1991–92 Boston Celtics season

The 1991–92 NBA season was the 46th season for the Boston Celtics in the National Basketball Association.[1] This marked the thirteenth and final NBA season for All-Star forward, and Celtics legend Larry Bird, who missed nearly half of the season due to a nagging back injury.[2][3][4] Midway through the season in January, the Celtics traded Brian Shaw to the Miami Heat for Sherman Douglas.[5] The Celtics trailed the New York Knicks in the Atlantic Division for much of the season, but a furious rally at the end of the season helped the Celtics finish with a 51–31 record, and claim the division title (and the #2 Eastern Conference seed, although since they finished six games behind the #3 seed Cleveland Cavaliers in record, Cleveland would have home court in a head-to-head playoff series).[6] The Celtics also qualified for the playoffs for the thirteenth consecutive season.[7]

1991–92 Boston Celtics season
Division champions
Head coachChris Ford
OwnersDon Gaston
Alan N. Cohen
Paul Dupee
ArenaBoston Garden
Hartford Civic Center
Results
Record51–31 (.622)
PlaceDivision: 1st (Atlantic)
Conference: 2nd (Eastern)
Playoff finishEast Conference Semi-finals
(Lost to Cavaliers 3–4)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
TelevisionWFXT
(Tom Heinsohn, Bob Cousy)
SportsChannel New England
(Mike Gorman, Tom Heinsohn)
RadioWEEI
(Glenn Ordway, Doug Brown)

One of the season highlights for Bird was a 49-point performance in a nationally televised double-overtime win over eventual Western Conference champion Portland Trail Blazers.[8] It was the most points for Bird since February 15, 1988, when he scored 49 at Phoenix Suns. Bird averaged 20.2 points, 9.6 rebounds and 6.8 assists per game in 45 games, while Reggie Lewis led the team with 20.8 points and 1.5 steals per game. Bird and Lewis were both selected for the 1992 NBA All-Star Game, but Bird did not play due to injury.[9] In addition, Robert Parish averaged 14.1 points and 8.9 rebounds per game, and surpassed the 20,000 point mark,[10] while sixth man Kevin McHale provided the team with 13.9 points and 5.9 rebounds per game off the bench in only 56 games, Kevin Gamble provided with 13.5 points per game, and second-year guard Dee Brown contributed 11.7 points and 5.3 assists per game, but only played just 31 games due to a knee injury.[11][12] Also, top draft pick Rick Fox was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team.

In the playoffs, the Celtics swept the Indiana Pacers in three straight games of the Eastern Conference First Round,[13] then took a 2–1 series lead over the Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Semi-finals,[14] but lost in seven games.[15] Following the loss, the Celtics would not win a playoff series for another ten years.

Draft picks
Main article: 1991 NBA draft
Round Pick Player Position Nationality College
1 24 Rick Fox SF  Canada North Carolina

Roster
1991–92 Boston Celtics roster
Players Coaches
Pos.No.NameHeightWeightDOB (YYYY-MM-DD)From
G 5 Bagley, John 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1960–04–23 Boston College
G/F 8 Battle, Kenny 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1964–10–10 Illinois
F 33 Bird, Larry (C) 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1956–12–07 Indiana State
G 7 Brown, Dee 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 160 lb (73 kg) 1968–11–29 Jacksonville
G 20 Douglas, Sherman 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 160 lb (73 kg) 1966–09–15 Syracuse
F 44 Fox, Rick 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1969–07–24 North Carolina
F 34 Gamble, Kevin 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1965–11–13 Iowa
C 53 Kleine, Joe 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 255 lb (116 kg) 1962–01–04 Arkansas
G 35 Lewis, Reggie 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1965–11–21 Northeastern
F 41 Massenburg, Tony 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1967–07–31 Maryland
F 32 McHale, Kevin 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1957–12–19 Minnesota
C 00 Parish, Robert 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1953–08–30 Centenary College of Louisiana
F 54 Pinckney, Ed 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1963–03–27 Villanova
G 12 Pritchard, Kevin 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1967–07–17 Kansas
G 4 Robinson, Larry 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1968–01–11 Centenary College of Louisiana
C 52 Vranković, Stojko 7 ft 2 in (2.18 m) 260 lb (118 kg) 1964–01–22 Croatia
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured

Roster
Last transaction: March 23, 1992

Regular season

Season standings
Atlantic Division W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-Boston Celtics5131.622—34–717–2419–9
x-New York Knicks5131.622—30–1121–2020–8
x-New Jersey Nets4042.4881125–1615–2615–13
x-Miami Heat3844.4631328–1310–3114–14
Philadelphia 76ers3547.4271623–1812–2915–13
Washington Bullets2557.3052614–2711–307–21
Orlando Magic2161.2563013–288–338–20
y – clinched division title
x – clinched playoff spot
# Eastern Conference
Team W L PCT GB
1 z-Chicago Bulls6715.817–
2 y-Boston Celtics5131.62216
3 x-Cleveland Cavaliers5725.69510
4 x-New York Knicks5131.62216
5 x-Detroit Pistons4834.58519
6 x-New Jersey Nets4042.48827
7 x-Indiana Pacers4042.48827
8 x-Miami Heat3844.46329
9 Atlanta Hawks3844.46329
10 Philadelphia 76ers3547.42732
11 Milwaukee Bucks3151.37836
12 Charlotte Hornets3151.37836
13 Washington Bullets2557.30542
14 Orlando Magic2161.25646
z – clinched division title
y – clinched division title
x – clinched playoff spot

Record vs. opponents
1991-92 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 –3–12–20–50–52–02–01–41–12–01–41–10–22–23–12–03–12–22–22–22–00–21–10–21–11–12–2
Boston 1–3–3–11–33–11–11–14–01–11–12–22–02–03–22–20–22–33–25–03–11–11–12–01–12–01–13–1
Charlotte 2–21–3–0–42–31–11–11–41–10–23–20–21–11–32–31–11–30–43–13–11–10–21–12–01–10–22–2
Chicago 5–03–14–0–3–22–02–04–11–11–13–12–01–14–03–22–04–04–03–13–11–12–02–01–12–01–14–0
Cleveland 5–01–33–22–3–1–11–13–11–11–15–01–12–03–13–12–02–24–03–14–01–10–22–01–11–11–14–0
Dallas 0–21–11–10–21–1–3–20–20–44–21–11–30–41–11–13–20–20–21–10–22–20–41–30–50–41–40–2
Denver 0–21–11–10–21–12–3–0–20–42–30–20–41–30–21–12–31–10–22–02–01–31–32–21–41–31–51–1
Detroit 4–10–44–11–41–32–02–0–1–12–02–20–22–02–23–21–12–22–24–03–10–22–02–01–11–11–13–1
Golden State 1–11–11–11–11–14–04–01–1–2–22–03–23–21–12–04–02–01–12–01–13–22–35–02–23–21–32–0
Houston 0–21–12–01–11–12–43–20–22–2–1–12–22–22–01–13–21–11–12–01–11–33–13–13–21–31–42–0
Indiana 4–12–22–31–30–51–12–02–20–21–1–0–22–03–14–12–02–21–32–22–21–10–21–12–00–21–12–2
L.A. Clippers 1–10–22–00–21–13–14–02–02–32–22–0–2–32–02–04–01–10–22–01–13–22–32–32–22–31–30–2
L.A. Lakers 2–00–21–11–10–24–03–10–22–32–20–23–2–2–01–13–12–02–02–02–02–31–44–11–31–41–31–1
Miami 2–22–33–10–41–31–12–02–21–10–21–30–20–2–4–02–02–21–43–11–40–20–22–01–11–11–15–0
Milwaukee 1–32–23–22–31–31–11–12–30–21–11–40–21–10–4–2–00–41–33–13–10–20–20–21–11–11–13–1
Minnesota 0–22–01–10–20–22–33–21–10–42–30–20–41–30–20–2–0–20–20–20–20–40–41–30–60–42–30–2
New Jersey 1–33–23–10–42–22–01–12–20–21–12–21–10–22–24–02–0–2–33–13–21–11–11–11–10–20–22–3
New York 2–22–34–00–40–42–02–02–21–11–13–12–00–24–13–12–03–2–4–13–11–11–11–10–22–02–04–0
Orlando 2–20–51–31–31–31–10–20–40–20–22–20–20–21–31–32–01–31–4–3–20–20–20–21–11–10–22–3
Philadelphia 2–21–31–31–30–42–00–21–31–11–12–21–10–24–11–32–02–31–32–3–0–21–11–11–12–00–25–0
Phoenix 0–21–11–11–11–12–23–12–02–33–11–12–33–22–02–04–01–11–12–02–0–3–24–13–13–22–22–0
Portland 2–01–12–00–22–04–03–10–23–21–32–03–24–12–02–04–01–11–12–01–12–3–5–02–24–12–22–0
Sacramento 1–10–21–10–20–23–12–20–20–51–31–13–21–40–22–03–11–11–12–01–11–40–5–1–31–41–32–0
San Antonio 2–01–10–21–11–15–04–11–12–22–30–22–23–11–11–16–01–12–01–11–11–32–23–1–3–11–40–2
Seattle 1–10–21–10–21–14–03–11–12–33–12–03–24–11–11–14–02–00–21–10–22–31–44–11–3–3–12–0
Utah 1–11–12–01–11–14–15–11–13–14–11–13–13–11–11–13–22–00–22–02–02–22–23–14–11–3–2–0
Washington 2–21–32–20–40–42–01–11–30–20–22–22–01–10–51–32–03–20–43–20–50–20–20–22–00–20–2—

Playoffs
1992 playoff game log
First round: 3–0 (Home: 2–0; Road: 1–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Series
1 April 23 Indiana W 124–113 Reggie Lewis (32) Robert Parish (14) John Bagley (9) Boston Garden
14,890		 1–0
2 April 25 Indiana W 119–112 (OT) John Bagley (35) Robert Parish (14) John Bagley (15) Boston Garden
14,890		 2–0
3 April 27 @ Indiana W 102–98 Reggie Lewis (32) Ed Pinckney (14) John Bagley (11) Market Square Arena
16,530		 3–0
Conference Semi-finals: 3–4 (Home: 2–1; Road: 1–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Series
1May 2@ Cleveland L 76–101 Kevin Gamble (22) Ed Pinckney (10) John Bagley (8) Richfield Coliseum
17,496		 0–1
2May 4@ Cleveland W 104–98 Robert Parish (27) Robert Parish (8) John Bagley (11) Richfield Coliseum
20,273		 1–1
3May 8Cleveland W 110–107 Reggie Lewis (36) Robert Parish (17) Reggie Lewis (7) Boston Garden
14,890		 2–1
4May 10Cleveland L 112–114 (OT) Reggie Lewis (42) Robert Parish (18) John Bagley (7) Boston Garden
14,890		 2–2
5May 13@ Cleveland L 98–114 Reggie Lewis (27) Joe Kleine (11) John Bagley (5) Richfield Coliseum
20,273		 2–3
6May 15Cleveland W 122–91 Reggie Lewis (26) Dee Brown (8) Larry Bird (14) Boston Garden
14,890		 3–3
7May 17@ Cleveland L 104–122 Reggie Lewis (22) Ed Pinckney (9) Bagley, Brown (5) Richfield Coliseum
20,273		 3–4
1992 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

Awards and records

References
  1. 1991-92 Boston Celtics
  2. "Bird Unlaces His Sneakers and Says Goodbye". The New York Times. August 19, 1992.
  3. "Cheers for The Old Larry". New York Times. August 20, 1992. Retrieved January 15, 2022.
  4. "SPORTS PEOPLE: BASKETBALL; Bird Begins Therapy and Hopes for Best". New York Times. July 7, 1992. Retrieved January 3, 2022.
  5. "PRO BASKETBALL; Injured Celtics Send Shaw To the Heat for Douglas". New York Times. January 12, 1992. Retrieved December 2, 2021.
  6. "1991–92 Boston Celtics Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved December 1, 2021.
  7. "Boston Celtics". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved January 31, 2022.
  8. "For Celtics, It's Bird, Bird and More Bird". The New York Times. March 16, 1992.
  9. "1992 NBA All-Star Game: West 153, East 113". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved November 27, 2021.
  10. "BASKETBALL; For Parish, 20,000 Points and Counting". New York Times. January 18, 1992. Retrieved January 18, 2022.
  11. "SPORTS PEOPLE: BASKETBALL; Walter Davis Waived by Trail Blazers". New York Times. October 30, 1991. Retrieved December 2, 2021.
  12. "1991–92 Boston Celtics Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved December 1, 2021.
  13. "PRO BASKETBALL; One Down, How Many to Go? Depleted Celtics Sweep Pacers". New York Times. April 28, 1992. Retrieved October 14, 2021.
  14. "BASKETBALL; Late Rally Puts Celtics One Up on the Cavaliers". New York Times. May 9, 1992. Retrieved January 17, 2022.
  15. "BASKETBALL; Cavalier Youth Serves Up a Blowout of Aging Celtics". New York Times. May 18, 1992. Retrieved October 14, 2021.
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