1990–91 Boston Celtics season

1990–91 Boston Celtics season
Division champions
Head coachChris Ford
General managerDave Gavitt
OwnersDon Gaston
Alan N. Cohen
Paul Dupee
ArenaBoston Garden
Hartford Civic Center
Results
Record56–26 (.683)
PlaceDivision: 1st (Atlantic)
Conference: 2nd (Eastern)
Playoff finishConference semifinals
(lost to Pistons 2–4)
Stats at Basketball Reference
Local media
TelevisionWFXT
(Tom Heinsohn, Bob Cousy)
SportsChannel New England
(Mike Gorman, Tom Heinsohn)
RadioWEEI
(Glenn Ordway, Doug Brown)

The 1990–91 NBA season was the 45th season for the Boston Celtics in the National Basketball Association.[1] The Celtics had the 19th overall pick in the 1990 NBA draft, and selected point guard Dee Brown out of Jacksonville University,[2][3][4][5][6] and also hired Chris Ford as their new head coach during the off-season.[7][8][9][10] After playing overseas in Italy the previous season, former Celtics guard Brian Shaw would return to the team after a one-year absence.[11][12] The Celtics started their season without John Bagley, who would miss the entire regular season due to tendinitis in his right knee; Bagley later on had arthroscopic surgery on his knee in March.[13][14][15]

After failing to advance past the first round of the playoffs in the previous two seasons, it appeared that the Celtics were fading as NBA title contenders. However, the team got off to a 29–5 start to the regular season, reminiscent of their title years of the 1980s, and once again established themselves as contenders,[16] holding a 35–12 record at the All-Star break.[17] Beginning in January, Larry Bird began to miss significant playing time due to back injuries, missing 22 games as the team struggled in his absence.[18][19][20] The Celtics finished in first place in the Atlantic Division with a 56–26 record, and earned the second seed in the Eastern Conference;[21] the Celtics also qualified for the NBA playoffs for the twelfth consecutive year.[22]

Bird averaged 19.4 points, 8.5 rebounds, 7.2 assists and 1.8 steals per game, while Reggie Lewis averaged 18.7 points and 5.2 rebounds per game, and sixth man Kevin McHale provided the team with 18.4 points, 7.1 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game off the bench. In addition, Kevin Gamble contributed 15.6 points per game, while Robert Parish averaged 14.9 points, 10.6 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game, and Shaw provided with 13.8 points, 7.6 assists and 1.3 steals per game. Off the bench, Brown contributed 8.7 points and 4.2 assists per game, and was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team, while Ed Pinckney averaged 5.2 points and 4.9 rebounds per game, and Joe Kleine provided with 3.6 points and 3.4 rebounds per game.[23]

During the NBA All-Star weekend in Charlotte, North Carolina, Bird, McHale and Parish were all selected for the 1991 NBA All-Star Game, with Ford coaching the Eastern Conference, but Bird did not participate due to injury,[24][25][26][27][28] and Brown won the NBA Slam Dunk Contest.[29][30][31][27][32] Bird also finished tied in ninth place in Most Valuable Player voting, while McHale finished in third place in Sixth Man of the Year voting,[33] Gamble finished in second place in Most Improved Player voting,[34][35] and Ford finished in third place in Coach of the Year voting.[36][37]

In the Eastern Conference First Round of the 1991 NBA playoffs, the Celtics survived a scare from the 7th-seeded Indiana Pacers, going the full five games before winning a classic finale (in which Bird went to the locker room during the game with injury, only to return and finish with 32 points).[38][39][40][41] In the Eastern Conference Semi-finals, the Celtics held home court advantage against the 2-time defending NBA Champion Detroit Pistons, but Bird missed Game 1 due to injury and the Pistons took the game at Boston Garden, 86–75.[42][43] Bird returned for the remainder of the series and the Celtics rallied to win Games 2 and 3 (Game 3 a blowout win in Detroit, 115–83),[44][45] but Detroit won 3 in a row afterwards to take the series.[46][47][48][49]

Draft picks

Main article: 1990 NBA draft
Round Pick Player Position Nationality College
1 19 Dee Brown SG/PG  United States Jacksonville

Roster

1990–91 Boston Celtics roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Player Height Weight DOB From
G 5 John Bagley  (IN) 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 1960–04–23 Boston College
F 33 Larry Bird 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1956–12–07 Indiana State
G 7 Dee Brown 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 160 lb (73 kg) 1968–11–29 Jacksonville
G/F 34 Kevin Gamble 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1965–11–13 Iowa
C 53 Joe Kleine 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 255 lb (116 kg) 1962–01–04 Arkansas
G 35 Reggie Lewis 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1965–11–21 Northeastern
F 32 Kevin McHale 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1957–12–19 Minnesota
C 00 Robert Parish 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 230 lb (104 kg) 1953–08–30 Centenary
F 54 Ed Pinckney 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1963–03–27 Villanova
F 42 Dave Popson 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1964–05–17 North Carolina
G 20 Brian Shaw 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1966–03–22 UC Santa Barbara
G 13 Charles E. Smith 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 160 lb (73 kg) 1967–11–29 Georgetown
G 43 Derek Smith 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 1961–11–01 Louisville
F 11 Michael Smith 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1965–05–19 BYU
C 52 Stojko Vranković 7 ft 2 in (2.18 m) 260 lb (118 kg) 1964–01–22 Croatia
G 12 A. J. Wynder 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1964–09–11 Fairfield
Head coach
Assistant(s)
Legend
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured

Roster
Updated: April 12, 1991

Roster notes

Regular season

Season standings

Atlantic Division
 W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y- 56 26 .683 — 35–6 21–20 20-6
x-Philadelphia 76ers 44 38 .537 12 29-12 15-26 14-12
x-New York Knicks 39 43 .476 17 21-20 18-23 17–9
Washington Bullets 30 52 .366 26 21-20 9-32 10-16
New Jersey Nets 26 56 .317 30 20-21 6–35 8-18
Miami Heat 24 58 .293 32 18-23 6-35 9-17
y – clinched division title
x – clinched playoff spot
#
Eastern Conference
Team W L PCT GB
1 c-Chicago Bulls 61 21 .744 –
2 y- 56 26 .683 5
3 x-Detroit Pistons 50 32 .610 11
4 x-Milwaukee Bucks 48 34 .585 13
5 x-Philadelphia 76ers 44 38 .537 17
6 x-Atlanta Hawks 43 39 .524 18
7 x-Indiana Pacers 41 41 .500 20
8 x-New York Knicks 39 43 .476 22
9 Cleveland Cavaliers 33 49 .402 28
10 Washington Bullets 30 52 .366 31
11 New Jersey Nets 26 56 .317 35
12 Charlotte Hornets 26 56 .317 35
13 Miami Heat 24 58 .293 37
z – clinched division title
y – clinched division title
x – clinched playoff spot

Record vs. opponents

1990-91 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 – 3–1 1–4 1–4 3–2 2–0 1–1 0–5 1–1 1–1 4–1 2–0 1–1 4–0 2–3 1–1 3–1 3–1 1–1 0–4 0–2 1–1 2–0 2–0 1–1 1–1 2–2
Boston 1–3 – 3–1 2–2 3–1 2–0 2–0 2–2 1–1 2–0 2–2 2–0 1–1 4–1 2–2 2–0 4–1 5–0 1–1 2–3 1–1 1–1 2–0 1–1 2–0 1–1 5–1
Charlotte 4–1 1–3 – 0–5 1–4 1–1 0–2 1–4 1–1 0–2 0–5 1–1 0–2 2–2 2–3 1–1 2–2 0–4 2–0 2–2 0–2 0–2 2–0 1–1 0–2 0–2 2–2
Chicago 4–1 2–2 5–0 – 5–0 2–0 2–0 3–2 1–1 0–2 4–1 2–0 1–1 4–0 4–1 2–0 3–1 4–0 2–0 1–3 1–1 0–2 2–0 0–2 2–0 2–0 3–1
Cleveland 2–3 1–3 4–1 0–5 – 2–0 1–1 2–3 0–2 0–2 1–4 1–1 1–1 3–1 2–3 1–1 2–2 3–1 2–0 2–2 0–2 0–2 1–1 0–2 1–1 0–2 1–3
Dallas 0–2 0–2 1–1 0–2 0–2 – 3–1 0–2 2–2 1–3 2–0 1–3 2–2 0–2 1–1 1–4 2–0 2–0 1–4 1–1 0–4 1–3 2–2 1–4 2–2 0–5 2–0
Denver 1–1 0–2 2–0 0–2 1–1 1–3 – 0–2 1–3 0–5 0–2 0–4 0–4 0–2 1–1 3–2 1–1 1–1 2–3 0–2 0–4 0–4 3–1 1–4 0–4 1–3 1–1
Detroit 5–0 2–2 4–1 2–3 3–2 2–0 2–0 – 1–1 2–0 3–2 2–0 0–2 3–1 2–3 2–0 3–1 1–3 2–0 2–2 0–2 1–1 2–0 0–2 1–1 0–2 3–1
Golden State 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–0 2–2 3–1 1–1 – 2–2 1–1 3–2 2–3 2–0 1–1 3–1 1–1 2–0 2–2 2–0 1–3 2–3 2–3 2–2 3–1 1–3 0–2
Houston 1–1 0–2 2–0 2–0 2–0 3–1 5–0 0–2 2–2 – 1–1 2–2 1–3 2–0 2–0 5–0 2–0 2–0 3–2 2–0 3–1 0–4 3–1 2–3 2–2 2–2 1–1
Indiana 1–4 2–2 5–0 1–4 4–1 0–2 2–0 2–3 1–1 1–1 – 1–1 0–2 2–2 2–3 1–1 3–1 2–2 1–1 1–3 1–1 0–2 2–0 1–1 1–1 2–0 2–2
L.A. Clippers 0–2 0–2 1–1 0–2 1–1 3–1 4–0 0–2 2–3 2–2 1–1 – 0–4 0–2 1–1 3–1 1–1 0–2 1–3 0–2 2–3 1–3 3–2 2–2 2–3 1–3 0–2
L.A. Lakers 1–1 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 2–2 4–0 2–0 3–2 3–1 2–0 4–0 – 2–0 0–2 3–1 2–0 1–1 4–0 1–1 3–2 2–3 4–0 3–1 3–2 2–2 2–0
Miami 0–4 1–4 2–2 0–4 1–3 2–0 2–0 1–3 0–2 0–2 2–2 2–0 0–2 – 0–4 0–2 3–3 1–4 1–1 1–4 0–2 0–2 1–1 0–2 0–2 1–1 3–2
Milwaukee 3–2 2–2 3–2 1–4 3–2 1–1 1–1 3–2 1–1 0–2 3–2 1–1 2–0 4–0 – 1–1 2–2 4–0 2–0 2–2 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 3–1
Minnesota 1–1 0–2 1–1 0–2 1–1 4–1 2–3 0–2 1–3 0–5 1–1 1–3 1–3 2–0 1–1 – 1–1 1–1 2–2 2–0 0–4 0–4 3–1 0–4 2–2 1–4 1–1
New Jersey 1–3 1–4 2–2 1–3 2–2 0–2 1–1 1–3 1–1 0–2 1–3 1–1 0–2 3–3 2–2 1–1 – 0–5 1–1 2–3 1–1 0–2 1–1 0–2 1–1 0–2 2–3
New York 1–3 0–5 4–0 0–4 1–3 0–2 1–1 3–1 0–2 0–2 2–2 2–0 1–1 4–1 0–4 1–1 5–0 – 0–2 5–1 0–2 0–2 2–0 1–1 1–1 2–0 3–2
Orlando 1–1 1–1 0–2 0–2 0–2 4–1 3–2 0–2 2–2 2–3 1–1 3–1 0–4 1–1 0–2 2–2 1–1 2–0 – 0–2 2–2 0–4 2–2 1–3 1–3 1–4 1–1
Philadelphia 4–0 3–2 2–2 3–1 2–2 1–1 2–0 2–2 0–2 0–2 3–1 2–0 1–1 4–1 2–2 0–2 3–2 1–5 2–0 – 1–1 1–1 1–1 0–2 1–1 0–2 3–2
Phoenix 2–0 1–1 2–0 1–1 2–0 4–0 4–0 2–0 3–1 1–3 1–1 3–2 2–3 2–0 1–1 4–0 1–1 2–0 2–2 1–1 – 3–2 3–1 1–3 3–2 2–2 2–0
Portland 1–1 1–1 2–0 2–0 2–0 3–1 4–0 1–1 3–2 4–0 2–0 3–1 3–2 2–0 1–1 4–0 2–0 2–0 4–0 1–1 2–3 – 3–2 2–2 4–0 3–1 2–0
Sacramento 0–2 0–2 0–2 0–2 1–1 2–2 1–3 0–2 3–2 1–3 0–2 2–3 0–4 1–1 1–1 1–3 1–1 0–2 2–2 1–1 1–3 2–3 – 1–3 1–4 1–3 2–0
San Antonio 0–2 1–1 1–1 2–0 2–0 4–1 4–1 2–0 2–2 3–2 1–1 2–2 1–3 2–0 1–1 4–0 2–0 1–1 3–1 2–0 3–1 2–2 3–1 – 3–1 2–3 2–0
Seattle 1–1 0–2 2–0 0–2 1–1 2–2 4–0 1–1 1–3 2–2 1–1 3–2 2–3 2–0 1–1 2–2 1–1 1–1 3–1 1–1 2–3 0–4 4–1 1–3 – 1–3 2–0
Utah 1–1 1–1 2–0 0–2 2–0 5–0 3–1 2–0 3–1 2–2 0–2 3–1 2–2 1–1 1–1 4–1 2–0 0–2 4–1 2–0 2–2 1–3 3–1 3–2 3–1 – 2–0
Washington 2–2 1–5 2–2 1–3 3–1 0–2 1–1 1–3 2–0 1–1 2–2 2–0 0–2 2–3 1–3 1–1 3–2 2–3 1–1 2–3 0–2 0–2 0–2 0–2 0–2 0–2 —

Game log

1990-91 game log
November
Game Date Opponent Score Location Record
1 Fri. Nov. 2 Cleveland Cavaliers 125-101 Boston Garden 1-0
2 Sat. Nov. 3 @ New York Knicks 106-103 Madison Square Garden 2-0
3 Tue. Nov. 6 @ Chicago Bulls 110-108 Chicago Stadium 3–0
4 Fri. Nov. 9 Chicago Bulls 100-120 Boston Garden 3–1
5 Sat. Nov. 10 @ New Jersey Nets 105-91 Brendan Byrne Arena 4–1
6 Tue. Nov. 13 @ Milwaukee Bucks 91-119 Bradley Center 4–2
7 Wed. Nov. 14 Charlotte Hornets 135-126 Boston Garden 5-2
8 Fri. Nov. 16 Utah Jazz 114-89 Boston Garden 6–2
9 Sat. Nov. 17 @ Washington Bullets 102-90 Capital Centre 7–2
10 Wed. Nov. 21 Houston Rockets 108-95 Boston Garden 8–2
11 Fri. Nov. 23 Sacramento Kings 115-105 Boston Garden 9–2
12 Sat. Nov. 24 @ Cleveland Cavaliers 113-102 Richfield Coliseum 10–2
13 Mon. Nov. 26 Miami Heat 118-101 Hartford Civic Center 11–2
14 Fri. Nov. 30 Washington Bullets 123-95 Boston Garden 12–2
December
Game Date Opponent Score Location Record
15 Sat. Dec. 1 @ Philadelphia 76ers 110-116 The Spectrum 12–3
16 Mon. Dec. 3 Seattle SuperSonics 135-102 Boston Garden 13–3
17 Wed. Dec. 5 Denver Nuggets 148-140 Boston Garden 14–3
18 Fri. Dec. 7 @ Dallas Mavericks 112-104 Reunion Arena 15–3
19 Sat. Dec. 8 @ San Antonio Spurs 96-102 HemisFair Arena 15–4
20 Mon. Dec. 10 @ Houston Rockets 107-95 The Summit 16–4
21 Wed. Dec. 12 Milwaukee Bucks 129-111 Boston Garden 17–4
22 Fri. Dec. 14 Detroit Pistons 108-100 Boston Garden 18–4
23 Sat. Dec. 15 @ Miami Heat 114-100 Miami Arena 19–4
24 Wed. Dec. 19 Philadelphia 76ers 115-105 Boston Garden 20–4
25 Thu. Dec. 20 @ Charlotte Hornets 115-96 Charlotte Coliseum 21–4
26 Sun. Dec. 23 Atlanta Hawks 132-104 Boston Garden 22–4
27 Wed. Dec. 26 Indiana Pacers 152-132 Boston Garden 23–4
28 Fri. Dec. 28 @ Atlanta Hawks 114-131 The Omni 23–5
January
Game Date Opponent Score Location Record
29 Wed. Jan. 2 New York Knicks 113-86 Boston Garden 24–5
30 Fri. Jan. 4 Phoenix Suns 132-103 Boston Garden 25–5
31 Sun. Jan. 6 Dallas Mavericks 127-110 Boston Garden 26–5
32 Tue. Jan. 8 @ New York Knicks 101-87 Madison Square Garden 27–5
33 Wed. Jan. 9 Milwaukee Bucks 110-102 Boston Garden 28–5
34 Fri. Jan. 11 Los Angeles Clippers 109-107 Boston Garden 29–5
35 Sat. Jan. 12 @ Washington Bullets 99-116 Capital Centre 29–6
36 Wed. Jan. 16 Golden State Warriors 105-110 Boston Garden 29–7
37 Fri. Jan. 18 New Jersey Nets 106-111 Boston Garden 29–8
38 Mon. Jan. 21 @ Detroit Pistons 90-101 The Palace of Auburn Hills 29–9
39 Wed. Jan. 23 Detroit Pistons 111-94 Boston Garden 30–9
40 Fri. Jan. 25 @ Philadelphia 76ers 94-116 The Spectrum 30–10
41 Sun. Jan. 27 Los Angeles Lakers 87-104 Boston Garden 30–11
42 Mon. Jan. 28 @ Minnesota Timberwolves 108-87 Target Center 31–11
43 Wed. Jan. 30 Orlando Magic 144-102 Boston Garden 32–11
February
Game Date Opponent Score Location Record
44 Fri. Feb. 1 @ Charlotte Hornets 91-92 Charlotte Coliseum 32–12
45 Sun. Feb. 3 Washington Bullets 119-101 Boston Garden 33–12
46 Wed. Feb. 6 Charlotte Hornets 133-117 Boston Garden 34–12
47 Thu. Feb. 7 @ New York Knicks 117-101 Madison Square Garden 35–12
48 Tue. Feb. 12 @ Seattle SuperSonics 114-111 Seattle Center Coliseum 36–12
49 Thu. Feb. 14 @ Golden State Warriors 128-112 Oakland Coliseum 37–12
50 Fri. Feb. 15 @ Los Angeles Lakers 98-85 The Forum 38–12
51 Sun. Feb. 17 @ Denver Nuggets 126-108 McNichols Sports Arena 39–12
52 Tue. Feb. 19 @ Phoenix Suns 105-109 Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 39–13
53 Fri. Feb. 22 New Jersey Nets 111-99 Hartford Civic Center 40–13
54 Sun. Feb. 24 @ Indiana Pacers 109-115 Market Square Arena 40–14
55 Tue. Feb. 26 @ Chicago Bulls 99-129 Chicago Stadium 40–15
56 Wed. Feb. 27 Minnesota Timberwolves 116-111 Boston Garden 41–15
March
Game Date Opponent Score Location Record
57 Fri. Mar. 1 San Antonio Spurs 108-98 Boston Garden 42–15
58 Sun. Mar. 3 Portland Trail Blazers 107-116 Boston Garden 42–16
59 Mon. Mar. 4 Indiana Pacers 126-101 Hartford Civic Center 43–16
60 Wed. Mar. 6 Miami Heat 126-117 Boston Garden 44–16
61 Fri. Mar. 8 @ Los Angeles Clippers 104-98 L.A. Sports Arena 45–16
62 Sun. Mar. 10 @ Portland Trail Blazers 111-109 (OT) Memorial Coliseum 46–16
63 Tue. Mar. 12 @ Sacramento Kings 110-95 ARCO Arena 47–16
64 Wed. Mar. 13 @ Utah Jazz 109-112 Salt Palace 47–17
65 Fri. Mar. 15 @ Washington Bullets 94-86 Capital Centre 48–17
66 Sun. Mar. 17 Philadelphia 76ers 110-105 Boston Garden 49–17
67 Tue. Mar. 19 @ Atlanta Hawks 92-104 The Omni 49–18
68 Wed. Mar. 20 Washington Bullets 102-81 Boston Garden 50–18
69 Fri. Mar. 22 @ Indiana Pacers 109-121 Market Square Arena 50–19
70 Thu. Mar. 28 @ Miami Heat 88-90 Miami Arena 50–20
71 Fri. Mar. 29 Cleveland Cavaliers 110-108 Boston Garden 51–20
72 Sun. Mar. 31 Chicago Bulls 135-132 (2OT) Boston Garden 52–20
April
Game Date Opponent Score Location Record
73 Tue. Apr. 2 @ New Jersey Nets 94-77 Brendan Byrne Arena 53–20
74 Thu. Apr. 4 New Jersey Nets 123-104 Boston Garden 54–20
75 Sat. Apr. 6 @ Orlando Magic 98-102 Orlando Arena 54–21
76 Thu. Apr. 11 @ Milwaukee Bucks 92-111 Bradley Center 54–22
77 Fri. Apr. 12 Miami Heat 119-109 Boston Garden 55–22
78 Sun. Apr. 14 New York Knicks 115-102 Boston Garden 56–22
79 Tue. Apr. 16 @ Detroit Pistons 90-118 The Palace of Auburn Hills 56–23
80 Thu. Apr. 18 @ Philadelphia 76ers 97-122 The Spectrum 56–24
81 Fri. Apr. 19 @ Cleveland Cavaliers 117-124 (OT) Richfield Coliseum 56-25
82 Sun. Apr. 21 Atlanta Hawks 105-117 Boston Garden 56–26
1990-91 Schedule

Playoffs

1991 playoff game log
First round: 3–2 (home: 2–1; road: 1–1)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Series
1 April 26 Indiana W 127–120 Reggie Lewis (28) Larry Bird (12) Larry Bird (12) Boston Garden
14,890 		1–0
2 April 28 Indiana L 118–130 Lewis, Shaw (22) Robert Parish (12) Larry Bird (10) Boston Garden
14,890 		1–1
3 May 1 @ Indiana W 112–105 Kevin McHale (22) Larry Bird (9) Brian Shaw (7) Market Square Arena
16,530 		2–1
4 May 3 @ Indiana L 113–116 Kevin McHale (24) Robert Parish (12) Larry Bird (8) Market Square Arena
16,530 		2–2
5 May 5 Indiana W 124–121 Larry Bird (32) Larry Bird (9) Brian Shaw (9) Boston Garden
14,890 		3–2
Conference Semi-finals: 2–4 (home: 1–2; road: 1–2)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Series
1 May 7 Detroit L 75–86 Reggie Lewis (20) Kevin McHale (10) Brian Shaw (5) Boston Garden
14,890 		0–1
2 May 9 Detroit W 109–103 Reggie Lewis (23) Robert Parish (13) Dee Brown (8) Boston Garden
14,890 		1–1
3 May 11 @ Detroit W 115–83 Reggie Lewis (21) Robert Parish (11) Brown, McHale (6) The Palace of Auburn Hills
21,454 		2–1
4 May 13 @ Detroit L 97–104 Kevin McHale (28) Robert Parish (10) Brian Shaw (6) The Palace of Auburn Hills
21,454 		2–2
5 May 15 Detroit L 111–116 Reggie Lewis (30) Reggie Lewis (11) Dee Brown (10) Boston Garden
14,890 		2–3
6 May 17 @ Detroit L 113–117 (OT) Kevin McHale (34) Ed Pinckney (9) Reggie Lewis (5) The Palace of Auburn Hills
21,454 		2–4
1991 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

Season

Boston Celtics statistics
Player GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Larry Bird 60 60 38.0 .454 .389 .891 8.5 7.2 1.8 1.0 19.4
Dee Brown 82 5 23.7 .464 .206 .873 2.2 4.2 1.0 0.2 8.7
Kevin Gamble 82 76 33.0 .587 .000 .815 3.3 3.1 1.2 0.4 15.6
Joe Kleine 72 1 11.8 .468 .000 .783 3.4 0.3 0.2 0.2 3.6
Reggie Lewis 79 79 36.4 .491 .077 .826 5.2 2.5 1.2 1.1 18.7
Kevin McHale 68 10 30.4 .553 .405 .829 7.1 1.9 0.4 2.1 18.4
Robert Parish 81 81 30.1 .598 .000 .767 10.6 0.8 0.8 1.3

14.9

Ed Pinckney 70 16 16.6 .539 .000 .897 4.9 0.6 0.9 0.6 5.2
Dave Popson 19 0 3.4 .406 .000 .900 0.7 0.1 0.1 0.1 1.8
Brian Shaw 79 79 35.1 .469 .111 .819 4.7 7.6 1.3 0.4 13.8
Charles E. Smith 5 0 6.0 .429 .000 .600 0.4 1.2 0.2 0.0 1.8
Derek Smith 2 0 8.0 .250 .000 .750 0.0 2.5 0.5 0.5 2.5
Michael Smith 47 3 8.3 .475 .250 .815 1.2 0.9 0.1 0.0 4.6
Stojko Vranković 31 0 5.4 .462 .000 .556 1.6 0.1 0.0 0.9 1.9
A. J. Wynder 6 0 6.5 .250 .000 .750 0.5 1.3 0.2 0.0 2.0

Playoffs

Boston Celtics statistics
Player GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Larry Bird 10 10 39.6 .408 .143 .863 7.2 6.5 1.3 0.3 17.1
Dee Brown 11 0 25.8 .491 .000 .824 4.1 3.7 1.0 0.5 12.2
Kevin Gamble 11 11 21.6 .483 .000 .667 1.2 1.7 0.4 0.2 6.0
Joe Kleine 5 1 6.2 .444 .000 .000 2.2 0.2 0.0 0.0 1.6
Reggie Lewis 11 11 42.0 .487 .000 .824 6.2 2.9 1.1 0.5 22.4
Kevin McHale 11 1 34.2 .527 .545 .825 6.5 1.8 0.5 1.3 20.7
Robert Parish 10 10 29.6 .598 .000 .689 9.2 0.6 0.8 0.7 15.8
Ed Pinckney 11 0 15.5 .762 .000 .810 3.6 0.2 0.5 0.2 4.5
Brian Shaw 11 11 28.7 .470 .333 .867 3.5 4.6 0.9 0.1 11.0
Derek Smith 10 0 8.6 .429 .000 .786 0.9 0.5 0.3 0.1 2.9
Michael Smith 2 0 3.0 .500 .000 .000 0.0 0.5 0.0 0.0 1.0
Stojko Vranković 1 0 4.0 1.000 .000 .000 2.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 2.0

Player Statistics Citation:[23]

Awards and records

Transactions

Players Added

Draft

Free agency

Players Lost

Released

Free agency

Player Transactions Citation:[50]

References

  1. ^ 1990–91 Boston Celtics
  2. ^ Cotton, Anthony (June 27, 1990). "Coleman No. 1 to Nets, Then the Guards Go Forward". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 29, 2025.
  3. ^ "NBA Draft". United Press International. June 27, 1990. Retrieved June 29, 2025.
  4. ^ Goldaper, Sam (June 28, 1990). "Nets Make Coleman No. 1 Pick in N.B.A. Draft". The New York Times. Retrieved June 29, 2025.
  5. ^ "Clippers Go With Kimble: NBA Draft: Derrick Coleman, as Expected, Is No. 1 Overall With Nets. Clippers Also Grab Michigan's Vaught With 13th Pick". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. June 28, 1990. Retrieved June 29, 2025.
  6. ^ "1990 NBA Draft". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 29, 2025.
  7. ^ "Celtics Turn to Ford to Give Then a Lift". The Washington Post. Associated Press. June 12, 1990. Retrieved June 30, 2025.
  8. ^ Nagi, Chris (June 12, 1990). "Chris Ford Named Celtics Coach". United Press International. Retrieved September 5, 2022.
  9. ^ Goldaper, Sam (June 13, 1990). "Celtics Choose Ford as New Head Coach". The New York Times. Retrieved January 3, 2022.
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See also

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