The 2003-04 Boston Celtics season was a year of transition and challenges. They finished with a record of 36-46, placing them third in the Atlantic Division, and eighth in the Eastern Conference. This record was enough to secure a playoff spot, but the team faced significant internal changes throughout the season.
Jim O’Brien began the season as head coach but resigned in January 2004 due to differences with the front office. John Carroll took over as interim head coach for the remainder of the season. The team was led by star forward Paul Pierce, who averaged 23.0 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 5.1 assists per game. Despite Pierce’s efforts, the Celtics struggled with consistency, particularly on the defensive end.
In terms of roster changes, the Celtics made a notable mid-season trade, sending Antoine Walker and Tony Delk to the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for Raef LaFrentz, Chris Mills, Jiri Welsch, and a draft pick. This move aimed to reshape the team around Pierce, but the immediate impact was limited.
In the playoffs, the Celtics faced the Indiana Pacers in the first round. The series was one-sided, as Boston was swept 4-0. The playoff exit highlighted the need for further roster adjustments and strategic changes. The 2003-04 season ultimately set the stage for future rebuilds, as the organization aimed to return to its winning traditions.
- Regular Season Record: 36-46
- Playoff Result: Eastern Conference First Round: 0-4
Boston Celtics Roster and Stats for 2003-04 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Paul Pierce | 80 | 23.0 | 6.5 | 5.1 | 1.6 | 0.6 | 29.9 | 4 | 20.8 | 8.8 | 2.5 | 1.3 | 1.0 | 29.4 |
| Ricky Davis | 57 | 14.1 | 4.2 | 2.6 | 1.2 | 0.2 | 38.0 | 4 | 11.8 | 3.0 | 3.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 40.0 |
| Chucky Atkins | 24 | 12.0 | 1.9 | 5.3 | 1.1 | 0.0 | 35.1 | 4 | 13.5 | 3.5 | 3.8 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 30.0 |
| Eric Williams | 21 | 11.6 | 4.5 | 1.2 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 34.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Vin Baker | 37 | 11.3 | 5.7 | 1.5 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Mike James | 55 | 10.7 | 3.2 | 4.4 | 1.3 | 0.0 | 38.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Mark Blount | 82 | 10.3 | 7.2 | 0.9 | 1.0 | 1.3 | 0.0 | 4 | 12.0 | 9.3 | 1.0 | 1.5 | 2.0 | 0.0 |
| Jiří Welsch | 81 | 9.2 | 3.7 | 2.3 | 1.2 | 0.1 | 38.1 | 4 | 8.0 | 3.0 | 2.3 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 25.0 |
| Walter McCarty | 77 | 7.9 | 3.1 | 1.6 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 37.4 | 4 | 7.0 | 5.3 | 2.0 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 40.0 |
| Raef LaFrentz | 17 | 7.8 | 4.6 | 1.4 | 0.5 | 0.8 | 20.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Chris Mihm | 54 | 6.1 | 5.1 | 0.2 | 0.5 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 4 | 5.0 | 4.5 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 |
| Dana Barros | 1 | 6.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Marcus Banks | 81 | 5.9 | 1.6 | 2.2 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 31.4 | 4 | 5.0 | 1.8 | 1.8 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 40.0 |
| Tony Battie | 23 | 5.9 | 5.1 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 0.9 | 100.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Kedrick Brown | 21 | 5.2 | 3.2 | 1.2 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 37.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Brandon Hunter | 36 | 3.5 | 3.3 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 3 | 0.7 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 |
| Jumaine Jones | 42 | 2.2 | 1.6 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 29.5 | 2 | 2.0 | 2.5 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Kendrick Perkins | 10 | 2.2 | 1.4 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Michael Stewart | 17 | 0.3 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Boston Celtics in the 2004 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs First Round vs. Indiana Pacers
In the 2004 NBA Playoffs, the Boston Celtics faced a tough challenge in the first round against the Indiana Pacers. The series ended in a disappointing sweep for the Celtics, as they were defeated 4-0 by a dominant Pacers team led by Ron Artest and Jermaine O'Neal. Despite Paul Pierce's efforts, Boston struggled offensively and defensively, culminating in a series of lopsided losses.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 17, 2004 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 104-88 | |
| Apr 20, 2004 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 103-90 | |
| Apr 23, 2004 | vs. Indiana Pacers | L 108-85 | |
| Apr 25, 2004 | vs. Indiana Pacers | L 90-75 |
Boston Celtics 2003-04 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 2003-04 season for the Boston Celtics.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 29, 2003 | vs. Miami Heat | W 98-75 | |
| Oct 31, 2003 | @ Memphis Grizzlies | W 93-91 | |
| Nov 01, 2003 | @ New Orleans Hornets | L 97-90 | |
| Nov 05, 2003 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 96-88 | |
| Nov 07, 2003 | vs. New Jersey Nets | L 94-87 | |
| Nov 09, 2003 | vs. Sacramento Kings | W 91-82 | |
| Nov 11, 2003 | @ Indiana Pacers | W 78-76 | |
| Nov 12, 2003 | vs. Chicago Bulls | L 89-82 | |
| Nov 14, 2003 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 91-82 | |
| Nov 17, 2003 | @ New York Knicks | L 89-86 | |
| Nov 19, 2003 | vs. New Orleans Hornets | L 81-73 | |
| Nov 21, 2003 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 87-85 | |
| Nov 24, 2003 | vs. New York Knicks | L 94-88 | |
| Nov 26, 2003 | @ Orlando Magic | W 94-92 | |
| Nov 28, 2003 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 106-96 | |
| Nov 29, 2003 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 100-94 | |
| Dec 01, 2003 | vs. Memphis Grizzlies | L 96-89 | |
| Dec 03, 2003 | @ Toronto Raptors | L 105-95 | |
| Dec 05, 2003 | vs. Phoenix Suns | L 110-106 | |
| Dec 07, 2003 | @ Denver Nuggets | W 116-111 | |
| Dec 08, 2003 | @ Utah Jazz | W 102-80 | |
| Dec 10, 2003 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 126-112 | |
| Dec 12, 2003 | vs. Toronto Raptors | W 114-111 | |
| Dec 13, 2003 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | W 105-98 | |
| Dec 15, 2003 | vs. Minnesota Timberwolves | L 116-95 | |
| Dec 17, 2003 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | W 105-103 | |
| Dec 19, 2003 | vs. Utah Jazz | L 99-96 | |
| Dec 21, 2003 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 87-84 | |
| Dec 23, 2003 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 93-88 | |
| Dec 26, 2003 | @ Phoenix Suns | W 104-102 | |
| Dec 28, 2003 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 105-82 | |
| Dec 29, 2003 | @ Golden State Warriors | W 100-91 | |
| Dec 31, 2003 | vs. New Orleans Hornets | L 96-94 | |
| Jan 02, 2004 | vs. Indiana Pacers | L 103-90 | |
| Jan 03, 2004 | @ Chicago Bulls | W 88-77 | |
| Jan 05, 2004 | vs. Detroit Pistons | L 78-68 | |
| Jan 07, 2004 | vs. Orlando Magic | W 101-93 | |
| Jan 09, 2004 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 107-82 | |
| Jan 11, 2004 | @ Houston Rockets | W 97-93 | |
| Jan 13, 2004 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 111-103 | |
| Jan 14, 2004 | vs. Houston Rockets | L 95-80 | |
| Jan 16, 2004 | @ Orlando Magic | L 124-118 | |
| Jan 18, 2004 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | L 109-92 | |
| Jan 20, 2004 | @ Miami Heat | W 86-84 | |
| Jan 23, 2004 | vs. Washington Wizards | W 100-89 | |
| Jan 25, 2004 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 110-91 | |
| Jan 28, 2004 | vs. Detroit Pistons | L 106-103 | |
| Jan 30, 2004 | vs. New York Knicks | L 92-74 | |
| Jan 31, 2004 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 99-98 | |
| Feb 04, 2004 | vs. Los Angeles Clippers | L 95-86 | |
| Feb 06, 2004 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | L 100-96 | |
| Feb 07, 2004 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | W 110-80 | |
| Feb 09, 2004 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 97-89 | |
| Feb 12, 2004 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 107-87 | |
| Feb 17, 2004 | @ Sacramento Kings | L 127-111 | |
| Feb 19, 2004 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | L 102-100 | |
| Feb 21, 2004 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 105-84 | |
| Feb 22, 2004 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 108-87 | |
| Feb 25, 2004 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | L 106-104 | |
| Feb 27, 2004 | vs. Toronto Raptors | W 88-75 | |
| Feb 29, 2004 | @ Toronto Raptors | W 91-82 | |
| Mar 01, 2004 | vs. Orlando Magic | W 117-96 | |
| Mar 05, 2004 | vs. Washington Wizards | W 94-90 | |
| Mar 07, 2004 | @ Minnesota Timberwolves | W 80-77 | |
| Mar 09, 2004 | @ New York Knicks | W 87-84 | |
| Mar 10, 2004 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 117-109 | |
| Mar 12, 2004 | vs. Indiana Pacers | L 99-81 | |
| Mar 13, 2004 | @ Washington Wizards | W 111-102 | |
| Mar 17, 2004 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 104-100 | |
| Mar 19, 2004 | @ Dallas Mavericks | L 120-104 | |
| Mar 20, 2004 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 103-87 | |
| Mar 26, 2004 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 102-93 | |
| Mar 28, 2004 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 89-65 | |
| Mar 29, 2004 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 84-80 | |
| Mar 31, 2004 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | L 105-98 | |
| Apr 02, 2004 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 111-106 | |
| Apr 04, 2004 | @ Washington Wizards | L 112-102 | |
| Apr 07, 2004 | @ Miami Heat | L 104-101 | |
| Apr 09, 2004 | @ New Orleans Hornets | L 89-80 | |
| Apr 10, 2004 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 110-99 | |
| Apr 12, 2004 | vs. Miami Heat | L 84-77 | |
| Apr 14, 2004 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 137-132 |