The 1980-81 Boston Celtics season marked a significant chapter in the franchise’s storied history. Under the guidance of head coach Bill Fitch, the Celtics finished the regular season with an impressive 62-20 record, securing the top seed in the Eastern Conference. This season was highlighted by the emergence of second-year forward Larry Bird, who led the team in scoring, averaging 21.2 points per game, and contributed significantly to the team’s success with his all-around play.
In the playoffs, the Celtics showcased their resilience and depth. The team advanced past the Chicago Bulls in the Eastern Conference Semifinals in a hard-fought seven-game series. They then faced the Philadelphia 76ers in the Eastern Conference Finals, overcoming a 3-1 series deficit to win in seven games. This comeback remains one of the most memorable in NBA playoff history.
In the NBA Finals, the Celtics faced the Houston Rockets. Boston’s balanced attack and strong defense proved too much for Houston, as the Celtics won the series 4-2 to claim their 14th championship. Center Robert Parish and forward Cedric Maxwell played pivotal roles, complementing Bird’s leadership and scoring prowess. Maxwell’s performance earned him the NBA Finals MVP award. The 1980-81 season laid the foundation for the Celtics’ dominance in the 1980s, establishing them as one of the premier teams in the league.
- Regular Season Record: 62-20
- Playoff Result: Eastern Conference Semifinals: 4-0, Eastern Conference Finals: 4-3, NBA Finals: 4-2
Boston Celtics Roster and Stats for 1980-81 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Larry Bird | 82 | 21.2 | 10.9 | 5.5 | 2.0 | 0.8 | 27.0 | 17 | 21.9 | 14.0 | 6.1 | 2.3 | 1.0 | 37.5 |
| Robert Parish | 82 | 18.9 | 9.5 | 1.8 | 1.0 | 2.6 | 0.0 | 17 | 15.0 | 8.6 | 1.1 | 1.2 | 2.3 | 0.0 |
| Cedric Maxwell | 81 | 15.2 | 6.5 | 2.7 | 1.0 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 17 | 16.1 | 7.4 | 2.7 | 0.7 | 0.9 | 0.0 |
| Tiny Archibald | 80 | 13.8 | 2.2 | 7.7 | 0.9 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 17 | 15.6 | 1.6 | 6.3 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Kevin McHale | 82 | 10.0 | 4.4 | 0.7 | 0.4 | 1.8 | 0.0 | 17 | 8.5 | 3.5 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 1.5 | 0.0 |
| Rick Robey | 82 | 9.0 | 4.8 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 17 | 5.1 | 3.5 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 0.3 | 0.0 |
| Chris Ford | 82 | 8.9 | 2.0 | 3.6 | 1.2 | 0.3 | 32.7 | 17 | 9.1 | 2.6 | 2.7 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 28.0 |
| Gerald Henderson | 82 | 7.8 | 1.6 | 2.6 | 1.0 | 0.2 | 6.7 | 16 | 5.8 | 1.6 | 1.6 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 0.0 |
| M.L. Carr | 41 | 6.0 | 2.0 | 1.3 | 0.7 | 0.4 | 6.7 | 17 | 6.0 | 1.5 | 0.8 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 0.0 |
| Terry Duerod | 32 | 2.5 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 60.0 | 10 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Eric Fernsten | 45 | 2.1 | 1.4 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 8 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Wayne Kreklow | 25 | 1.2 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 25.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
Boston Celtics in the 1981 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs Second Round vs. Chicago Bulls
In the 1981 NBA Playoffs, the Boston Celtics faced the Chicago Bulls in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. The Celtics displayed dominant form by sweeping the series 4-0, showcasing Larry Bird's emerging leadership and the team's depth. Boston's strong defense and versatile offense were instrumental as they advanced, setting the stage for their eventual championship run.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 05, 1981 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 121-109 | |
| Apr 07, 1981 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 106-97 | |
| Apr 10, 1981 | @ Chicago Bulls | W 113-107 | |
| Apr 12, 1981 | @ Chicago Bulls | W 109-103 |
1981 Conference Championship vs. Philadelphia 76ers
In the 1981 NBA Playoffs, the Boston Celtics showcased their dominance in the Eastern Conference Finals by defeating the Philadelphia 76ers in a thrilling seven-game series. With standout performances from Larry Bird and the clutch play of Cedric Maxwell, the Celtics overcame a 3-1 series deficit, demonstrating their resilience and setting the stage for their eventual championship victory. This series highlighted the fierce rivalry between the Celtics and the 76ers, with Boston's blend of tenacity and talent proving decisive.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 21, 1981 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | L 105-104 | |
| Apr 22, 1981 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 118-99 | |
| Apr 24, 1981 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 110-100 | |
| Apr 26, 1981 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 107-105 | |
| Apr 29, 1981 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 111-109 | |
| May 01, 1981 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | W 100-98 | |
| May 03, 1981 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 91-90 |
1981 NBA Finals vs. Houston Rockets
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 05, 1981 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 98-95 | |
| May 07, 1981 | vs. Houston Rockets | L 92-90 | |
| May 09, 1981 | @ Houston Rockets | W 94-71 | |
| May 10, 1981 | @ Houston Rockets | L 91-86 | |
| May 12, 1981 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 109-80 | |
| May 14, 1981 | @ Houston Rockets | W 102-91 |
Boston Celtics 1980-81 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1980-81 season for the Boston Celtics.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 10, 1980 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 130-103 | |
| Oct 14, 1980 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 122-116 | |
| Oct 16, 1980 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | W 110-103 | |
| Oct 18, 1980 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 103-99 | |
| Oct 22, 1980 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 108-104 | |
| Oct 23, 1980 | vs. New York Knicks | L 109-107 | |
| Oct 25, 1980 | @ Washington Bullets | W 103-87 | |
| Oct 29, 1980 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 103-85 | |
| Oct 31, 1980 | vs. Kansas City Kings | W 115-110 | |
| Nov 01, 1980 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 117-113 | |
| Nov 05, 1980 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 104-87 | |
| Nov 07, 1980 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | L 102-101 | |
| Nov 09, 1980 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 111-105 | |
| Nov 12, 1980 | vs. Washington Bullets | W 93-86 | |
| Nov 14, 1980 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 126-102 | |
| Nov 18, 1980 | @ Chicago Bulls | W 113-112 | |
| Nov 19, 1980 | @ Indiana Pacers | W 103-91 | |
| Nov 21, 1980 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 108-106 | |
| Nov 22, 1980 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 113-98 | |
| Nov 26, 1980 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 126-101 | |
| Nov 28, 1980 | vs. New York Knicks | W 120-106 | |
| Nov 30, 1980 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 107-105 | |
| Dec 02, 1980 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 94-85 | |
| Dec 03, 1980 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 106-101 | |
| Dec 05, 1980 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | W 97-87 | |
| Dec 07, 1980 | vs. Washington Bullets | L 113-103 | |
| Dec 09, 1980 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 112-89 | |
| Dec 10, 1980 | @ Washington Bullets | W 101-99 | |
| Dec 12, 1980 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 119-104 | |
| Dec 13, 1980 | @ Chicago Bulls | W 106-95 | |
| Dec 17, 1980 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 115-98 | |
| Dec 19, 1980 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 133-119 | |
| Dec 20, 1980 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | W 107-102 | |
| Dec 23, 1980 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 136-128 | |
| Dec 25, 1980 | @ New York Knicks | W 117-108 | |
| Dec 27, 1980 | @ Atlanta Hawks | W 112-107 | |
| Dec 30, 1980 | @ Phoenix Suns | W 116-97 | |
| Jan 01, 1981 | @ San Diego Clippers | W 88-85 | |
| Jan 02, 1981 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 121-106 | |
| Jan 04, 1981 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | W 120-111 | |
| Jan 07, 1981 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 108-90 | |
| Jan 09, 1981 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 117-111 | |
| Jan 10, 1981 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 117-115 | |
| Jan 13, 1981 | @ New York Knicks | W 93-89 | |
| Jan 14, 1981 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 120-113 | |
| Jan 16, 1981 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 94-85 | |
| Jan 18, 1981 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 98-96 | |
| Jan 19, 1981 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 92-90 | |
| Jan 21, 1981 | vs. Utah Jazz | W 117-87 | |
| Jan 23, 1981 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 104-103 | |
| Jan 25, 1981 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 115-106 | |
| Jan 28, 1981 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 104-101 | |
| Jan 29, 1981 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 108-85 | |
| Feb 04, 1981 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 107-104 | |
| Feb 05, 1981 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 113-103 | |
| Feb 06, 1981 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 111-98 | |
| Feb 08, 1981 | vs. San Diego Clippers | W 123-107 | |
| Feb 10, 1981 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 108-107 | |
| Feb 11, 1981 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | W 105-91 | |
| Feb 13, 1981 | @ Utah Jazz | L 104-89 | |
| Feb 15, 1981 | @ Denver Nuggets | W 120-118 | |
| Feb 17, 1981 | @ San Antonio Spurs | W 128-116 | |
| Feb 18, 1981 | @ Kansas City Kings | L 114-113 | |
| Feb 21, 1981 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 130-119 | |
| Feb 25, 1981 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 124-103 | |
| Feb 27, 1981 | @ Atlanta Hawks | W 132-102 | |
| Mar 01, 1981 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 114-107 | |
| Mar 03, 1981 | @ Dallas Mavericks | W 117-105 | |
| Mar 04, 1981 | @ Houston Rockets | W 108-101 | |
| Mar 06, 1981 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 110-104 | |
| Mar 08, 1981 | vs. New York Knicks | W 115-94 | |
| Mar 11, 1981 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 122-108 | |
| Mar 13, 1981 | vs. Indiana Pacers | L 101-94 | |
| Mar 15, 1981 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 133-125 | |
| Mar 17, 1981 | @ Washington Bullets | W 112-91 | |
| Mar 18, 1981 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | L 108-97 | |
| Mar 20, 1981 | vs. Washington Bullets | W 128-116 | |
| Mar 22, 1981 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 126-94 | |
| Mar 24, 1981 | @ New York Knicks | W 118-116 | |
| Mar 25, 1981 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 111-105 | |
| Mar 27, 1981 | vs. Detroit Pistons | L 115-90 | |
| Mar 29, 1981 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 98-94 |