The 1979-80 Boston Celtics season marked a significant turnaround for the franchise, setting the stage for a successful decade. This season was notable for the arrival of Larry Bird, who was drafted in 1978 but joined the team after completing his college career. Bird’s impact was immediate, as he averaged 21.3 points, 10.4 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game, earning the NBA Rookie of the Year award.
Under the guidance of new head coach Bill Fitch, the Celtics improved dramatically, finishing the regular season with a 61-21 record. This was a substantial improvement from their 29-53 record the previous year. The addition of Bird, along with key contributions from veterans like Dave Cowens, Cedric Maxwell, and Tiny Archibald, rejuvenated the team.
In the playoffs, the Celtics defeated the Houston Rockets in the Eastern Conference Semifinals but were eliminated by the Philadelphia 76ers in the Eastern Conference Finals. Despite this, the season was deemed a success, as the Celtics had reestablished themselves as one of the league’s elite teams.
The 1979-80 season laid the foundation for the Celtics’ dominance in the 1980s, with Bird becoming one of the central figures in the NBA. The team’s performance sparked renewed enthusiasm among fans and set the stage for multiple championships in the years to follow.
- Regular Season Record: 61-21
- Playoff Result: Eastern Conference Semifinals: 4-0, Eastern Conference Finals: 1-4
Boston Celtics Roster and Stats for 1979-80 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Larry Bird | 82 | 21.3 | 10.4 | 4.5 | 1.8 | 0.7 | 40.6 | 9 | 21.3 | 11.2 | 4.7 | 1.6 | 0.9 | 28.6 |
| Cedric Maxwell | 80 | 16.9 | 8.8 | 2.5 | 1.0 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 9 | 18.2 | 10.0 | 2.1 | 0.6 | 1.1 | 0.0 |
| Dave Cowens | 66 | 14.2 | 8.1 | 3.1 | 1.0 | 0.9 | 8.4 | 9 | 12.0 | 7.3 | 2.3 | 1.0 | 0.8 | 0.0 |
| Tiny Archibald | 80 | 14.1 | 2.5 | 8.4 | 1.3 | 0.1 | 22.2 | 9 | 14.2 | 1.2 | 7.9 | 1.1 | 0.0 | 50.0 |
| Pete Maravich | 26 | 11.5 | 1.5 | 1.1 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 75.0 | 9 | 6.0 | 0.9 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 33.3 |
| Rick Robey | 82 | 11.5 | 6.5 | 1.1 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 9 | 6.1 | 3.6 | 1.0 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 0.0 |
| Chris Ford | 73 | 11.2 | 2.5 | 2.9 | 1.4 | 0.4 | 42.7 | 9 | 9.1 | 2.8 | 2.3 | 1.3 | 0.7 | 15.4 |
| M.L. Carr | 82 | 11.1 | 4.0 | 1.9 | 1.5 | 0.4 | 29.3 | 9 | 9.1 | 3.7 | 1.3 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 40.0 |
| Gerald Henderson | 76 | 6.2 | 1.1 | 1.9 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 33.3 | 9 | 4.7 | 1.1 | 1.3 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Jeff Judkins | 65 | 5.4 | 1.0 | 0.7 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 39.3 | 7 | 1.3 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 33.3 |
| Eric Fernsten | 56 | 3.1 | 1.7 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 5 | 1.2 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.6 | 0.0 |
| Don Chaney | 60 | 2.8 | 1.2 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 20.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
Boston Celtics in the 1980 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs Second Round vs. Houston Rockets
In the second round of the 1980 NBA Playoffs, the Boston Celtics faced the Philadelphia 76ers, marking a pivotal clash between Eastern Conference powerhouses. Despite their strong regular-season performance, the Celtics were ultimately outmatched by the 76ers, who won the series 4-1, thanks to the dominant play of Julius Erving and a well-rounded Philadelphia squad. This series underscored the Celtics' need for further development, setting the stage for their future success in the 1980s.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 09, 1980 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 119-101 | |
| Apr 11, 1980 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 95-75 | |
| Apr 13, 1980 | @ Houston Rockets | W 100-81 | |
| Apr 14, 1980 | @ Houston Rockets | W 138-121 |
1980 Conference Championship vs. Philadelphia 76ers
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 18, 1980 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | L 96-93 | |
| Apr 20, 1980 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 96-90 | |
| Apr 23, 1980 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 99-97 | |
| Apr 25, 1980 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 102-90 | |
| Apr 27, 1980 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | L 105-94 |
Boston Celtics 1979-80 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1979-80 season for the Boston Celtics.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 12, 1979 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 114-106 | |
| Oct 13, 1979 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | W 139-117 | |
| Oct 17, 1979 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 127-108 | |
| Oct 19, 1979 | vs. Washington Bullets | W 130-93 | |
| Oct 20, 1979 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 131-128 | |
| Oct 23, 1979 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 129-120 | |
| Oct 24, 1979 | @ Houston Rockets | W 100-99 | |
| Oct 27, 1979 | @ Atlanta Hawks | W 100-95 | |
| Oct 31, 1979 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 116-79 | |
| Nov 03, 1979 | @ Washington Bullets | W 118-97 | |
| Nov 07, 1979 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 117-105 | |
| Nov 09, 1979 | vs. Kansas City Kings | W 127-119 | |
| Nov 10, 1979 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 95-94 | |
| Nov 14, 1979 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 115-111 | |
| Nov 16, 1979 | vs. Utah Jazz | W 113-97 | |
| Nov 17, 1979 | @ New York Knicks | L 113-109 | |
| Nov 21, 1979 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 111-103 | |
| Nov 23, 1979 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 118-103 | |
| Nov 24, 1979 | @ Atlanta Hawks | W 106-101 | |
| Nov 28, 1979 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 119-97 | |
| Nov 30, 1979 | vs. New York Knicks | W 100-97 | |
| Dec 01, 1979 | @ Indiana Pacers | W 106-102 | |
| Dec 02, 1979 | @ Kansas City Kings | L 94-88 | |
| Dec 04, 1979 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 118-114 | |
| Dec 05, 1979 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | L 120-92 | |
| Dec 07, 1979 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 100-92 | |
| Dec 08, 1979 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 116-100 | |
| Dec 09, 1979 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | W 113-108 | |
| Dec 12, 1979 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 116-102 | |
| Dec 14, 1979 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 97-94 | |
| Dec 15, 1979 | @ New York Knicks | W 99-96 | |
| Dec 16, 1979 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 115-112 | |
| Dec 19, 1979 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 112-89 | |
| Dec 21, 1979 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 133-114 | |
| Dec 22, 1979 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 126-113 | |
| Dec 27, 1979 | @ San Diego Clippers | W 118-97 | |
| Dec 28, 1979 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 123-105 | |
| Dec 29, 1979 | @ Golden State Warriors | W 104-88 | |
| Jan 02, 1980 | @ Houston Rockets | W 111-103 | |
| Jan 05, 1980 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 119-111 | |
| Jan 09, 1980 | vs. New York Knicks | W 112-95 | |
| Jan 11, 1980 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 108-93 | |
| Jan 13, 1980 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 100-98 | |
| Jan 16, 1980 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 114-104 | |
| Jan 18, 1980 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 111-93 | |
| Jan 20, 1980 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | L 108-106 | |
| Jan 22, 1980 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 112-106 | |
| Jan 23, 1980 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 131-104 | |
| Jan 25, 1980 | vs. Washington Bullets | L 118-107 | |
| Jan 27, 1980 | vs. San Diego Clippers | W 131-108 | |
| Jan 29, 1980 | @ Chicago Bulls | W 103-99 | |
| Jan 30, 1980 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 110-103 | |
| Jan 31, 1980 | @ Washington Bullets | W 119-103 | |
| Feb 06, 1980 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 129-110 | |
| Feb 08, 1980 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 130-108 | |
| Feb 10, 1980 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 128-111 | |
| Feb 13, 1980 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 135-134 | |
| Feb 15, 1980 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | W 106-91 | |
| Feb 17, 1980 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 109-108 | |
| Feb 20, 1980 | @ Utah Jazz | W 105-98 | |
| Feb 23, 1980 | @ Denver Nuggets | W 124-105 | |
| Feb 26, 1980 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 108-97 | |
| Feb 27, 1980 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 130-125 | |
| Feb 29, 1980 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 110-99 | |
| Mar 02, 1980 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 118-115 | |
| Mar 04, 1980 | @ San Antonio Spurs | W 137-108 | |
| Mar 05, 1980 | @ Houston Rockets | W 103-99 | |
| Mar 07, 1980 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 111-92 | |
| Mar 09, 1980 | vs. Washington Bullets | L 133-128 | |
| Mar 11, 1980 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 114-108 | |
| Mar 12, 1980 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 121-105 | |
| Mar 14, 1980 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 88-87 | |
| Mar 15, 1980 | @ New York Knicks | W 123-120 | |
| Mar 17, 1980 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 117-92 | |
| Mar 18, 1980 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 114-102 | |
| Mar 20, 1980 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 124-106 | |
| Mar 22, 1980 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 109-105 | |
| Mar 23, 1980 | vs. New Jersey Nets | L 101-96 | |
| Mar 25, 1980 | @ Washington Bullets | W 96-95 | |
| Mar 26, 1980 | vs. New York Knicks | W 129-121 | |
| Mar 28, 1980 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 130-122 | |
| Mar 30, 1980 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 116-110 |