek (43 pts)
Apr 02, 1972	vs. Atlanta Hawks	W 136-113	John Havlicek (31 pts)
Apr 04, 1972	@ Atlanta Hawks	L 112-110	Jo Jo White (32 pts)
Apr 07, 1972	vs. Atlanta Hawks	W 124-114	John Havlicek (27 pts)
Apr 09, 1972	@ Atlanta Hawks	W 127-118	John Havlicek (26 pts)

1972 Conference Championship vs. New York Knicks

Date	Opponent	Result	High Scorer
Apr 13, 1972	vs. New York Knicks	L 116-94	Jo Jo White (19 pts)
Apr 16, 1972	@ New York Knicks	L 106-105	John Havlicek (29 pts)
Apr 19, 1972	vs. New York Knicks	W 115-109	Jo Jo White (29 pts)
Apr 21, 1972	@ New York Knicks	L 116-98	John Havlicek (27 pts)
Apr 23, 1972	vs. New York Knicks	L 111-103	John Havlicek (32 pts)

Boston Celtics 1971-72 Regular Season Game Log

Here is the game log for the 1971-72 season for the Boston Celtics.

Date	Opponent	Result	High Scorer
Oct 15, 1971	vs. Golden State Warriors	L 97-75	Jo Jo White (22 pts)
Oct 19, 1971	vs. Baltimore Bullets	W 134-114	Jo Jo White (26 pts)
Oct 22, 1971	@ Atlanta Hawks	W 115-108	Jo Jo White (34 pts)
Oct 23, 1971	@ Buffalo Braves	W 103-98	John Havlicek (34 pts)
Oct 25, 1971	vs. Atlanta Hawks	W 136-116	Dave Cowens (27 pts)
Oct 26, 1971	@ New York Knicks	L 106-101	Jo Jo White (29 pts)
Oct 27, 1971	vs. Houston Rockets	W 108-97	Jo Jo White (31 pts)
Oct 29, 1971	vs. Milwaukee Bucks	W 125-114	Dave Cowens (37 pts)
Nov 05, 1971	vs. Detroit Pistons	W 103-102	Jo Jo White (29 pts)
Nov 06, 1971	vs. Portland Trail Blazers	W 124-109	John Havlicek (32 pts)
Nov 08, 1971	vs. Cincinnati Royals	W 120-109	Dave Cowens (30 pts)
Nov 10, 1971	@ Houston Rockets	W 142-103	Dave Cowens (29 pts)
Nov 12, 1971	@ Phoenix Suns	L 128-119	John Havlicek (26 pts)
Nov 13, 1971	@ Seattle SuperSonics	L 116-112	John Havlicek (30 pts)
Nov 14, 1971	@ Los Angeles Lakers	L 128-115	Jo Jo White (36 pts)
Nov 17, 1971	vs. Phoenix Suns	W 140-121	John Havlicek (32 pts)
Nov 19, 1971	vs. Cincinnati Royals	L 110-106	John Havlicek (29 pts)
Nov 20, 1971	@ Chicago Bulls	L 123-106	John Havlicek (30 pts)
Nov 21, 1971	@ Cleveland Cavaliers	W 128-105	John Havlicek (36 pts)
Nov 24, 1971	vs. Buffalo Braves	W 108-100	John Havlicek (33 pts)
Nov 26, 1971	vs. New York Knicks	L 104-89	John Havlicek (28 pts)
Nov 27, 1971	@ Baltimore Bullets	L 125-120	John Havlicek (29 pts)
Nov 28, 1971	vs. Atlanta Hawks	W 130-108	Jo Jo White (25 pts)
Dec 01, 1971	vs. Los Angeles Lakers	L 124-111	John Havlicek (36 pts)
Dec 04, 1971	vs. Houston Rockets	W 117-107	John Havlicek (38 pts)
Dec 07, 1971	@ New York Knicks	W 105-97	Jo Jo White (26 pts)
Dec 08, 1971	vs. Cleveland Cavaliers	W 126-107	John Havlicek (28 pts)
Dec 10, 1971	@ Milwaukee Bucks	L 120-104	John Havlicek (32 pts)
Dec 11, 1971	vs. Chicago Bulls	L 115-99	John Havlicek (24 pts)
Dec 12, 1971	@ Cincinnati Royals	W 96-83	John Havlicek (28 pts)
Dec 14, 1971	@ Chicago Bulls	W 116-108	John Havlicek (35 pts)
Dec 15, 1971	vs. Seattle SuperSonics	W 112-100	Jo Jo White (22 pts)
Dec 17, 1971	@ Cleveland Cavaliers	W 115-109	John Havlicek (25 pts)
Dec 18, 1971	vs. Buffalo Braves	W 124-91	John Havlicek (30 pts)
Dec 22, 1971	vs. Milwaukee Bucks	W 104-98	John Havlicek (26 pts)
Dec 25, 1971	@ Cincinnati Royals	W 99-94	Jo Jo White (30 pts)
Dec 27, 1971	vs. Golden State Warriors	W 99-97	John Havlicek (28 pts)
Dec 28, 1971	@ Philadelphia 76ers	W 120-116	John Havlicek (36 pts)
Dec 31, 1971	vs. Philadelphia 76ers	W 131-119	John Havlicek (30 pts)
Jan 01, 1972	@ Phoenix Suns	L 114-104	John Havlicek (24 pts)
Jan 02, 1972	@ Los Angeles Lakers	L 122-113	John Havlicek (29 pts)
Jan 05, 1972	@ Houston Rockets	W 113-105	Jo Jo White (30 pts)
Jan 07, 1972	@ Portland Trail Blazers	W 120-114	John Havlicek (37 pts)
Jan 08, 1972	@ Golden State Warriors	L 128-106	John Havlicek (28 pts)
Jan 09, 1972	@ Seattle SuperSonics	L 125-119	Jo Jo White (32 pts)
Jan 12, 1972	vs. Chicago Bulls	W 113-112	Jo Jo White (31 pts)
Jan 14, 1972	vs. Detroit Pistons	W 108-94	Dave Cowens (26 pts)
Jan 15, 1972	@ Atlanta Hawks	W 122-106	John Havlicek (40 pts)
Jan 21, 1972	vs. Houston Rockets	W 110-105	John Havlicek (28 pts)
Jan 23, 1972	vs. Portland Trail Blazers	W 115-105	Dave Cowens (26 pts)
Jan 25, 1972	@ New York Knicks	L 109-106	Jo Jo White (33 pts)
Jan 26, 1972	vs. Cleveland Cavaliers	L 112-108	John Havlicek (27 pts)
Jan 28, 1972	vs. New York Knicks	W 122-116	John Havlicek (33 pts)
Jan 29, 1972	@ Detroit Pistons	W 124-112	Don Chaney (29 pts)
Jan 30, 1972	vs. Philadelphia 76ers	W 130-114	John Havlicek (33 pts)
Feb 01, 1972	@ Baltimore Bullets	W 115-108	Dave Cowens (32 pts)
Feb 02, 1972	vs. Chicago Bulls	W 124-100	John Havlicek (32 pts)
Feb 04, 1972	vs. Cincinnati Royals	W 122-109	Dave Cowens (21 pts)
Feb 06, 1972	vs. Seattle SuperSonics	W 128-123	John Havlicek (42 pts)
Feb 09, 1972	vs. Buffalo Braves	W 139-112	Jo Jo White (24 pts)
Feb 11, 1972	vs. Los Angeles Lakers	W 121-108	Don Nelson (24 pts)
Feb 13, 1972	vs. Milwaukee Bucks	L 117-109	Jo Jo White (31 pts)
Feb 15, 1972	@ Portland Trail Blazers	W 111-104	John Havlicek (31 pts)
Feb 16, 1972	@ Seattle SuperSonics	L 113-112	Dave Cowens (29 pts)
Feb 18, 1972	@ Phoenix Suns	L 126-115	John Havlicek (27 pts)
Feb 19, 1972	@ Golden State Warriors	L 115-111	Jo Jo White (26 pts)
Feb 20, 1972	@ Los Angeles Lakers	L 132-113	John Havlicek (27 pts)
Feb 22, 1972	vs. Phoenix Suns	W 114-103	John Havlicek (27 pts)
Feb 23, 1972	@ Cleveland Cavaliers	W 113-111	John Havlicek (33 pts)
Feb 25, 1972	@ Buffalo Braves	W 117-115	John Havlicek (33 pts)
Mar 01, 1972	vs. Cleveland Cavaliers	W 115-105	John Havlicek (31 pts)
Mar 03, 1972	@ Detroit Pistons	W 125-96	Dave Cowens (22 pts)
Mar 05, 1972	vs. Cincinnati Royals	L 125-114	John Havlicek (29 pts)
Mar 06, 1972	@ Milwaukee Bucks	L 132-127	John Havlicek (34 pts)
Mar 12, 1972	vs. New York Knicks	W 112-109	John Havlicek (41 pts)
Mar 14, 1972	vs. Golden State Warriors	W 124-110	John Havlicek (38 pts)
Mar 15, 1972	@ Philadelphia 76ers	W 120-115	John Havlicek (36 pts)
Mar 17, 1972	vs. Philadelphia 76ers	W 127-111	John Havlicek (35 pts)
Mar 19, 1972	vs. Baltimore Bullets	L 125-112	John Havlicek (26 pts)
Mar 22, 1972	vs. Philadelphia 76ers	W 113-106	John Havlicek (21 pts)
Mar 25, 1972	@ Buffalo Braves	W 121-116	John Havlicek (31 pts)
Mar 26, 1972	vs. Detroit Pistons	W 133-120	John Havlicek (27 pts)

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