The 2011-12 Boston Celtics season was marked by resilience and a deep playoff run. This campaign was the lockout-shortened season, consisting of 66 games. The Celtics ended the regular season with a 39-27 record, finishing first in the Atlantic Division and fourth in the Eastern Conference. The team was led by their veteran core, known as the “Big Three”: Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and Ray Allen, along with standout point guard Rajon Rondo.
Under head coach Doc Rivers, the Celtics focused on strong defensive play, finishing second in the league in defensive efficiency. Rajon Rondo had an outstanding season, leading the NBA in assists per game with 11.7, and further establishing himself as a playmaking powerhouse. Paul Pierce was the team’s top scorer, averaging 19.4 points per game.
In the playoffs, the Celtics defeated the Atlanta Hawks in the first round and the Philadelphia 76ers in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, both in seven games. The Eastern Conference Finals saw Boston face off against the Miami Heat. The Celtics took a 3-2 lead in the series, but the Heat, led by LeBron James, ultimately won the series in seven games. Despite the loss, the Celtics’ playoff performance was a testament to their experience and tenacity, as they pushed the eventual champions to the brink. This season marked the end of an era, as Ray Allen left the team in the offseason, signaling a shift for the franchise.
- Regular Season Record: 39-27
- Playoff Result: Eastern Conference First Round: 4-2, Eastern Conference Semifinals: 4-3, Eastern Conference Finals: 3-4
Boston Celtics Roster and Stats for 2011-12 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Paul Pierce | 61 | 19.4 | 5.2 | 4.5 | 1.1 | 0.4 | 36.6 | 20 | 18.9 | 6.1 | 3.1 | 1.5 | 0.9 | 31.0 |
| Kevin Garnett | 60 | 15.8 | 8.2 | 2.9 | 0.9 | 1.0 | 33.3 | 20 | 19.2 | 10.3 | 1.5 | 1.1 | 1.5 | 25.0 |
| Ray Allen | 46 | 14.2 | 3.1 | 2.4 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 45.3 | 18 | 10.7 | 4.1 | 1.0 | 0.9 | 0.1 | 30.4 |
| Brandon Bass | 59 | 12.5 | 6.2 | 0.9 | 0.6 | 0.9 | 0.0 | 20 | 11.1 | 5.3 | 0.8 | 0.7 | 0.5 | 0.0 |
| Rajon Rondo | 53 | 11.9 | 4.8 | 11.7 | 1.8 | 0.1 | 23.8 | 19 | 17.3 | 6.7 | 11.9 | 2.4 | 0.1 | 26.7 |
| Avery Bradley | 64 | 7.6 | 1.8 | 1.4 | 0.7 | 0.2 | 40.7 | 10 | 6.7 | 2.0 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 0.6 | 22.7 |
| Mickaël Piétrus | 42 | 6.9 | 3.1 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 33.5 | 20 | 3.5 | 2.0 | 0.1 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 22.2 |
| Chris Wilcox | 28 | 5.4 | 4.4 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Jermaine O'Neal | 25 | 5.0 | 5.4 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 1.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Keyon Dooling | 46 | 4.0 | 0.8 | 1.1 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 33.3 | 20 | 2.8 | 0.8 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 39.3 |
| Sean Williams | 3 | 3.7 | 4.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 2 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Marquis Daniels | 38 | 3.2 | 1.7 | 1.2 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 15 | 2.0 | 0.7 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.0 |
| JaJuan Johnson | 36 | 3.2 | 1.6 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| Greg Stiemsma | 55 | 2.9 | 3.2 | 0.5 | 0.7 | 1.5 | 0.0 | 19 | 1.5 | 2.2 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.6 | 0.0 |
| E'Twaun Moore | 38 | 2.9 | 0.9 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 37.8 | 9 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.0 |
| Ryan Hollins | 15 | 2.8 | 1.7 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 17 | 1.5 | 1.6 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 |
| Sasha Pavlović | 45 | 2.7 | 1.6 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 29.3 | 10 | 0.7 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 20.0 |
Boston Celtics in the 2012 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs First Round vs. Atlanta Hawks
In the first round of the 2012 NBA Playoffs, the Boston Celtics faced off against the Atlanta Hawks, emerging victorious in a hard-fought series that ended in six games. With the veteran leadership of Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Rajon Rondo, the Celtics showcased their defensive prowess and clutch performances, ultimately securing a 4-2 series win. This victory highlighted Boston's resilience and set the stage for their deeper playoff run that year.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 29, 2012 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 83-74 | |
| May 01, 2012 | @ Atlanta Hawks | W 87-80 | |
| May 04, 2012 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 90-84 | |
| May 06, 2012 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 101-79 | |
| May 08, 2012 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 87-86 | |
| May 10, 2012 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 83-80 |
Playoffs Second Round vs. Philadelphia 76ers
In the 2012 NBA Playoffs, the Boston Celtics faced the Philadelphia 76ers in a gritty and hard-fought second-round series that extended to seven games. Veteran leadership from Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett was pivotal, as they managed to outlast the resilient 76ers, showcasing their experience and poise under pressure. The Celtics' win set them up for a thrilling Eastern Conference Finals showdown against the Miami Heat.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 12, 2012 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 92-91 | |
| May 14, 2012 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | L 82-81 | |
| May 16, 2012 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | W 107-91 | |
| May 18, 2012 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 92-83 | |
| May 21, 2012 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 101-85 | |
| May 23, 2012 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 82-75 | |
| May 26, 2012 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 85-75 |
2012 Conference Championship vs. Miami Heat
In the 2012 NBA Playoffs, the Boston Celtics reached the Eastern Conference Finals, facing off against the Miami Heat in a thrilling seven-game series. Despite their veteran savvy, led by the iconic Big Three of Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and Ray Allen, alongside the emerging Rajon Rondo, the Celtics ultimately fell short, losing 4-3. The series was a testament to Boston's grit and determination, pushing a formidable Heat team, led by LeBron James, to the limit before bowing out.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 28, 2012 | @ Miami Heat | L 93-79 | |
| May 30, 2012 | @ Miami Heat | L 115-111 | |
| Jun 01, 2012 | vs. Miami Heat | W 101-91 | |
| Jun 03, 2012 | vs. Miami Heat | W 93-91 | |
| Jun 05, 2012 | @ Miami Heat | W 94-90 | |
| Jun 07, 2012 | vs. Miami Heat | L 98-79 | |
| Jun 09, 2012 | @ Miami Heat | L 101-88 |
Boston Celtics 2011-12 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 2011-12 season for the Boston Celtics.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 25, 2011 | @ New York Knicks | L 106-104 | |
| Dec 27, 2011 | @ Miami Heat | L 115-107 | |
| Dec 28, 2011 | @ New Orleans Hornets | L 97-78 | |
| Dec 30, 2011 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 96-85 | |
| Jan 01, 2012 | @ Washington Wizards | W 94-86 | |
| Jan 02, 2012 | vs. Washington Wizards | W 100-92 | |
| Jan 04, 2012 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 89-70 | |
| Jan 06, 2012 | vs. Indiana Pacers | L 87-74 | |
| Jan 11, 2012 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | L 90-85 | |
| Jan 13, 2012 | vs. Chicago Bulls | L 88-79 | |
| Jan 14, 2012 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 97-83 | |
| Jan 16, 2012 | vs. Oklahoma City Thunder | L 97-88 | |
| Jan 18, 2012 | vs. Toronto Raptors | W 96-73 | |
| Jan 20, 2012 | vs. Phoenix Suns | L 79-71 | |
| Jan 22, 2012 | @ Washington Wizards | W 100-94 | |
| Jan 23, 2012 | vs. Orlando Magic | W 87-56 | |
| Jan 26, 2012 | @ Orlando Magic | W 91-83 | |
| Jan 27, 2012 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 94-87 | |
| Jan 29, 2012 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | L 88-87 | |
| Jan 31, 2012 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | W 93-90 | |
| Feb 01, 2012 | vs. Toronto Raptors | W 100-64 | |
| Feb 03, 2012 | vs. New York Knicks | W 91-89 | |
| Feb 05, 2012 | vs. Memphis Grizzlies | W 98-80 | |
| Feb 07, 2012 | vs. Charlotte Bobcats | W 94-84 | |
| Feb 09, 2012 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 88-87 | |
| Feb 10, 2012 | @ Toronto Raptors | L 86-74 | |
| Feb 12, 2012 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 95-91 | |
| Feb 15, 2012 | vs. Detroit Pistons | L 98-88 | |
| Feb 16, 2012 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 89-80 | |
| Feb 19, 2012 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 96-81 | |
| Feb 20, 2012 | @ Dallas Mavericks | L 89-73 | |
| Feb 22, 2012 | @ Oklahoma City Thunder | L 119-104 | |
| Feb 28, 2012 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | W 86-83 | |
| Feb 29, 2012 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 102-96 | |
| Mar 02, 2012 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 107-94 | |
| Mar 04, 2012 | vs. New York Knicks | W 115-111 | |
| Mar 06, 2012 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 97-92 | |
| Mar 07, 2012 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 103-71 | |
| Mar 09, 2012 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 104-86 | |
| Mar 11, 2012 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 97-94 | |
| Mar 12, 2012 | @ Los Angeles Clippers | W 94-85 | |
| Mar 14, 2012 | @ Golden State Warriors | W 105-103 | |
| Mar 16, 2012 | @ Sacramento Kings | L 120-95 | |
| Mar 17, 2012 | @ Denver Nuggets | L 98-91 | |
| Mar 19, 2012 | @ Atlanta Hawks | W 79-76 | |
| Mar 22, 2012 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | W 100-91 | |
| Mar 23, 2012 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 99-86 | |
| Mar 25, 2012 | vs. Washington Wizards | W 88-76 | |
| Mar 26, 2012 | @ Charlotte Bobcats | W 102-95 | |
| Mar 28, 2012 | vs. Utah Jazz | W 94-82 | |
| Mar 30, 2012 | @ Minnesota Timberwolves | W 100-79 | |
| Apr 01, 2012 | vs. Miami Heat | W 91-72 | |
| Apr 04, 2012 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | L 87-86 | |
| Apr 05, 2012 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 93-86 | |
| Apr 07, 2012 | @ Indiana Pacers | W 86-72 | |
| Apr 08, 2012 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 103-79 | |
| Apr 10, 2012 | @ Miami Heat | W 115-107 | |
| Apr 11, 2012 | vs. Atlanta Hawks | W 88-86 | |
| Apr 13, 2012 | @ Toronto Raptors | L 84-79 | |
| Apr 14, 2012 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 94-82 | |
| Apr 15, 2012 | @ Charlotte Bobcats | W 94-82 | |
| Apr 17, 2012 | @ New York Knicks | L 118-110 | |
| Apr 18, 2012 | vs. Orlando Magic | W 102-98 | |
| Apr 20, 2012 | @ Atlanta Hawks | L 97-92 | |
| Apr 24, 2012 | vs. Miami Heat | W 78-66 | |
| Apr 26, 2012 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 87-74 |