The Greatest Celtics Team of All Time: The 1985-86 Boston Celtics 1985-1986 Record: 67-15 Coach: KC Jones Finish: 1st Place Atlantic Division Playoffs: Won 16th NBA Championship 4-2 versus the Houston Rockets Key Players PG- Danny Ainge SG- Dennis Johnson/Scott Wedman SF- Larry Bird* PF- Kevin McHale C- Robert Parrish/Bill Walton** *NBA MVP **Sixth Man of the Year Click here for full roster and stats June 9th 1985, the Boston Celtics were beaten in the Boston Garden by the Los Angeles Lakers. After an off-season where they acquired Bill Walton, Jerry Sichting, Sam Vincent, David Thirdkill, and Sylvester ?Sly? Williams they didn?t start the new season ready to play, as Larry Bird the team leader had hurt his back painting his fence in Indiana. The team was coached by a great players coach, KC Jones, a great Celtic of the Russell era. This team may have had the best frontcourt in NBA history with a lineup of Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, and Robert Parrish. They also had great guard play from Danny Ainge and Dennis Johnson. They played ideal team basketball and played well defensively. Larry Bird led the team finishing in the top 10 in all five major statistical categories (scoring (25.8 ppg), rebounding (9.8 rpg), steals (2.02), free throw percentage (.896) and three-point field goal percentage (.423). The team lost one home game the entire season finishing 40-1 at home. Their final record was a team record 67-15, finishing as the number one seed in the East, and heading towards a first round match up with the Chicago Bulls and Michael Jordan. After being scared by a 63 point performance the Celtics swept the Bulls. They then faced the Atlanta Hawks with Dominique Wilkins; they won in five games, which led to a Conference Finals match up against the Milwaukee Bucks. The Bucks were coached by the ex-Celtic great Don Nelson. Try as he might Nelson?s Bucks could not play with the Celtics; they were swept away by the Celtics, led by a great performance by Bird in game four. While this was going on the Houston Rockets were shocking the world, they were p 3-1 on the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers. Though most Celtic fans wanted the Lakers blood, they didn?t get what they wanted. The Lakers were defeated and the Celtics were to play Hakeem Olajuwan and Ralph Sampson, the ?Twin Towers.? Houston played well, but they were no match for the Celtics. Sampson was shut down by a combination of Robert Parrish, Kevin McHale, and Bill Walton. Although the Celtics were praised for their great offense, it was their defense that beat the Rockets in six games. Here?s how Sampson put it "I don't remember the last time I was hounded by a team more than I was today. Every time I touched the ball, there were two and three guys around me. And that went for Hakeem, too." Larry was the Finals and Regular Season MVP, after this season and his recurring back problems Larry?s career was on the decline, but he brought Boston what is their last banner.
That was a great team indeed. I thought it was more amazing that MJ put up the 63 points and 131 for the series against what many think of as one of the top ten teams ever. How do you think the Finals would have gone if the Lakers had survived the Rockets scare and gone on to face the Celts? <font size="1">Edited by <font color="DarkRed">King James</font></font>
Yep the Celtics team were indeed awesome were indeed great, but i have to say the Chicago Bulls 1995-1996 was the BEST team ever....... 72-10 wins first team in the NBA to reach 70 wins and the best regular season in the NBA
We're talking about the Celts here... Not the Bulls I think that was Bird's best season overall... Plus, Bill Walton had his revival ... They had probably the best frontcourt ever plus they got a 6th man in Bill... Supreme
I'd say the 64-65 season was pretty awesome...not that I watched it. Any of the eleven championship years led by Bill Russell could be deemed the best. Proving that defense (Russell) beats offense (Chamberlain) and winning 11 of 13...now that's entertainment! The teams of the fifties and sixties were the greatest.
I dunno, I think the '86 Celtics could take any one of the 11 of 13 teams. Not that they weren't great, but the '86 team would have been unguardable, even by the defensive mastery of the 60's Celtics. I agree though, that matchup would have been something to watch.
Ah, the Celtics. The main reason why I don't dislike them as a team is because of Kevin McHale. The man dubbed by Barkley as the toughest oppenent he faced is just a wonder to watch. He was a post-move machine. At first glance he doesn't seem like he would be much of a player, but he is one of the top three power forwards of all-time. I woulf talk about Larry Lrgrnd, but I'm sure everyone knows what needs to be known. Robert Parish is an iffy player for me. Good player, yes, and I admire his longevity, but I don't necessarily think he is HOF material.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting sunsfan1357:</div><div class="quote_post">Ah, the Celtics. The main reason why I don't dislike them as a team is because of Kevin McHale. The man dubbed by Barkley as the toughest oppenent he faced is just a wonder to watch. He was a post-move machine. At first glance he doesn't seem like he would be much of a player, but he is one of the top three power forwards of all-time.</div> Kevin McHale in my opinion is one of the most underrated defenders in NBA history, he always covered the other teams best forward and at times center. He was a great rebounder and good passing big man.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting BigMemo:</div><div class="quote_post">I'd say the 64-65 season was pretty awesome...not that I watched it. Any of the eleven championship years led by Bill Russell could be deemed the best. Proving that defense (Russell) beats offense (Chamberlain) and winning 11 of 13...now that's entertainment! The teams of the fifties and sixties were the greatest.</div> Wilt had 80% as good defense as Russell, 300% the offense, and 10% the teammates
McHale's arms were extremely long; one of his teammates once said that when Kevin wanted to scratch his ankle, he didn't have to bend over. :biggrin2: One thing that stands out for me with that Bird/Walton team was the passing by both of those guys. Boston lost one game at the Garden that year.......anybody know who it was that beat them?
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Big Nasty:</div><div class="quote_post">I'm pretty sure it was the Portland Trailblazers.</div> Trailblazers it was; nice job.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Big Nasty:</div><div class="quote_post">I'm pretty sure it was the Portland Trailblazers.</div> And Kiki Vandewghe didn't even play in the game, Jerome Kersey got his first career start, scoring 23 points
Either Arnold"Red"Auerbach or Lenny Wilkens has got to be the greatest coach of all time. I like Lenny better for some reason i think its because i got to see him coach.
"Either Arnold"Red"Auerbach or Lenny Wilkens has got to be the greatest coach of all time." No offense, but Lenny only gets consideration through massive attrition. He's climbed to the top of the wins ranking through longevity, not excellence, IMO. That's not a shot, because this is a business where coaching longevity is not easy to come by, especially now. However, while the knock on Red is that his teams were stacked beyond belief as compared to other teams in the league, he also coached alot less games per year. I'm not sure there will ever be a consensus "greatest team ever" when it comes to the Celtics, because those who understand both Celtics and NBA history and the various issues involved with making Era Comparisons, know there are alot of points to debate that can never be effectively comparable situations. That said, the 85-86 team can certainly be regarded as "near the top of the list".
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Andrew23226:</div><div class="quote_post">Could you imagine that team the next year with Len Bias as well.</div> The Celtics would have transitioned from one dominant era to another with Len Bias at the helm. Bird to Bias. Sad that it wasn't to be. As a longtime ACC freak and after growing up watching all the classic battles in ACC land and attending many many games at UNC/Duke,Len Bias is still(next to the Fab Five)my all time favorite college athlete. This cat was an all-around great player and would have kept the Celtic legacy alive. The deaths of Len Bias and Reggie Lewis were critical blows IMO,to this franchise. Shame too,both of these cats were hella special and I,for one,miss seein' 'em hoop it up.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">The deaths of Len Bias and Reggie Lewis were critical blows IMO,to this franchise.</div> Well said Dre. The franchise still hasn't fully recovered yet.
lenny wilkens is also the losingest coach of all time. his record is a lil over 500. as a coach i think he may have won 1 championship in 23 years. definitely red....
