1990–91 Boston Celtics season

1990–91 Boston Celtics season
Division champions
Head coach Chris Ford
Owner(s) Don Gaston
Alan N. Cohen
Paul Dupee
Arena Boston Garden
Hartford Civic Center
Results
Record 56–26 (.683)
Place Division: 1st (Atlantic)
Conference: 2nd (Eastern)
Playoff finish East Conference Semifinals
(Lost to Pistons 2-4)
Stats @ Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
Television WFXT
(Tom Heinsohn, Bob Cousy)
SportsChannel New England
(Mike Gorman, Tom Heinsohn)
Radio WEEI
(Glenn Ordway, Doug Brown)

The 1990–91 NBA season was the 45th season for the Boston Celtics in the National Basketball Association.[1] After failing to advance past the first round in the two previous seasons, it appeared going into the 1990–91 season that the Celtics were fading as NBA title contenders. However, the Celtics burst to a 29–5 start reminiscent of their title years of the 1980s and once again established themselves as contenders. Besides general team improvement (and perhaps the chemistry employed by new head coach Chris Ford), the Celtics were helped by the return of 1988 first round draft pick Brian Shaw (who had played in Italy in the 89–90 season). Beginning in January, Larry Bird began to miss significant playing time due to back injuries (Bird would miss 22 regular season games) and the team struggled in his absence.[2] The team limped to the finish, losing 6 of their final 8 games to finish at 56–26 (still good for the Atlantic Division title and #2 seed in the East). Rookie Dee Brown won the Slam Dunk Contest during the All-Star Weekend in Charlotte.

In the first round of the playoffs, the Celtics survived a scare from the 7th-seeded Indiana Pacers, going the full five games before winning a classic finale (in which Bird went to the locker room during the game with injury, only to return and finish with 32 points).[3] In the eastern semis, the Celtics held home court advantage against the 2-time defending NBA Champion Detroit Pistons, but Bird missed Game 1 with injury and the Pistons took the game at Boston Garden. Bird returned for the remainder of the series and the Celtics rallied to win Games 2 and 3 (Game 3 a blowout win in Detroit), but Detroit won 3 in a row afterwards to take the series.[4]

Draft picks

Round Pick Player Position Nationality College
1 19 Dee Brown SG/PG  United States Jacksonville

Roster

Boston Celtics roster
PlayersCoaches
Pos.No.NameHeightWeightDOB (YYYY-MM-DD)From
PF 33 United States Bird, Larry 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 220 lb (100 kg) Indiana State
PG 7 United States Brown, Dee 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 160 lb (73 kg) Jacksonville
SF 34 United States Gamble, Kevin 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 210 lb (95 kg) Iowa
C 53 United States Kleine, Joe 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 255 lb (116 kg) Arkansas
SG 35 United States Lewis, Reggie 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 195 lb (88 kg) Northeastern
PF 32 United States McHale, Kevin 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 210 lb (95 kg) Minnesota
C 00 United States Parish, Robert 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 230 lb (104 kg) Centenary (Louisiana)
PF 54 United States Pinckney, Ed 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 195 lb (88 kg) Villanova
PF 42 United States Popson, Dave 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 220 lb (100 kg) North Carolina
PG 20 United States Shaw, Brian 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 190 lb (86 kg) UC Santa Barbara
PG 13 United States Smith, Charles E. 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 160 lb (73 kg) Georgetown
SG 43 United States Smith, Derek  6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 205 lb (93 kg) Louisville
PF 11 United States Smith, Mike 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 225 lb (102 kg) BYU
C 52 Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Vranković, Stojko 7 ft 2 in (2.18 m) 260 lb (118 kg)
PG 12 United States Wynder, A. J. 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 180 lb (82 kg) Fairfield
Head coach
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured

Depth chart

PG-20 Brian Shaw SG-35 Reggie Lewis SF-34 Kevin Gamble PF-33 Larry Bird C-00 Robert Parrish

Regular season

Season standings

Atlantic Division W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-Boston Celtics5626.683—35–621–2020-6
x-Philadelphia 76ers4438.5371229-1215-2614-12
x-New York Knicks3943.4761721-2018-2317–9
Washington Bullets3052.3662621-209-3210-16
New Jersey Nets2656.3173020-216–358-18
Miami Heat2458.2933218-236-359-17
y – clinched division title
x – clinched playoff spot
# Eastern Conference
Team W L PCT GB
1 c-Chicago Bulls6121.744–
2 y-Boston Celtics5626.6835
3 x-Detroit Pistons5032.61011
4 x-Milwaukee Bucks4834.58513
5 x-Philadelphia 76ers4438.53717
6 x-Atlanta Hawks4339.52418
7 x-Indiana Pacers4141.50020
8 x-New York Knicks3943.47622
9 Cleveland Cavaliers3349.40228
10 Washington Bullets3052.36631
11 New Jersey Nets2656.31735
12 Charlotte Hornets2656.31735
13 Miami Heat2458.29337
z – clinched division title
y – clinched division title
x – clinched playoff spot

Record vs. opponents

1990-91 NBA Records
Team ATL BOS CHA CHI CLE DAL DEN DET GSW HOU IND LAC LAL MIA MIL MIN NJN NYK ORL PHI PHO POR SAC SAS SEA UTA WAS
Atlanta —3–11–41–43–22–01–10–51–11–14–12–01–14–02–31–13–13–11–10–40–21–12–02–01–11–12–2
Boston 1–3—3–12–23–12–02–02–21–12–02–22–01–14–12–22–04–15–01–12–31–11–12–01–12–01–15–1
Charlotte 4–11–3—0–51–41–10–21–41–10–20–51–10–22–22–31–12–20–42–02–20–20–22–01–10–20–22–2
Chicago 4–12–25–0—5–02–02–03–21–10–24–12–01–14–04–12–03–14–02–01–31–10–22–00–22–02–03–1
Cleveland 2–31–34–10–5—2–01–12–30–20–21–41–11–13–12–31–12–23–12–02–20–20–21–10–21–10–21–3
Dallas 0–20–21–10–20–2—3–10–22–21–32–01–32–20–21–11–42–02–01–41–10–41–32–21–42–20–52–0
Denver 1–10–22–00–21–11–3—0–21–30–50–20–40–40–21–13–21–11–12–30–20–40–43–11–40–41–31–1
Detroit 5–02–24–12–33–22–02–0—1–12–03–22–00–23–12–32–03–11–32–02–20–21–12–00–21–10–23–1
Golden State 1–11–11–11–12–02–23–11–1—2–21–13–22–32–01–13–11–12–02–22–01–32–32–32–23–11–30–2
Houston 1–10–22–02–02–03–15–00–22–2—1–12–21–32–02–05–02–02–03–22–03–10–43–12–32–22–21–1
Indiana 1–42–25–01–44–10–22–02–31–11–1—1–10–22–22–31–13–12–21–11–31–10–22–01–11–12–02–2
L.A. Clippers 0–20–21–10–21–13–14–00–22–32–21–1—0–40–21–13–11–10–21–30–22–31–33–22–22–31–30–2
L.A. Lakers 1–11–12–01–11–12–24–02–03–23–12–04–0—2–00–23–12–01–14–01–13–22–34–03–13–22–22–0
Miami 0–41–42–20–41–32–02–01–30–20–22–22–00–2—0–40–23–31–41–11–40–20–21–10–20–21–13–2
Milwaukee 3–22–23–21–43–21–11–13–21–10–23–21–12–04–0—1–12–24–02–02–21–11–11–11–11–11–13–1
Minnesota 1–10–21–10–21–14–12–30–21–30–51–11–31–32–01–1—1–11–12–22–00–40–43–10–42–21–41–1
New Jersey 1–31–42–21–32–20–21–11–31–10–21–31–10–23–32–21–1—0–51–12–31–10–21–10–21–10–22–3
New York 1–30–54–00–41–30–21–13–10–20–22–22–01–14–10–41–15–0—0–25–10–20–22–01–11–12–03–2
Orlando 1–11–10–20–20–24–13–20–22–22–31–13–10–41–10–22–21–12–0—0–22–20–42–21–31–31–41–1
Philadelphia 4–03–22–23–12–21–12–02–20–20–23–12–01–14–12–20–23–21–52–0—1–11–11–10–21–10–23–2
Phoenix 2–01–12–01–12–04–04–02–03–11–31–13–22–32–01–14–01–12–02–21–1—3–23–11–33–22–22–0
Portland 1–11–12–02–02–03–14–01–13–24–02–03–13–22–01–14–02–02–04–01–12–3—3–22–24–03–12–0
Sacramento 0–20–20–20–21–12–21–30–23–21–30–22–30–41–11–11–31–10–22–21–11–32–3—1–31–41–32–0
San Antonio 0–21–11–12–02–04–14–12–02–23–21–12–21–32–01–14–02–01–13–12–03–12–23–1—3–12–32–0
Seattle 1–10–22–00–21–12–24–01–11–32–21–13–22–32–01–12–21–11–13–11–12–30–44–11–3—1–32–0
Utah 1–11–12–00–22–05–03–12–03–12–20–23–12–21–11–14–12–00–24–12–02–21–33–13–23–1—2–0
Washington 2–21–52–21–33–10–21–11–32–01–12–22–00–22–31–31–13–22–31–12–30–20–20–20–20–20–2—

Game log

1990-91 Game Log
1990-91 Schedule

Playoffs

1991 playoff game log
First Round: 3–2 (Home: 2–1; Road: 1–1)
East Semifinals: 2–4 (Home: 1–2; Road: 1–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Series
1 May 7 Detroit Pistons L 75-86 R. Lewis (20) K. McHale (10) B. Shaw (5) Boston Garden
14,890		 0-1
2 May 9 Detroit Pistons W 109-103 R. Lewis (23) R. Parish (13) D. Brown (8) Boston Garden
14,890		 1-1
3 May 11 @ Detroit Pistons W 115-83 R. Lewis (21) R. Parish (11) D. Brown,
K. McHale (6)		 The Palace of Auburn Hills
21,454		 2-1
4 May 13 @ Detroit Pistons L 97-104 K. McHale (28) R. Parish (10) B. Shaw (6) The Palace of Auburn Hills
21,454		 2-2
5 May 15 Detroit Pistons L 111-116 R. Lewis (30) R. Lewis (11) D. Brown (10) Boston Garden
14,890		 2-3
6 May 17 @ Detroit Pistons L 113-117 (OT) K. McHale (34) E. Pinckney (9) R. Lewis (5) The Palace of Auburn Hills
21,454		 2-4
1991 playoff schedule

Player statistics

Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field-goal percentage  3P%  3-point field-goal percentage  FT%  Free-throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game

Season

Player GP GS MPG FG% 3FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Larry Bird 606038.0.454.389.8918.57.21.81.019.4
Dee Brown 82523.7.464.206.8732.24.21.00.28.7
Kevin Gamble 827633.0.587.000.8153.33.11.20.415.6
Joe Kleine 72111.8.468.000.7833.40.30.20.23.6
Reggie Lewis 797936.4.491.077.8265.22.51.21.118.7
Kevin McHale 681030.4.553.405.8297.11.90.42.118.4
Robert Parish 818130.1.598.000.76710.60.80.81.3

14.9

Ed Pinckney 701616.6.539.000.8974.90.60.90.65.2
Dave Popson 1903.4.406.000.9000.70.10.10.11.8
Brian Shaw 797935.1.469.111.8194.77.61.30.413.8
Charles E. Smith 506.0.429.000.6000.41.20.20.01.8
Derek Smith 208.0.250.000.7500.02.50.50.52.5
Michael Smith 4738.3.475.250.8151.20.90.10.04.6
Stojko Vranković 3105.4.462.000.5561.60.10.00.91.9
A. J. Wynder 606.5.250.000.7500.51.30.20.02.0

Playoffs

Player GP GS MPG FG% 3FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Larry Bird 101039.6.408.143.8637.26.51.30.317.1
Dee Brown 11025.8.491.000.8244.13.71.00.512.2
Kevin Gamble 111121.6.483.000.6671.21.70.40.26.0
Joe Kleine 516.2.444.000.0002.20.20.00.01.6
Reggie Lewis 111142.0.487.000.8246.22.91.10.522.4
Kevin McHale 11134.2.527.545.8256.51.80.51.320.7
Robert Parish 101029.6.598.000.6899.20.60.80.715.8
Ed Pinckney 11015.5.762.000.8103.60.20.50.24.5
Brian Shaw 111128.7.470.333.8673.54.60.90.111.0
Derek Smith 1008.6.429.000.7860.90.50.30.12.9
Michael Smith 203.0.500.000.0000.00.50.00.01.0
Stojko Vranković 104.01.000.000.0002.00.00.00.02.0

Awards and records

Transactions

Players Added

Draft

Free agency

 Players Lost

Released

Free agency

References

  1. ↑ 1990–91 Boston Celtics
  2. ↑ "SPORTS PEOPLE: PRO BASKETBALL; Back Surgery for Bird". New York Times. June 7, 1991. Retrieved July 26, 2017.
  3. ↑ "BASKETBALL; The Legend Grows For Bird and Celtics". New York Times. May 6, 1991. Retrieved July 26, 2017.
  4. ↑ "BASKETBALL; Quest for Third Title Alive as Pistons Eliminate Celtics". New York Times. May 18, 1991. Retrieved July 26, 2017.

See also

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