The 1971–72 NBA season was the Celtics' 26th season in the NBA.[1] The Celtics qualified for the playoffs for the first time in 3 seasons, and won the Atlantic Division for the 1st time in franchise history. The Celtics had the fifth best team defensive rating and the fifth best team offensive rating in the NBA.
Tom Heinsohn, a Celtics legend as a player, led the club in his third season as head coach. The team made its first postseason without Bill Russell since 1956, and would advance to their first conference finals before falling to the eventual runners-up and rivals New York Knicks in a five-game series.
See main article: 1971 NBA draft.
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | College |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 10 | SF | Western Kentucky | ||
| 2 | 28 | PG/SG | Western Kentucky | ||
| 3 | 44 | C/PF | Kansas | ||
| 4 | 61 | C | Duke | ||
| 6 | 95 | Thorpe Weber | F | Vanderbilt | |
| 7 | 112 | Skip Young | G | Florida State | |
| 8 | 129 | John Ribock | F | South Carolina | |
| 9 | 145 | Ray Greene | G | California (Pennsylvania) | |
| 10 | 161 | Dale Dover | G | Harvard | |
| 11 | 161 | Reggie Brooks | F | Southern New Hampshire | |
| 12 | 189 | John Dalton | G | Suffolk | |
| 13 | 201 | Leroy Chalk | F | Nebraska | |
z = clinched division title
y = clinched division title
x = clinched playoff spot
| 1971–72 NBA Records | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| width=100 | Team | ATL | BAL | BOS | BUF | CHI | CIN | CLE | DET | GSW | HOU | LAL | MIL | NYK | PHI | PHO | POR | SEA |
| — | 2–4 | 0–4 | 4–2 | 0–5 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 3–2 | 3–2 | 1–4 | 0–5 | 2–3 | 3–1 | 3–3 | 3–2 | 4–0 | 1–4 | ||
| 4–2 | — | 2–2 | 3–3 | 1–4 | 4–2 | 1–5 | 3–2 | 1–4 | 3–2 | 1–4 | 0–5 | 2–4 | 4–0 | 4–1 | 3–1 | 2–3 | ||
| Boston | 4–0 | 2–2 | — | 6–0 | 3–2 | 4–2 | 5–1 | 5–0 | 2–3 | 5–0 | 1–4 | 2–3 | 3–3 | 6–0 | 2–3 | 4–0 | 2–3 | |
| 2–4 | 3–3 | 0–6 | — | 1–3 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 2–4 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 1–5 | 3–3 | 0–4 | 2–4 | 0–4 | ||
| 5–0 | 4–1 | 2–3 | 3–1 | — | 3–1 | 4–0 | 5–1 | 3–3 | 5–1 | 1–3 | 2–4 | 3–2 | 4–1 | 5–1 | 6–0 | 2–3 | ||
| 3–3 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 3–3 | 1–3 | — | 6–2 | 2–3 | 2–3 | 0–4 | 1–4 | 0–5 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–3 | 2–2 | 0–5 | ||
| 2–4 | 5–1 | 1–5 | 2–4 | 0–4 | 2–6 | — | 1–3 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 1–5 | 2–4 | 0–4 | 4–2 | 0–4 | ||
| 2–3 | 2–3 | 0–5 | 4–2 | 1–5 | 3–2 | 3–1 | — | 0–5 | 3–3 | 1–4 | 1–5 | 1–4 | 1–4 | 2–4 | 2–2 | 0–4 | ||
| 2–3 | 4–1 | 3–2 | 3–1 | 3–3 | 3–2 | 4–0 | 5–0 | — | 5–1 | 1–5 | 2–2 | 2–3 | 4–1 | 2–3 | 4–2 | 4–2 | ||
| 4–1 | 2–3 | 0–5 | 4–0 | 1–5 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 3–3 | 1–5 | — | 1–5 | 0–5 | 0–5 | 4–1 | 1–3 | 4–2 | 3–3 | ||
| 5–0 | 4–1 | 4–1 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 4–1 | 3–1 | 4–1 | 5–1 | 5–1 | — | 4–1 | 4–1 | 5–0 | 4–2 | 6–0 | 5–1 | ||
| 3–2 | 5–0 | 3–2 | 4–0 | 4–2 | 5–0 | 4–0 | 5–1 | 2–2 | 5–0 | 1–4 | — | 2–3 | 4–1 | 4–2 | 6–0 | 6–0 | ||
| 1–3 | 4–2 | 3–3 | 5–1 | 2–3 | 2–2 | 5–1 | 4–1 | 3–2 | 5–0 | 1–4 | 3–2 | — | 3–3 | 1–4 | 3–1 | 3–2 | ||
| 3–3 | 0–4 | 0–6 | 3–3 | 1–4 | 2–2 | 4–2 | 4–1 | 1–4 | 1–4 | 0–5 | 1–4 | 3–3 | — | 1–4 | 2–2 | 4–1 | ||
| 2–3 | 1–4 | 3–2 | 4–0 | 1–5 | 3–2 | 4–0 | 4–2 | 3–2 | 3–1 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 4–1 | 4–1 | — | 6–0 | 3–2 | ||
| 0–4 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 4–2 | 0–6 | 2–2 | 2–4 | 2–2 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 0–6 | 0–6 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 0–6 | — | 0–6 | ||
| 4–1 | 3–2 | 3–2 | 4–0 | 3–2 | 5–0 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 2–4 | 3–3 | 1–5 | 0–6 | 2–3 | 1–4 | 2–3 | 6–0 | — | ||
| 1971–72 game log | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Opponent | Score | High points | Record | ||
| 1 | October 15 | 97–75 | Jo Jo White (22) | 0–1 | ||
| 2 | October 19 | 114–134 | Jo Jo White (26) | 1–1 | ||
| 3 | October 22 | 115–108 | Jo Jo White (34) | 2–1 | ||
| 4 | October 23 | 103–98 | John Havlicek (34) | 3–1 | ||
| 5 | October 25 | Atlanta | 116–136 | Dave Cowens (27) | 4–1 | |
| 6 | October 26 | 101–106 | Jo Jo White (29) | 4–2 | ||
| 7 | October 27 | 97–108 | Jo Jo White (31) | 5–2 | ||
| 8 | October 29 | 114–125 | Dave Cowens (37) | 6–2 | ||
| 9 | November 5 | 102–103 | Jo Jo White (29) | 7–2 | ||
| 10 | November 6 | 109–124 | John Havlicek (32) | 8–2 | ||
| 11 | November 8 | 109–120 | Dave Cowens (30) | 9–2 | ||
| 12 | November 10 | @ Houston | 142–103 | Dave Cowens (29) | 10–2 | |
| 13 | November 12 | 119–128 | John Havlicek (26) | 10–3 | ||
| 14 | November 13 | 112–116 | John Havlicek (30) | 10–4 | ||
| 15 | November 14 | 115–128 | Jo Jo White (36) | 10–5 | ||
| 16 | November 17 | Phoenix | 121–140 | John Havlicek (32) | 11–5 | |
| 17 | November 19 | Cincinnati | 110–106 | John Havlicek (29) | 11–6 | |
| 18 | November 20 | 106–123 | John Havlicek (30) | 11–7 | ||
| 19 | November 21 | 128–105 | John Havlicek (36) | 12–7 | ||
| 20 | November 24 | Buffalo | 100–108 | John Havlicek (33) | 13–7 | |
| 21 | November 26 | New York | 104–89 | John Havlicek (28) | 13–8 | |
| 22 | November 27 | N Baltimore | 120–125 | John Havlicek (29) | 13–9 | |
| 23 | November 28 | Atlanta | 108–130 | Jo Jo White (25) | 14–9 | |
| 24 | December 1 | Los Angeles | 124–111 | John Havlicek (36) | 14–10 | |
| 25 | December 4 | Houston | 107–117 | John Havlicek (38) | 15–10 | |
| 26 | December 7 | @ New York | 105–97 | Jo Jo White (26) | 16–10 | |
| 27 | December 8 | Cleveland | 107–126 | John Havlicek (28) | 17–10 | |
| 28 | December 10 | @ Milwaukee | 104–120 | John Havlicek (32) | 17–11 | |
| 29 | December 11 | Chicago | 115–99 | John Havlicek (24) | 17–12 | |
| 30 | December 12 | @ Cincinnati | 96–83 | John Havlicek (28) | 18–12 | |
| 31 | December 14 | @ Chicago | 116–108 | John Havlicek (35) | 19–12 | |
| 32 | December 15 | Seattle | 100–112 | Chaney, White (22) | 20–12 | |
| 33 | December 17 | @ Cleveland | 115–109 | John Havlicek (25) | 21–12 | |
| 34 | December 18 | Buffalo | 91–124 | John Havlicek (30) | 22–12 | |
| 35 | December 22 | N Milwaukee | 98–104 | John Havlicek (26) | 23–12 | |
| 36 | December 25 | @ Cincinnati | 99–94 | Jo Jo White (30) | 24–12 | |
| 37 | December 27 | Golden State | 97–99 | John Havlicek (28) | 25–12 | |
| 38 | December 28 | 120–116 | John Havlicek (36) | 26–12 | ||
| 39 | December 31 | Philadelphia | 119–131 | John Havlicek (30) | 27–12 | |
| 40 | January 1 | @ Phoenix | 104–114 | John Havlicek (24) | 27–13 | |
| 41 | January 2 | @ Los Angeles | 113–122 | Cowens, Havlicek (29) | 27–14 | |
| 42 | January 5 | @ Houston | 113–105 | Jo Jo White (30) | 28–14 | |
| 43 | January 7 | @ Portland | 120–114 | John Havlicek (37) | 29–14 | |
| 44 | January 8 | @ Golden State | 106–128 | John Havlicek (28) | 29–15 | |
| 45 | January 9 | @ Seattle | 119–125 | Jo Jo White (32) | 29–16 | |
| 46 | January 12 | Chicago | 112–113 | Jo Jo White (31) | 30–16 | |
| 47 | January 14 | Detroit | 94–108 | Dave Cowens (26) | 31–16 | |
| 48 | January 15 | @ Atlanta | 122–106 | John Havlicek (40) | 32–16 | |
| 49 | January 21 | Houston | 105–110 | Havlicek, White (28) | 33–16 | |
| 50 | January 23 | Portland | 105–115 | Dave Cowens (26) | 34–16 | |
| 51 | January 25 | @ New York | 106–109 | Jo Jo White (33) | 34–17 | |
| 52 | January 26 | Cleveland | 112–108 | John Havlicek (27) | 34–18 | |
| 53 | January 28 | New York | 116–122 (OT) | John Havlicek (33) | 35–18 | |
| 54 | January 29 | @ Detroit | 124–112 | Don Chaney (29) | 36–18 | |
| 55 | January 30 | Philadelphia | 114–130 | John Havlicek (33) | 37–18 | |
| 56 | February 1 | @ Baltimore | 115–108 | Dave Cowens (32) | 38–18 | |
| 57 | February 2 | Chicago | 100–124 | John Havlicek (32) | 39–18 | |
| 58 | February 4 | Cincinnati | 109–122 | Cowens, Nelson, White (21) | 40–18 | |
| 59 | February 6 | Seattle | 123–128 | John Havlicek (42) | 41–18 | |
| 60 | February 9 | Buffalo | 112–139 | Jo Jo White (24) | 42–18 | |
| 61 | February 11 | Los Angeles | 108–121 | Don Nelson (24) | 43–18 | |
| 62 | February 13 | Milwaukee | 117–109 | Jo Jo White (31) | 43–19 | |
| 63 | February 15 | @ Portland | 111–104 | John Havlicek (31) | 44–19 | |
| 64 | February 16 | @ Seattle | 112–113 | Dave Cowens (29) | 44–20 | |
| 65 | February 18 | @ Phoenix | 115–126 | John Havlicek (27) | 44–21 | |
| 66 | February 19 | @ Golden State | 111–115 | Havlicek, White (26) | 44–22 | |
| 67 | February 20 | @ Los Angeles | 113–132 | John Havlicek (27) | 44–23 | |
| 68 | February 22 | Phoenix | 103–114 | John Havlicek (27) | 45–23 | |
| 69 | February 23 | @ Cleveland | 113–111 | John Havlicek (33) | 46–23 | |
| 70 | February 25 | @ Buffalo | 117–115 | John Havlicek (33) | 47–23 | |
| 71 | March 1 | Cleveland | 105–115 | John Havlicek (31) | 48–23 | |
| 72 | March 3 | @ Detroit | 125–96 | Dave Cowens (22) | 49–23 | |
| 73 | March 5 | Cincinnati | 125–114 | John Havlicek (29) | 49–24 | |
| 74 | March 6 | @ Milwaukee | 127–132 (OT) | John Havlicek (34) | 49–25 | |
| 75 | March 12 | New York | 109–112 | John Havlicek (41) | 50–25 | |
| 76 | March 14 | Golden State | 110–124 | John Havlicek (38) | 51–25 | |
| 77 | March 15 | @ Philadelphia | 120–115 | John Havlicek (36) | 52–25 | |
| 78 | March 17 | N Philadelphia | 111–127 | John Havlicek (35) | 53–25 | |
| 79 | March 19 | Baltimore | 125–112 | John Havlicek (26) | 53–26 | |
| 80 | March 22 | Philadelphia | 106–113 | John Havlicek (21) | 54–26 | |
| 81 | March 25 | @ Buffalo | 121–116 | John Havlicek (31) | 55–26 | |
| 82 | March 26 | Detroit | 120–133 | John Havlicek (27) | 56–26 |
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 1| March 29| Atlanta| W 126–108| John Havlicek (32)| Dave Cowens (16)| John Havlicek (10)| Boston Garden
12,815| 1–0|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 2| March 31| @ Atlanta| L 104–113| John Havlicek (43)| Dave Cowens (12)| John Havlicek (4)| Alexander Memorial Coliseum
6,955| 1–1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 3| April 2| Atlanta| W 136–113| John Havlicek (31)| Cowens, Finkel (11)| Jo Jo White (11)| Boston Garden
12,094| 2–1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 4| April 4| @ Atlanta| L 110–112| Jo Jo White (32)| Steve Kuberski (13)| John Havlicek (5)| Alexander Memorial Coliseum
7,192| 2–2|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 5| April 7| Atlanta| W 124–114| John Havlicek (27)| Dave Cowens (12)| John Havlicek (9)| Boston Garden
15,315| 3–2|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 6| April 9| @ Atlanta| W 127–118| Havlicek, Cowens (26)| Dave Cowens (20)| Jo Jo White (9)| Alexander Memorial Coliseum
7,192| 4–2|-|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 1| April 13| New York| L 94–116| Jo Jo White (19)| Dave Cowens (15)| Jo Jo White (5)| Boston Garden
14,292| 0–1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 2| April 16| @ New York| L 105–106| John Havlicek (29)| Dave Cowens (18)| John Havlicek (6)| Madison Square Garden
19,588| 0–2|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 3| April 19| New York| W 115–109| Jo Jo White (29)| Dave Cowens (16)| John Havlicek (11)| Boston Garden
15,315| 1–2|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 4| April 21| @ New York| L 98–116| John Havlicek (27)| Havlicek, Nelson (9)| John Havlicek (6)| Madison Square Garden
19,588| 1–3|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 5| April 23| New York| L 103–111| John Havlicek (32)| Dave Cowens (15)| Jo Jo White (9)| Boston Garden
15,315| 1–4|-