2001–02 Boston Celtics season

The 2001–02 NBA season was the 56th season for the Boston Celtics in the National Basketball Association.[1] This season saw the Celtics select future All-Star Joe Johnson from the University of Arkansas with the tenth pick in the 2001 NBA draft,[2] but later on traded him along with Randy Brown at midseason to the Phoenix Suns for Rodney Rogers and Tony Delk.[3] The team also signed free agent Erick Strickland during the off-season.[4] The Celtics struggled with a 5–6 start to the season, but then won 12 of their next 14 games, and held a 28–21 record at the All-Star break.[5] They later on posted a 7-game winning streak in March, and won eight of their final nine games finishing second in the Atlantic Division with a 49–33 record,[6] making their first playoff appearance since 1995.[7]

2001–02 Boston Celtics season
Head coachJim O'Brien
General managerChris Wallace
Owner(s)Paul Gaston
ArenaFleet Center
Results
Record49–33 (.598)
PlaceDivision: 2nd (Atlantic)
Conference: 3rd (Eastern)
Playoff finishConference Finals
(Lost to Nets 2–4)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
TelevisionFox Sports Net New England
RadioWWZN

Paul Pierce averaged 26.1 points, 6.9 rebounds and 1.9 steals per game, and was named to the All-NBA Third Team, while Antoine Walker averaged 22.1 points, 8.8 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 1.5 steals per game, and Kenny Anderson provided the team with 9.6 points, 5.3 assists and 1.9 steals per game. In addition, Strickland contributed 7.7 points per game off the bench, and Tony Battie provided with 6.9 points and 6.5 rebounds per game.[8] Pierce and Walker were both selected for the 2002 NBA All-Star Game, which was Pierce’s first All-Star appearance.[9]

In the Eastern Conference First Round of the playoffs, the Celtics defeated the Philadelphia 76ers in five games, advancing to the second round for the first time since 1992.[10] In the Eastern Conference Semi-finals, they defeated the 2nd-seeded Detroit Pistons four games to one, reaching the Conference Finals also for the first time since 1988.[11] However, they would lose in six games to the New Jersey Nets in the Eastern Conference Finals after taking a 2–1 series lead.[12]

Following the season, Anderson was traded along with Vitaly Potapenko to the Seattle SuperSonics,[13] while Rogers signed as a free agent with the New Jersey Nets,[14] Strickland signed with the Indiana Pacers, and Mark Blount signed with the Denver Nuggets.

Draft picks
Main article: 2001 NBA Draft
Round Pick Player Position Nationality College
1 10 Joe Johnson SG  United States Arkansas
1 11 Kedrick Brown SF/SG  United States Okaloosa-Walton
1 21 Joseph Forte SG  United States North Carolina

Roster
2001–02 Boston Celtics roster
Players Coaches
Pos.No.NameHeightWeightDOB (YYYY-MM-DD)From
G 7 Anderson, Kenny 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 168 lb (76 kg) 1970–10–09 Georgia Tech
C 4 Battie, Tony 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1976–02–11 Texas Tech
C 30 Blount, Mark 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1975–11–30 Pittsburgh
G/F 42 Brown, Kedrick 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 222 lb (101 kg) 1981–03–18 Okaloosa-Walton Community College
G 12 Cook, Omar  (IN) 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1968–05–22 St. John's
G 28 Delk, Tony 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 189 lb (86 kg) 1974–01–28 Kentucky
G 40 Forte, Joseph  6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 194 lb (88 kg) 1981–03–23 North Carolina
F 0 McCarty, Walter 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1974–02–01 Kentucky
F 5 McLeod, Roshown  (IN) 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 221 lb (100 kg) 1975–11–17 Duke
G/F 34 Pierce, Paul (C) 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1977–10–13 Kansas
F/C 52 Potapenko, Vitaly 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 280 lb (127 kg) 1975–03–21 Wright State University
F 54 Rogers, Rodney 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 235 lb (107 kg) 1971–06–20 Wake Forest
G 20 Strickland, Erick 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1973–11–25 University of Nebraska
F 8 Walker, Antoine (C) 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 224 lb (102 kg) 1976–08–12 Kentucky
F 55 Williams, Eric 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1972–07–17 Providence
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • (IN) Inactive
  • Injured

Roster
Last transaction: 2002–04–16

Roster Notes
  • Small forward Roshown McLeod missed the entire season with a left peroneal neuropathy injury, and never played for the Celtics.
  • Rookie point guard Omar Cook also holds American citizenship, but he represents Montenegro in international play. He missed the entire season due to injury, and never played for the Celtics.

Regular season

Standings
Atlantic Division W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-New Jersey Nets 5230.634–33–819–2216–8
x-Boston Celtics 4933.598327–1422–1917–7
x-Orlando Magic 4438.537827–1417–2412–12
x-Philadelphia 76ers 4339.524922–1921–2014–11
Washington Wizards 3745.4511522–1915–2612–13
Miami Heat 3646.4391618–2318–2310–14
New York Knicks 3052.3662219–2211–304–20
# Eastern Conference
Team W L PCT GB
1 c-New Jersey Nets5230.634–
2 y-Detroit Pistons5032.6102
3 x-Boston Celtics4933.5983
4 x-Charlotte Hornets4438.5378
5 x-Orlando Magic4438.5378
6 x-Philadelphia 76ers4339.5249
7 x-Toronto Raptors4240.51210
8 x-Indiana Pacers4240.51210
9 Milwaukee Bucks4141.50011
10 Washington Wizards3745.45115
11 Miami Heat3646.43916
12 Atlanta Hawks3349.40219
13 New York Knicks3052.36622
14 Cleveland Cavaliers2953.35423
15 Chicago Bulls2161.25631

Record vs. opponents
2001-02 NBA Records
Team ATL BOS CHA CHI CLE DAL DEN DET GSW HOU IND LAC LAL MEM MIA MIL MIN NJN NYK ORL PHI PHO POR SAC SAS SEA TOR UTA WAS
Atlanta —2–22–23–13–10–22–01–32–01–11–31–11–12–03–11–30–22–11–31–31–31–11–10–20–20–20–41–10–3
Boston 2–2—2–12–24–00–22–02–21–10–23–02–02–02–03–11–31–13–14–03–11–31–11–10–20–21–12–21–13–1
Charlotte 2–21–2—4–03–10–22–01–32–01–13–11–10–21–13–02–20–21–32–23–11–32–01–10–21–11–12–21–13–1
Chicago 1–32–20–4—1–30–20–21–31–12–00–40–22–01–11–32–20–20–43–10–31–21–10–20–20–21–10–40–21–3
Cleveland 1–30–41–33–1—0–21–11–31–12–02–20–20–21–13–13–12–01–32–21–30–31–10–20–21–10–21–30–21–2
Dallas 2–02–02–02–02–0—4–01–14–02–22–02–21–34–01–12–02–22–01–11–11–13–12–23–11–33–11–13–11–1
Denver 0–20–20–22–01–10–4—0–21–32–20–21–31–33–10–20–22–21–12–00–21–13–12–20–40–43–11–11–30–2
Detroit 3–12–23–13–13–11–12–0—1–11–13–11–10–22–02–12–21–13–13–12–22–11–10–20–20–21–13–11–14–0
Golden State 0–21–10–21–11–10–43–11–1—1–30–22–21–33–10–20–21–31–11–10–21–10–42–20–40–40–40–20–41–1
Houston 1–12–01–10–20–22–22–21–13–1—0–21–30–41–30–21–12–20–21–10–21–12–21–30–40–42–21–12–21–1
Indiana 3–10–31–34–02–20–22–01–32–02–0—1–10–21–12–21–31–11–32–13–13–11–11–12–01–10–21–31–13–1
L.A. Clippers 1–10–21–12–02–02–23–11–12–23–11–1—1–33–12–01–12–20–22–01–10–23–11–31–31–31–31–10–41–1
L.A. Lakers 1–10–22–00–22–03–13–12–03–14–02–03–1—3–11–12–02–21–12–02–01–12–22–23–13–13–11–13–12–0
Memphis 0–20–21–11–11–10–41–30–21–33–11–11–31–3—1–10–20–40–21–10–22–01–32–21–30–40–41–13–10–2
Miami 1–31–30–33–11–31–12–01–22–02–02–20–21–11–1—3–10–21–32–23–11–31–11–10–21–12–01–30–22–2
Milwaukee 3–13–12–22–21–30–22–02–22–01–13–11–10–22–01–3—0–21–21–32–11–30–20–20–22–00–24–02–03–1
Minnesota 2–01–12–02–00–22–22–21–13–12–21–12–22–24–02–02–0—1–12–01–11–12–22–21–32–22–21–13–12–0
New Jersey 1–21–33–14–03–10–21–11–31–12–03–12–01–12–03–12–11–1—4–03–12–21–11–11–12–01–12–21–13–1
New York 3–10–42–21–32–21–10–21–31–11–11–20–20–21–12–23–10–20–4—0–41–31–11–11–10–22–03–01–11–3
Orlando 3–11–31–33–03–11–12–02–22–02–01–31–10–22–01–31–21–11–34–0—3–12–00–21–10–20–23–11–12–2
Philadelphia 3–13–13–12–13–01–11–11–21–11–11–32–01–10–23–13–11–12–23–11–3—2–00–20–21–11–11–30–22–3
Phoenix 1–11–10–21–11–11–31–31–14–02–21–11–32–23–11–12–02–21–11–10–20–2—2–21–31–32–21–12–20–2
Portland 1–11–11–12–02–02–22–22–02–23–11–13–12–22–21–12–02–21–11–12–02–02–2—2–21–33–11–11–32–0
Sacramento 2–02–02–02–02–01–34–02–04–04–00–23–11–33–12–02–03–11–11–11–12–03–12–2—3–12–22–04–01–1
San Antonio 2–02–01–12–01–13–14–02–04–04–01–13–11–34–01–10–22–20–22–02–01–13–13–11–3—2–21–14–02–0
Seattle 2–01–11–11–12–01–31–31–14–02–22–03–11–34–00–22–02–21–10–22–01–12–21–32–22–2—2–01–31–1
Toronto 4–02–22–24–03–11–11–11–32–01–13–11–11–11–13–10–41–12–20–31–33–11–11–10–21–10–2—1–11–2
Utah 1–11–11–12–02–01–33–11–14–02–21–14–01–31–32–00–21–31–11–11–12–02–23–10–40–43–11–1—2–0
Washington 3–01–31–33–12–11–12–00–41–11–11–31–10–22–02–21–30–21–33–12–23–22–00–21–10–21–12–10–2—

Game log
2001-02 Game Log
Total: 49–33 (Home: 27–14; Road: 22–19)
October (Home: 0-1; Road: 1-0)
GameDateOpponentScoreLocationRecord
1Tue. Oct. 30@ Cleveland Cavaliers108–89Gund Arena1-0
2Wed. Oct. 31New Jersey Nets92-95FleetCenter1-1
November (Home: 4-2; Road: 2-3)
GameDateOpponentScoreLocationRecord
3Fri. Nov. 2Chicago Bulls96-82FleetCenter2-1
4Sat. Nov. 3@ Milwaukee Bucks99-105Bradley Center2-2
5Wed. Nov. 7Washington Wizards104-95FleetCenter3-2
6Fri. Nov. 9Seattle SuperSonics104-94FleetCenter4-2
7Wed. Nov. 14Indiana Pacers101-93FleetCenter5-2
8Sat. Nov. 17@ Atlanta Hawks103-112Philips Arena5-3
9Wed. Nov. 21Atlanta Hawks85-92FleetCenter5-4
10Fri. Nov. 23Toronto Raptors89-91FleetCenter5-5
11Sat. Nov. 24@ Washington Wizards84-88 (OT)MCI Center5-6
12Tue. Nov. 27@ Miami Heat84-83American Airlines Arena6-6
13Thu. Nov. 29@ Orlando Magic99-89TD Waterhouse Centre7-6
December (Home: 6-0; Road: 5-5)
GameDateOpponentScoreLocationRecord
14Sat. Dec. 1@ New Jersey Nets105-98 (OT)Continental Airlines Arena8-6
15Sun. Dec. 2@ Toronto Raptors85-69Air Canada Centre9-6
16Wed. Dec. 5Denver Nuggets95-80FleetCenter10-6
17Fri. Dec. 7Phoenix Suns109-102 (OT)FleetCenter11-6
18Sat. Dec. 8@ Chicago Bulls84-87United Center11-7
19Tue. Dec. 11@ New York Knicks102-93 (OT)Madison Square Garden12-7
20Fri. Dec. 14Chicago Bulls107-101FleetCenter13-7
21Sat. Dec. 15@ Charlotte Hornets106-97Charlotte Coliseum14-7
22Mon. Dec. 17@ Philadelphia 76ers83-99First Union Center14-8
23Wed. Dec. 19Cleveland Cavaliers104-98FleetCenter15-8
24Fri. Dec. 21Utah Jazz98-92FleetCenter16-8
25Sun. Dec. 23Memphis Grizzlies85-80FleetCenter17-8
26Wed. Dec. 26@ Utah Jazz86-99Delta Center17-9
27Thu. Dec. 27@ Phoenix Suns82-84America West Arena17-10
28Sat. Dec. 29@ Los Angeles Clippers105-103 (OT)Staples Center18-10
29Sun. Dec. 30@ Sacramento Kings94-109ARCO Arena18-11
January (Home: 5-4; Road: 3-4)
GameDateOpponentScoreLocationRecord
30Wed. Jan. 2Orlando Magic110-94FleetCenter19-11
31Fri. Jan. 4Miami Heat66-89FleetCenter19-12
32Sat. Jan. 5@ New York Knicks90-81Madison Square Garden20-12
33Mon. Jan. 7@ Orlando Magic87-98TD Waterhouse Centre20-13
34Wed. Jan. 9San Antonio Spurs90-93FleetCenter20-14
35Fri. Jan. 11Detroit Pistons104-90FleetCenter21-14
36Sat. Jan. 12@ Atlanta Hawks115-91Philips Arena22-14
37Wed. Jan. 16New York Knicks101-100FleetCenter23-14
38Fri. Jan. 18Houston Rockets101-104FleetCenter23-15
39Sat. Jan. 19@ Detroit Pistons91-94The Palace of Auburn Hills23-16
40Mon. Jan. 21Toronto Raptors106-97FleetCenter24-16
41Wed. Jan. 23Indiana Pacers98-94FleetCenter25-16
42Fri. Jan. 25Philadelphia 76ers90-106FleetCenter25-17
43Sat. Jan. 26@ Cleveland Cavaliers108-101Gund Arena26-17
44Tue. Jan. 29@ Milwaukee Bucks90-109Bradley Center26-18
45Thu. Jan. 31@ Toronto Raptors92-97Air Canada Centre26-19
February (Home: 1-3; Road: 4-4)
GameDateOpponentScoreLocationRecord
46Fri. Feb. 1Minnesota Timberwolves95-98 (OT)FleetCenter26-20
47Sun. Feb. 3Los Angeles Clippers104-91FleetCenter27-20
48Tue. Feb. 5@ Charlotte Hornets82-79Charlotte Coliseum28-20
49Wed. Feb. 6Sacramento Kings85-102FleetCenter28-21
50Tue. Feb. 12@ Denver Nuggets110-93Pepsi Center29-21
51Wed. Feb. 13@ Golden State Warriors75-92The Arena in Oakland29-22
52Fri. Feb. 15@ Portland Trail Blazers107-104Rose Garden30-22
53Sat. Feb. 16@ Seattle SuperSonics79-99KeyArena30-23
54Tue. Feb. 19@ Los Angeles Lakers109-108Staples Center31-23
55Thu. Feb. 21@ Dallas Mavericks92-98American Airlines Center31-24
56Sat. Feb. 23@ Houston Rockets89-99Compaq Center31-25
57Wed. Feb. 27Milwaukee Bucks92-95FleetCenter31-26
March (Home: 7-4; Road: 4-2)
GameDateOpponentScoreLocationRecord
58Fri. Mar. 1Charlotte Hornets87-100FleetCenter31-27
59Mon. Mar. 4@ Philadelphia 76ers100-94First Union Center32-27
60Wed. Mar. 6Orlando Magic130-110FleetCenter33-27
61Fri. Mar. 8Detroit Pistons117-92FleetCenter34-27
62Sun. Mar. 10Washington Wizards98-91FleetCenter35-27
63Mon. Mar. 11@ Washington Wizards104-99MCI Center36-27
64Wed. Mar. 13New Jersey Nets97-89FleetCenter37-27
65Fri. Mar. 15@ Memphis Grizzlies103-97The Pyramid38-27
66Sat. Mar. 16@ San Antonio Spurs104-111Alamodome38-28
67Mon. Mar. 18Portland Trail Blazers91-100FleetCenter38-29
68Wed. Mar. 20Cleveland Cavaliers96-70FleetCenter39-29
69Fri. Mar. 22Philadelphia 76ers91-96FleetCenter39-30
70Sun. Mar. 24@ Detroit Pistons101-109The Palace of Auburn Hills39-31
71Mon. Mar. 25@ Miami Heat87-82American Airlines Arena40-31
72Wed. Mar. 27Golden State Warriors102-99FleetCenter41-31
73Fri. Mar. 29Dallas Mavericks82-108FleetCenter41-32
74Sun. Mar. 31Milwaukee Bucks110-80FleetCenter42-32
April (Home: 4-0; Road: 3-1)
GameDateOpponentScoreLocationRecord
75Tue. Apr. 2@ Indiana Pacers105-94Conseco Fieldhouse43-32
76Fri. Apr. 5Los Angeles Lakers99-81FleetCenter44-32
77Sun. Apr. 7@ New Jersey Nets102-90Continental Airlines Arena45-32
78Mon. Apr. 8@ Chicago Bulls100-105United Center45-33
79Wed. Apr. 10Miami Heat70-65FleetCenter46-33
80Fri. Apr. 12New York Knicks107-92FleetCenter47-33
81Mon. Apr. 15@ Minnesota Timberwolves93-90Target Center48-33
82Wed. Apr. 17Atlanta Hawks89-81FleetCenter49-33
2001-02 Schedule

Playoffs
2002 playoff game log
First Round: 3–2 (Home: 3–0; Road: 0–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Series
1 April 21 Philadelphia W 92–82 Paul Pierce (31) Paul Pierce (11) Kenny Anderson (5) FleetCenter
18,624		 1–0
2 April 25 Philadelphia W 93–85 Paul Pierce (25) Pierce, Walker (10) three players tied (4) FleetCenter
18,624		 2–0
3 April 28 @ Philadelphia L 103–108 Paul Pierce (29) Rodney Rogers (11) Paul Pierce (7) First Union Center
20,689		 2–1
4 May 1 @ Philadelphia L 81–83 Antoine Walker (25) Paul Pierce (8) Kenny Anderson (8) First Union Center
20,904		 2–2
5 May 3 Philadelphia W 120–87 Paul Pierce (46) Antoine Walker (9) Pierce, Walker (6) FleetCenter
18,624		 3–2
Conference Semifinals: 4–1 (Home: 2–0; Road: 2–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Series
1 May 5 @ Detroit L 84–96 Antoine Walker (20) Paul Pierce (10) Paul Pierce (5) The Palace of Auburn Hills
20,252		 0–1
2 May 8 @ Detroit W 85–77 Paul Pierce (22) Tony Battie (11) Kenny Anderson (5) The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076		 1–1
3 May 10 Detroit W 66–64 Paul Pierce (19) Tony Battie (10) Paul Pierce (5) FleetCenter
18,624		 2–1
4 May 12 Detroit W 90–79 Antoine Walker (30) Paul Pierce (17) Paul Pierce (6) FleetCenter
18,624		 3–1
5 May 14 @ Detroit W 90–81 Paul Pierce (18) Antoine Walker (13) Kenny Anderson (6) The Palace of Auburn Hills
22,076		 4–1
Conference Finals: 2–4 (Home: 1–2; Road: 1–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Series
1 May 19 @ New Jersey L 97–104 Pierce, Walker (27) Tony Battie (11) Kenny Anderson (6) Continental Airlines Arena
20,049		 0–1
2 May 21 @ New Jersey W 93–86 Antoine Walker (26) Paul Pierce (14) Kenny Anderson (7) Continental Airlines Arena
19,850		 1–1
3 May 25 New Jersey W 94–90 Paul Pierce (28) Antoine Walker (12) Pierce, Walker (4) FleetCenter
18,624		 2–1
4 May 27 New Jersey L 92–94 Paul Pierce (31) three players tied (9) four players tied (4) FleetCenter
18,624		 2–2
5 May 29 @ New Jersey L 92–103 Paul Pierce (24) Antoine Walker (13) Kenny Anderson (6) Continental Airlines Arena
19,850		 2–3
6 May 31 New Jersey L 88–96 Kenny Anderson (18) Antoine Walker (9) Kenny Anderson (7) FleetCenter
18,624		 2–4
2002 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

See also

References
  1. 2001-02 Boston Celtics
  2. "High School Player Tops NBA Draft". AP News. June 27, 2001. Retrieved July 24, 2021.
  3. "Celts, Suns make trade; Jackson set to be dealt". Deseret News. February 21, 2002. Retrieved July 24, 2021.
  4. "Celtics sign Strickland". UPI Archives. November 1, 2001. Retrieved January 11, 2022.
  5. "Sacramento Kings at Boston Celtics Box Score, February 6, 2002". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved January 21, 2022.
  6. "2001–02 Boston Celtics Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 23, 2021.
  7. "Boston Celtics". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved January 21, 2022.
  8. "2001–02 Boston Celtics Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 23, 2021.
  9. "2002 NBA All-Star Game: West 135, East 120". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved October 16, 2021.
  10. "PRO BASKETBALL; Sparked by Pierce's 46, Celtics Return to Glory". New York Times. May 4, 2002. Retrieved August 22, 2017.
  11. "PRO BASKETBALL; Celtics Return To Eastern Finals". New York Times. May 15, 2002. Retrieved July 24, 2021.
  12. "Sports of The Times; Nets Prove They Are Better Team". New York Times. June 1, 2002. Retrieved August 22, 2017.
  13. "PRO BASKETBALL; Baker Goes to Boston In a Five-Player Trade". New York Times. July 23, 2002. Retrieved July 24, 2021.
  14. "PRO BASKETBALL; Though Nets Got Close, They Have Far to Go". New York Times. September 27, 2002. Retrieved December 31, 2021.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.