The 2004–05 NBA season was the 59th season for the Boston Celtics in the National Basketball Association.[1] The team hired Doc Rivers to be their head coach for the upcoming season. During the offseason, the Celtics acquired All-Star guard Gary Payton, and former Celtics forward Rick Fox from the Los Angeles Lakers, but Fox would retire before the season.[2] The Celtics struggled playing under .500 for the first half of the season. At midseason, Payton was traded to the Atlanta Hawks for former Celtic All-Star forward Antoine Walker. However, Payton would never suit up for the Hawks and was released shortly after. He then re-signed with the Celtics afterwards for the remainder of the season. The team went on a 7-game winning streak in March, finishing first place in the Atlantic Division with a 45–37 record. Paul Pierce was selected for the 2005 NBA All-Star Game.
Despite their mediocre record, the Celtics earned the #3 seed in the Eastern Conference. In the playoffs, they lost to the 6th-seeded Indiana Pacers in a seven-game first round series. Boston did not return to the playoffs until 2008 en route to the championship. Following the season, Walker was traded to the Miami Heat, while Payton went along with him signing as a free agent. The Heat went on to win the championship the following season.
See main article: 2004 NBA draft.
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | College/School | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 15 | Al Jefferson | PF | Prentiss HS (MS) | ||
| 1 | 24 | Delonte West | SG/PG | Saint Joseph's | ||
| 1 | 25 | Tony Allen | SG | Oklahoma State | ||
| 2 | 40 | Justin Reed | SF | Ole Miss |
| 2004-05 NBA Records | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| width=100 | Team | ATL | BOS | CHA | CHI | CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GSW | HOU | IND | LAC | LAL | MEM | MIA | MIL | MIN | NJN | NOH | NYK | ORL | PHI | PHO | POR | SAC | SAS | SEA | TOR | UTA | WAS |
| — | 1–3 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 0–3 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–2 | 0–2 | 0–4 | ||
| Boston | 3–1 | — | 4–0 | 2–2 | 1–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 3–0 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | |
| 3–1 | 0–4 | — | 0–4 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–3 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 0–3 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 0–4 | ||
| 4–0 | 2–2 | 4–0 | — | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 3–0 | 2–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 2–0 | 1–2 | ||
| 4–0 | 2–1 | 4–0 | 2–2 | — | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–3 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 0–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–2 | ||
| 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | — | 2–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 3–0 | 2–0 | ||
| 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–2 | — | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | ||
| 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | — | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 3–0 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 4–0 | ||
| 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 0–2 | — | 1–2 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 0–3 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 1–1 | ||
| 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 0–2 | 2–1 | — | 1–1 | 3–0 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | ||
| 3–0 | 2–1 | 3–0 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | — | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | ||
| 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 1–2 | 0–2 | 4–0 | 0–3 | 2–0 | — | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | ||
| L.A. Lakers | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | — | 0–3 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 2–1 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 0–2 | |
| 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 3–0 | — | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 0–3 | 3–1 | 0–3 | 2–0 | 3–0 | 0–2 | ||
| 4–0 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | — | 4–0 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 4–0 | ||
| 2–1 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–4 | — | 1–1 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | ||
| 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 1–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | — | 2–0 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 1–2 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | ||
| 3–0 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–3 | 1–2 | 0–2 | — | 2–0 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–3 | ||
| 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 0–3 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 0–2 | — | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 2–1 | 1–2 | 0–4 | 0–3 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | ||
| 3–1 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | — | 1–2 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 2–1 | ||
| 3–1 | 0–3 | 1–3 | 0–3 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–4 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 2–1 | — | 2–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–2 | ||
| 3–1 | 3–1 | 3–0 | 1–2 | 3–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | — | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–1 | ||
| 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | — | 3–0 | 2–2 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | ||
| 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 1–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–3 | — | 1–3 | 1–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 0–2 | ||
| 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 3–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 3–1 | — | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 2–0 | ||
| 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 3–1 | — | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | ||
| 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 1–2 | 3–1 | 3–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 3–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | — | 2–0 | 3–1 | 0–2 | ||
| 2–1 | 1–3 | 2–1 | 0–3 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | — | 2–0 | 1–3 | ||
| 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–3 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 0–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 0–2 | — | 0–2 | ||
| Washington | 4–0 | 1–3 | 4–0 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–4 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–0 | — | |
|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 1| April 23| Indiana| W 102–82| Raef LaFrentz (21)| Paul Pierce (9)| Gary Payton (7)| FleetCenter
18,624| 1–0|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 2| April 25| Indiana| L 79–82| Paul Pierce (32)| Pierce, Walker (7)| Paul Pierce (5)| FleetCenter
18,624| 1–1|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 3| April 28| @ Indiana| L 76–99| Paul Pierce (19)| Antoine Walker (9)| Gary Payton (6)| Conseco Fieldhouse
18,345| 1–2|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 4| April 30| @ Indiana| W 110–79| Paul Pierce (30)| Jefferson, Pierce (7)| Paul Pierce (8)| Conseco Fieldhouse
18,345| 2–2|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 5| May 3| Indiana| L 85–90| Paul Pierce (27)| three players tied (7)| four players tied (3)| FleetCenter
18,624| 2–3|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc"| 6| May 5| @ Indiana| W 92–89 (OT)| Antoine Walker 24| Al Jefferson 14| Paul Pierce 6| Conseco Fieldhouse
18,345| 3–3|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc"| 7| May 7| Indiana| L 70–97| Antoine Walker (20)| three players tied (7)| Gary Payton (7)| FleetCenter
18,624| 3–4|-
|- | style="text-align:left;"|| 77 || 34 || 16.4 || .475 || .387 || .737 || 2.9 || .8 || 1.0 || .3 || 6.4|- | style="text-align:left;"|| 81 || 2 || 14.1 || .402 || .356 || .742 || 1.6 || 1.9 || .8 || .2 || 4.6|- | style="text-align:left;"|| 82 || 57 || 26.0 || .529 || .000 || .713 || 4.8 || 1.6 || .4 || .8 || 9.4|- | style="text-align:left;"|| 82 || 11 || 32.9 || .462 || .339 || .815 || 3.0 || 3.0 || 1.1 || .3 || 16.0|- | style="text-align:left;"|†| 20 || 0 || 10.9 || .297 || || .667 || 2.2 || .6 || .5 || .2 || 1.3|- | style="text-align:left;"|| 71 || 1 || 14.8 || .528 || .000 || .630 || 4.4 || .3 || .3 || .8 || 6.7|- | style="text-align:left;"|| 80 || 80 || 27.5 || .496 || .364 || .811 || 6.9 || 1.2 || .5 || 1.2 || 11.1|- | style="text-align:left;"|†| 44 || 0 || 12.6 || .413 || .333 || .533 || 1.8 || .6 || .3 || .2 || 3.7|- | style="text-align:left;"|| 77 || 77 || 33.0 || .468 || .326 || .761 || 3.1 || 6.1 || 1.1 || .2 || 11.3|- | style="text-align:left;"|| 60 || 3 || 9.1 || .471 || || .638 || 2.9 || .4 || .2 || .6 || 2.5|- | style="text-align:left;"|| 82 || 82 || 36.1 || .455 || .370 || .822 || 6.6 || 4.2 || 1.6 || .5 || 21.6|- | style="text-align:left;"|| 23 || 0 || 5.3 || .517 || .000 || .733 || .7 || .4 || .1 || .0 || 1.8|- | style="text-align:left;"|†| 24 || 24 || 34.5 || .442 || .342 || .557 || 8.3 || 3.0 || 1.0 || 1.1 || 16.3|- | style="text-align:left;"|†| 55 || 32 || 20.5 || .428 || .323 || .773 || 2.5 || 1.5 || .7 || .1 || 7.5|- | style="text-align:left;"|| 39 || 7 || 13.0 || .426 || .358 || .704 || 1.7 || 1.4 || .5 || .2 || 4.5|}
|- | style="text-align:left;"|| 7 || 3 || 12.9 || .444 || || .429 || 1.7 || .3 || .4 || .3 || 2.7|- | style="text-align:left;"|| 7 || 0 || 15.1 || .448 || .500 || .500 || 1.6 || 1.0 || .6 || .0 || 4.6|- | style="text-align:left;"|| 4 || 0 || 10.8 || .286 || || .000 || 1.5 || .3 || .0 || .0 || 2.0|- | style="text-align:left;"|| 7 || 2 || 34.3 || .432 || .333 || .769 || 3.6 || 2.0 || 1.3 || .3 || 12.4|- | style="text-align:left;"|| 7 || 0 || 19.4 || .415 || || .750 || 6.4 || .3 || .6 || 1.1 || 6.1|- | style="text-align:left;"|| 7 || 7 || 26.4 || .390 || .500 || .800 || 4.9 || 1.1 || .9 || 1.7 || 6.9|- | style="text-align:left;"|| 7 || 7 || 34.1 || .446 || .071 || .833 || 4.1 || 4.6 || .9 || .1 || 10.3|- | style="text-align:left;"|| 6 || 0 || 4.7 || .800 || || .333 || 1.0 || .0 || .0 || .5 || 1.5|- | style="text-align:left;"|| 7 || 7 || 39.6 || .505 || .259 || .868 || 7.7 || 4.6 || 1.9 || 1.4 || 22.9|- | style="text-align:left;"|| 6 || 0 || 3.7 || .333 || .000 || .750 || .2 || .0 || .0 || .0 || 1.2|- | style="text-align:left;"|| 6 || 6 || 37.3 || .413 || .368 || .636 || 7.3 || 2.3 || 1.2 || 1.0 || 16.7|- | style="text-align:left;"|| 7 || 3 || 16.4 || .524 || .455 || .500 || 1.3 || .6 || 1.0 || .1 || 4.1|}
| August 2, 2004 | To Boston Celtics Gary Payton, Rick Fox, conditional 1st round pick, and cash considerations | To Los Angeles Lakers Chris Mihm, Chucky Atkins, and Jumaine Jones |
| February 8, 2005 | To Boston Celtics 2005 conditional 2nd round pick | To Phoenix Suns Walter McCarty, and cash considerations |
| February 24, 2005 | To Boston Celtics Antoine Walker | To Atlanta Hawks Gary Payton, Tom Gugliotta, Michael Stewart, and future 1st round pick |
| February 24, 2005 | To Boston Celtics 2007 1st round pick | To Cleveland Cavaliers Jiří Welsch |
| Player | Signed | Former team | |
| Mark Blount | July 14 | re-signed | |
| Chris Mihm | August 6 | re-signed | |
| Tom Gugliotta | August 16 | Utah Jazz | |
| Gary Payton | March 4 | Atlanta Hawks |
| Player | Left | New team | |
| Brandon Hunter | June 22 | Charlotte Bobcats | |
| Dana Barros | July 1 | retired | |
| Rick Fox | October 1 | retired | |
| Ernest Brown | October 25 | Olympiacos |