1997–98 Boston Celtics season explained

The 1997–98 NBA season was the 52nd season for the Boston Celtics in the National Basketball Association.[1] In the 1997 NBA draft, the Celtics selected Chauncey Billups from the University of Colorado with the third overall pick, and selected Ron Mercer from the University of Kentucky with the sixth overall pick.[2] [3] [4] [5] [6] Despite finishing with the NBA's second worst record in 1996–97, the Celtics were back in the headlines after hiring University of Kentucky head coach Rick Pitino as their new coach.[7] [8] [9] [10] In the off-season, the team signed free agent Chris Mills,[11] [12] [13] but then sent him to the New York Knicks in exchange for second-year forward Walter McCarty in October,[14] [15] [16] and also signed second-year center Travis Knight,[17] [18] Andrew DeClercq,[19] Bruce Bowen and Tyus Edney.[11]

Pitino's Celtics career had an auspicious beginning on opening night when the Celtics defeated Michael Jordan, and the 5-time defending NBA champion Chicago Bulls, 92–85 at the FleetCenter on October 31, 1997.[20] [21] [22] [23] After a 1–5 start to the season, the Celtics held a 16–14 record as of January 3, but then lost eight of their next nine games. At midseason, the team traded Billups along with Dee Brown to the Toronto Raptors in exchange for Kenny Anderson, Popeye Jones and Žan Tabak;[24] [25] [26] [27] the Raptors had acquired Anderson from the Portland Trail Blazers.[28] [29] [30] [31] The Celtics held a 22–25 record at the All-Star break,[32] and continued to struggle as they later on posted a six-game losing streak in March. Although the team did not make the playoffs, they improved their win total by 21 games from the previous season, finishing sixth in the Atlantic Division with a 36–46 record.[33]

Second-year star Antoine Walker averaged 22.4 points, 10.2 rebounds and 1.7 steals per game, and was selected for the 1998 NBA All-Star Game,[34] [35] [36] [37] while Mercer averaged 15.3 points and 1.6 steals per game, and was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team. In addition, McCarty provided the team with 9.6 points and 1.3 steals per game, and Dana Barros contributed 9.8 points and 3.6 assists per game off the bench. On the defensive side, Knight averaged 6.5 points and 4.8 rebounds per game, and DeClercq provided with 5.4 points and 4.8 rebounds per game.[38]

Following the season, Knight was traded back to his former team, the Los Angeles Lakers, after just one season with the Celtics,[39] [40] and Edney and Tabak were both released to free agency.

Draft picks

See main article: 1997 NBA draft.

RoundPickPlayerPositionNationalityCollege
13Chauncey BillupsPGColorado
16Ron MercerSF/SGKentucky
256Ben PepperCNewcastle Falcons

Roster

Roster Notes

Regular season

Record vs. opponents

1997-98 NBA Records
width=100TeamATLBOSCHACHICLEDALDENDETGSWHOUINDLACLALMIAMILMINNJNNYKORLPHIPHOPORSACSASSEATORUTAVANWAS
Atlanta– 2–1 4–0 1–3 4–0 2–0 2–0 2–2 2–0 1–1 1–3 2–0 0–2 1–3 3–1 0–2 1–2 2–2 2–2 3–1 0–2 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 4–0 0–2 2–0 4–0
Boston1–2 – 1–2 1–3 1–3 1–1 1–1 2–2 1–1 1–1 0–4 2–0 1–1 0–4 2–2 1–1 2–2 2–2 2–2 3–1 0–2 1–1 1–1 0–2 1–1 3–0 0–2 2–0 3–2
Charlotte0–4 2–1 – 1–3 2–2 2–0 2–0 3–1 1–1 2–0 3–1 2–0 1–1 3–1 3–1 1–1 2–2 1–3 3–1 2–1 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 4–0 1–1 2–0 2–2
Chicago3–1 3–1 3–1 – 2–2 1–1 2–0 3–1 2–0 2–0 2–2 2–0 1–1 2–1 4–0 1–1 4–0 4–0 3–1 2–1 1–1 1–1 2–0 2–0 1–1 4–0 0–2 2–0 3–1
Cleveland0–4 3–1 2–2 2–2 – 1–1 2–0 3–1 2–0 1–1 2–2 2–0 1–1 1–3 2–2 2–0 3–1 1–2 2–2 3–1 2–0 1–1 2–0 0–2 0–2 3–1 1–1 2–0 1–2
Dallas0–2 1–1 0–2 1–1 1–1 – 3–1 0–2 1–3 0–4 1–1 1–3 0–4 0–2 0–2 2–2 0–2 1–1 0–2 0–2 0–4 0–4 0–4 0–4 2–2 1–1 0–4 4–0 1–1
Denver0–2 1–1 0–2 0–2 0–2 1–3 – 0–2 1–3 0–4 0–2 2–2 0–4 0–2 0–2 1–3 0–2 0–2 0–2 0–2 0–4 2–2 1–3 0–4 0–4 0–2 0–4 1–3 1–1
Detroit2–2 2–2 1–3 1–3 1–3 2–0 2–0 – 2–0 1–1 1–3 2–0 0–2 1–2 2–2 0–2 2–2 2–2 1–2 3–1 1–1 0–2 1–1 1–1 0–2 4–0 0–2 0–2 2–2
Golden State0–2 1–1 1–1 0–2 0–2 3–1 3–1 0–2 – 1–3 0–2 1–3 1–3 0–2 0–2 0–4 0–2 1–1 1–1 0–2 0–4 1–3 2–2 1–3 1–3 0–2 0–4 1–3 0–2
Houston1–1 1–1 0–2 0–2 1–1 4–0 4–0 1–1 3–1 – 1–1 4–0 1–3 0–2 1–1 1–3 1–1 1–1 0–2 1–1 1–3 1–3 4–0 2–2 1–3 2–0 0–4 3–1 1–1
Indiana3–1 4–0 1–3 2–2 2–2 1–1 2–0 3–1 2–0 1–1 – 2–0 0–2 3–1 4–0 2–0 2–1 2–1 3–1 4–0 1–1 1–1 2–0 0–2 0–2 4–0 1–1 2–0 4–0
L.A. Clippers0–2 0–2 0–2 0–2 0–2 3–1 2–2 0–2 3–1 0–4 0–2 – 0–4 0–2 0–2 0–4 1–1 0–2 0–2 1–1 0–4 0–4 3–1 1–3 0–4 1–1 1–3 1–3 0–2
L.A. Lakers2–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 4–0 4–0 2–0 3–1 3–1 2–0 4–0 – 1–1 2–0 4–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 0–2 2–2 2–2 4–0 4–0 1–3 2–0 3–1 4–0 1–1
Miami3–1 4–0 1–3 1–2 3–1 2–0 2–0 2–1 2–0 2–0 1–3 2–0 1–1 – 3–1 1–1 3–1 2–2 3–1 4–0 0–2 2–0 2–0 0–2 0–2 4–0 1–1 2–0 2–2
Milwaukee1–3 2–2 1–3 0–4 2–2 2–0 2–0 2–2 2–0 1–1 0–4 2–0 0–2 1–3 – 1–1 0–4 3–1 2–1 2–2 0–2 2–0 2–0 0–2 1–1 3–1 0–2 1–1 1–2
Minnesota2–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 0–2 2–2 3–1 2–0 4–0 3–1 0–2 4–0 0–4 1–1 1–1 – 2–0 1–1 0–2 2–0 3–1 1–3 3–1 1–3 1–3 1–1 1–3 4–0 0–2
New Jersey2–1 2–2 2–2 0–4 1–3 2–0 2–0 2–2 2–0 1–1 1–2 1–1 1–1 1–3 4–0 0–2 – 2–2 3–1 3–1 1–1 1–1 2–0 1–1 0–2 3–1 0–2 2–0 1–3
New York2–2 2–2 3–1 0–4 2–1 1–1 2–0 2–2 1–1 1–1 1–2 2–0 1–1 2–2 1–3 1–1 2–2 – 4–0 2–2 2–0 1–1 1–1 0–2 1–1 3–1 0–2 2–0 1–3
Orlando2–2 2–2 1–3 1–3 2–2 2–0 2–0 2–1 1–1 2–0 1–3 2–0 1–1 1–3 1–2 2–0 1–3 0–4 – 4–0 0–2 2–0 0–2 0–2 1–1 3–1 0–2 2–0 3–1
Philadelphia1–3 1–3 1–2 1–2 1–3 2–0 2–0 1–3 2–0 1–1 0–4 1–1 2–0 0–4 2–2 0–2 1–3 2–2 0–4 – 1–1 1–1 1–1 0–2 0–2 2–2 0–2 2–0 3–1
Phoenix2–0 2–0 1–1 1–1 0–2 4–0 4–0 1–1 4–0 3–1 1–1 4–0 2–2 2–0 2–0 1–3 1–1 0–2 2–0 1–1 – 2–2 3–1 3–1 2–2 2–0 1–3 4–0 1–1
Portland1–1 1–1 0–2 1–1 1–1 4–0 2–2 2–0 3–1 3–1 1–1 4–0 2–2 0–2 0–2 3–1 1–1 1–1 0–2 1–1 2–2 – 3–1 2–2 0–4 2–0 3–1 2–2 1–1
Sacramento0–2 1–1 1–1 0–2 0–2 4–0 3–1 1–1 2–2 0–4 0–2 1–3 0–4 0–2 0–2 1–3 0–2 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–3 1–3 – 0–4 1–3 1–1 2–2 2–2 1–1
San Antonio1–1 2–0 1–1 0–2 2–0 4–0 4–0 1–1 3–1 2–2 2–0 3–1 0–4 2–0 2–0 3–1 1–1 2–0 2–0 2–0 1–3 2–2 4–0 – 2–2 2–0 1–3 4–0 1–1
Seattle1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–0 2–2 4–0 2–0 3–1 3–1 2–0 4–0 3–1 2–0 1–1 3–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 2–0 2–2 4–0 3–1 2–2 – 2–0 2–2 4–0 1–1
Toronto0–4 0–3 0–4 0–4 1–3 1–1 2–0 0–4 2–0 0–2 0–4 1–1 0–2 0–4 1–3 1–1 1–3 1–3 1–3 2–2 0–2 0–2 1–1 0–2 0–2 – 0–2 1–1 0–3
Utah2–0 2–0 1–1 2–0 1–1 4–0 4–0 2–0 4–0 4–0 1–1 3–1 1–3 1–1 2–0 3–1 2–0 2–0 2–0 2–0 3–1 1–3 2–2 3–1 2–2 2–0 – 4–0 0–2
Vancouver0–2 0–2 0–2 0–2 0–2 0–4 3–1 2–0 3–1 1–3 0–2 3–1 0–4 0–2 1–1 0–4 0–2 0–2 0–2 0–2 0–4 2–2 2–2 0–4 0–4 1–1 0–4 – 1–1
Washington0–4 2–3 2–2 1–3 2–1 1–1 1–1 2–2 2–0 1–1 0–4 2–0 1–1 2–2 2–1 2–0 3–1 3–1 1–3 1–3 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 3–0 2–0 1–1 —

Game log

Player statistics

Regular season

|- | style="text-align:left;"|†| 16 || 16 || 24.1 || .435 || .370 || .837 || 2.4 || 6.3 || 1.6 || .0 || 11.2|- | style="text-align:left;"|| 80 || 15 || 21.1 || .461 || .407 || .847 || 1.9 || 3.6 || 1.0 || .1 || 9.8|- | style="text-align:left;"|†| 51 || 44 || 25.4 || .390 || .339 || .817 || 2.2 || 4.3 || 1.5 || .0 || 11.1|- | style="text-align:left;"|| 61 || 9 || 21.4 || .409 || .339 || .623 || 2.9 || 1.3 || 1.4 || .5 || 5.6|- | style="text-align:left;"|†| 41 || 10 || 19.8 || .427 || .381 || .679 || 1.5 || 1.3 || 1.1 || .1 || 6.8|- | style="text-align:left;"|| 81 || 49 || 18.8 || .497 || .000 || .601 || 4.8 || .7 || 1.0 || .6 || 5.4|- | style="text-align:left;"|| 52 || 7 || 12.0 || .431 || .300 || .793 || 1.1 || 2.7 || 1.0 || .0 || 5.3|- | style="text-align:left;"|| 33 || 8 || 13.5 || .571 || || .588 || 3.3 || .9 || .6 || .9 || 3.0|- | style="text-align:left;"|| 8 || 0 || 3.3 || .500 || || || .8 || .1 || .3 || .1 || .8|- | style="text-align:left;"|| 15 || 0 || 6.1 || .333 || .261 || || .6 || .3 || .1 || .2 || 2.9|- | style="text-align:left;"|| 74 || 21 || 20.3 || .441 || .273 || .786 || 4.9 || 1.4 || .7 || 1.1 || 6.5|- | style="text-align:left;"|| 82 || 64 || 28.5 || .404 || .309 || .742 || 4.4 || 2.2 || 1.3 || .5 || 9.6|- | style="text-align:left;"|| 80 || 62 || 33.3 || .450 || .107 || .839 || 3.5 || 2.2 || 1.6 || .2 || 15.3|- | style="text-align:left;"|| 69 || 16 || 16.3 || .436 || .194 || .686 || 2.2 || 1.3 || .8 || .2 || 5.0|- | style="text-align:left;"|†| 9 || 0 || 4.1 || .375 || || .500 || .6 || .1 || .2 || .4 || .8|- | style="text-align:left;"|†| 18 || 5 || 12.9 || .473 || || .538 || 3.2 || .7 || .3 || .6 || 3.3|- | style="text-align:left;"|†| 33 || 2 || 11.2 || .513 || || .788 || 2.1 || .4 || .6 || .3 || 3.3|- | style="text-align:left;"|| 82 || 82 || 39.9 || .423 || .312 || .645 || 10.2 || 3.3 || 1.7 || .7 || 22.4|}

Awards and records

See also

Notes and References

  1. https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/BOS/1998.html 1997-98 Boston Celtics
  2. News: Wise . Mike . After Duncan, Utah Forward Steals Show . The New York Times . June 26, 1997 . July 25, 2021.
  3. News: Heisler . Mark . Draft Over, But Not Finished . Los Angeles Times . June 26, 1997 . December 1, 2022.
  4. News: Cotton . Anthony . No. 1 Pick Turns Duncan Into Spur of Moment . The Washington Post . June 26, 1997 . September 24, 2022.
  5. News: First Round Selections in the 1997 NBA Draft Wednesday in Charlotte, N.C. . Hartford Courant . June 26, 1997 . June 2, 2023.
  6. Web site: 1997 NBA Draft . Basketball-Reference . December 1, 2022.
  7. News: Dohrmann . George . Pitino Is Lured by Celtic Green . Los Angeles Times . May 7, 1997 . September 23, 2022.
  8. News: Greenberg . Alan . Pitino Celtics' 1st Step . Hartford Courant . May 7, 1997 . June 27, 2022.
  9. News: With Pitino in Boston, Bird Goes to Pacers . The New York Times . May 9, 1997 . December 30, 2021.
  10. News: Wise . Mike . Pitino Rides to the Rescue; Celtics Are the Coach's Latest and Most Difficult Reclamation Project . The New York Times . October 12, 1997 . February 2, 2023.
  11. News: Celtics Sign Chris Mills and Tyus Edney . Associated Press . August 22, 1997 . December 27, 2022.
  12. News: Bloomberg News . Celtics Sign 2 Free Agents . The New York Times . August 23, 1997 . December 27, 2022.
  13. News: Transactions . Hartford Courant . August 23, 1997 . July 17, 2022.
  14. News: Roberts . Selena . PRO BASKETBALL; Knicks Send Four Players to the Celtics for Mills . The New York Times . October 23, 1997 . January 22, 2022.
  15. News: Associated Press . Knicks Trade Four Players to Get Mills . Los Angeles Times . October 23, 1997 . October 3, 2022.
  16. News: Greenberg . Alan . One of Pitino's Slick Moves . Hartford Courant . October 23, 1997 . December 27, 2022.
  17. News: Howard-Cooper . Scott . Knight Agrees to $22-Million Celtic Contract . Los Angeles Times . July 5, 1997 . November 7, 2022.
  18. News: Greenberg . Alan . To Sign Knight, Celtics Give Up Rights to Fox . Hartford Courant . July 8, 1997 . July 12, 2022.
  19. News: Greenberg . Alan . Can Pitino Handle Full Control? . Hartford Courant . October 26, 1997 . October 7, 2022.
  20. News: Berkow . Ira . PRO BASKETBALL; Pitino Begins Era by Beating Bulls . The New York Times . November 1, 1997 . July 26, 2017.
  21. News: Armour . Terry . Celtics 92, Bulls 85 . Chicago Tribune . November 1, 1997 . May 24, 2022.
  22. News: Berkow . Ira . ON BASKETBALL; Pitino's Young Guns Overrun the Bulls . The New York Times . November 2, 1997 . December 12, 2022.
  23. News: Chicago Bulls at Boston Celtics Box Score, October 31, 1997 . Basketball-Reference . December 27, 2022.
  24. News: Wise . Mike . BASKETBALL; Kenny Anderson Is Traded to Celtics in 7-Player Deal . The New York Times . February 19, 1998 . July 21, 2017.
  25. News: Associated Press . Celtics Land Anderson in Deal with Raptors . Los Angeles Times . February 19, 1998 . September 23, 2022.
  26. News: In Seven-Player Swap, Raptors Trade Anderson to the Celtics . The Washington Post . February 19, 1998 . December 5, 2022.
  27. News: Smith . Sam . NBA's Rash of Trades Ends with Another Seikaly Deal . Chicago Tribune . February 20, 1998 . June 21, 2023.
  28. News: Popper . Steve . PRO BASKETBALL; The Trade Comes, to Stoudamire's Relief . The New York Times . February 14, 1998 . December 5, 2022.
  29. News: Associated Press . Stoudamire Finally Traded to Portland . Los Angeles Times . February 14, 1998 . December 5, 2022.
  30. News: Raptors Deal Stoudamire for Blazers' Anderson . The Washington Post . February 14, 1998 . December 5, 2022.
  31. News: Heisler . Mark . It's a Big Deal for Clippers: There Are No Slam Dunks in the Flurry of NBA Deals . Los Angeles Times . February 20, 1998 . June 21, 2023.
  32. News: NBA Games Played on February 5, 1998 . Basketball-Reference . July 19, 2022.
  33. Web site: 1997–98 Boston Celtics Schedule and Results. Basketball-Reference. June 28, 2021.
  34. News: Howard-Cooper . Scott . Lakers Get Four-Star Rating as Van Exel, Jones Honored . Los Angeles Times . January 28, 1998 . April 20, 2023.
  35. News: NBA.com Staff . 1998 NBA All-Star Recap . NBA.com . September 13, 2021 . May 16, 2023.
  36. Web site: 1997-98 All-Star Events and Contestants - in New York . Eskimo North . December 27, 2022.
  37. Web site: 1998 NBA All-Star Game: East 135, West 114 . Basketball-Reference . November 27, 2021.
  38. Web site: 1997–98 Boston Celtics Roster and Stats. Basketball-Reference. June 28, 2021.
  39. News: Knight's Out . Hartford Courant . January 20, 1999 . November 7, 2022.
  40. News: Wise . Mike . PRO BASKETBALL; A Scrum for the Title . The New York Times . February 4, 1999 . June 28, 2022.
  41. News: Szostak . Mike . Celtics Caught in the Middle . South Coast Today . June 26, 1998 . November 7, 2022.

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