The 1947-48 season marked the Boston Celtics’ second campaign in the Basketball Association of America (BAA), a precursor to the modern NBA. Under the leadership of head coach John “Honey” Russell, the Celtics aimed to improve upon their inaugural season’s performance. However, the team faced challenges throughout the year, finishing with a record of 20-28. This placed them fourth in the Eastern Division, failing to qualify for the playoffs for the second consecutive season.
The Celtics’ roster featured standout players such as center Ed Sadowski, who was the team’s leading scorer. Despite his efforts, the team struggled with consistency and depth. This season was significant for the Celtics’ early development, as they continued to build their identity and establish a foothold in the league. The Celtics played their home games at the Boston Garden, which became an iconic venue in basketball history.
Throughout the season, the Celtics struggled against stronger opponents, with defense being a particular area of concern. The team allowed an average of 79.4 points per game, placing them near the bottom of the league in defensive statistics. Despite their struggles, the Celtics laid the groundwork for future success, as the lessons learned from these early seasons contributed to the franchise’s eventual rise to prominence in the NBA.
- Regular Season Record: 21-30
- Playoff Result: Did not make playoffs
Boston Celtics Roster and Stats for 1947-48 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Ed Sadowski | 50 | 19.4 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Mel Riebe | 51 | 10.4 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Mike Bloom | 17 | 9.7 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Saul Mariaschin | 46 | 7.9 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Connie Simmons | 32 | 7.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Bulbs Ehlers | 40 | 7.1 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Jack Garfinkel | 46 | 6.2 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Stan Noszka | 25 | 4.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Art Spector | 51 | 3.9 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Gene Stump | 46 | 3.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| George Munroe | 25 | 3.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Chuck Connors | 4 | 3.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Jack Hewson | 22 | 3.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Cecil Hankins | 25 | 2.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Charlie Hoefer | 7 | 1.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| John Janisch | 3 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
Boston Celtics 1947-48 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1947-48 season for the Boston Celtics.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 13, 1947 | @ Baltimore Bullets | L 85-74 | |
| Nov 14, 1947 | vs. Philadelphia Warriors | L 79-74 | |
| Nov 15, 1947 | vs. Washington Capitols | W 73-69 | |
| Nov 18, 1947 | vs. St. Louis Bombers | L 65-50 | |
| Nov 20, 1947 | @ Philadelphia Warriors | W 67-57 | |
| Nov 21, 1947 | vs. Baltimore Bullets | L 89-73 | |
| Nov 22, 1947 | @ Providence Steamrollers | W 65-62 | |
| Nov 25, 1947 | vs. New York Knicks | L 91-75 | |
| Nov 26, 1947 | @ New York Knicks | W 65-63 | |
| Nov 28, 1947 | vs. Washington Capitols | W 92-83 | |
| Dec 02, 1947 | vs. Baltimore Bullets | L 77-69 | |
| Dec 05, 1947 | vs. Providence Steamrollers | W 73-69 | |
| Dec 10, 1947 | vs. New York Knicks | L 79-75 | |
| Dec 12, 1947 | vs. Philadelphia Warriors | W 69-67 | |
| Dec 17, 1947 | vs. Providence Steamrollers | W 67-66 | |
| Dec 19, 1947 | vs. St. Louis Bombers | W 78-70 | |
| Dec 20, 1947 | @ New York Knicks | L 70-58 | |
| Dec 23, 1947 | vs. Chicago Stags | L 83-75 | |
| Dec 27, 1947 | @ Providence Steamrollers | W 74-63 | |
| Dec 30, 1947 | vs. Philadelphia Warriors | W 70-64 | |
| Jan 01, 1948 | @ St. Louis Bombers | L 58-48 | |
| Jan 03, 1948 | @ Washington Capitols | L 95-60 | |
| Jan 10, 1948 | @ Providence Steamrollers | L 70-57 | |
| Jan 11, 1948 | vs. Washington Capitols | W 84-56 | |
| Jan 16, 1948 | vs. Chicago Stags | W 75-61 | |
| Jan 18, 1948 | @ Chicago Stags | L 72-48 | |
| Jan 22, 1948 | @ Philadelphia Warriors | W 61-54 | |
| Jan 23, 1948 | vs. New York Knicks | L 74-58 | |
| Jan 25, 1948 | @ St. Louis Bombers | L 72-54 | |
| Jan 27, 1948 | vs. Philadelphia Warriors | L 77-68 | |
| Jan 30, 1948 | vs. Providence Steamrollers | L 79-69 | |
| Jan 31, 1948 | @ New York Knicks | L 66-64 | |
| Feb 06, 1948 | vs. New York Knicks | L 68-57 | |
| Feb 08, 1948 | @ New York Knicks | L 80-68 | |
| Feb 12, 1948 | @ Philadelphia Warriors | L 69-60 | |
| Feb 13, 1948 | vs. Providence Steamrollers | W 79-73 | |
| Feb 14, 1948 | @ Washington Capitols | L 72-58 | |
| Feb 19, 1948 | @ Baltimore Bullets | L 79-76 | |
| Feb 22, 1948 | vs. Chicago Stags | L 97-77 | |
| Feb 26, 1948 | @ St. Louis Bombers | L 94-92 | |
| Feb 27, 1948 | @ Chicago Stags | W 83-69 | |
| Feb 29, 1948 | vs. Baltimore Bullets | W 65-62 | |
| Mar 04, 1948 | @ Philadelphia Warriors | L 82-62 | |
| Mar 05, 1948 | vs. St. Louis Bombers | W 71-68 | |
| Mar 06, 1948 | @ Baltimore Bullets | L 81-68 | |
| Mar 13, 1948 | @ Providence Steamrollers | W 86-64 | |
| Mar 16, 1948 | vs. Washington Capitols | L 76-62 | |
| Mar 18, 1948 | @ Chicago Stags | W 77-72 | |
| Mar 28, 1948 | vs. Chicago Stags | L 79-72 | |
| Mar 31, 1948 | vs. Chicago Stags | W 81-77 | |
| Apr 02, 1948 | vs. Chicago Stags | L 81-74 |